Derby County kicked off their 2010/11 npower Championship season with a deserved 2-1 victory at Leeds United this afternoon.

Rob Hulse smashed home the opening goal of Derby's season early on, but Luciano Becchio equalised within a matter of minutes.

Kris Commons' penalty just before the half hour proved to be the deciding goal after Tomasz Cywka was tripped.

It could have been more for Derby, but they found Kasper Schmeichel in impressive form as he denied Derby time after time to keep Leeds in with a shout.

Nigel Clough opted to select Hulse up top against his former club ahead of Chris Porter to lead the line in the Rams' 4-2-3-1 formation.

There were full debuts for Gareth Roberts, James Bailey and John Brayford too, while there was a surprise inclusion on the bench in the form of Shaun Barker after he missed the entire pre-season recovering from knee surgery.

Donning their brand new yellow and blue away kit Derby got the game underway.

Within a minute, the creativity of Commons came to the fore as he ran at the Leeds defence and unleashed a blistering drive which whistled just over the crossbar.

Leeds enjoyed a strong spell in the opening ten minutes, before Derby struck on thirteen minutes to open the scoring.

Ireland international Green did superbly in midfield to win the ball and run at the Leeds defence, and he played a lovely ball into Hulse's path which he crashed into the back of the net against his former club.

However, Leeds hit back three minutes later.

Howson won the ball in the final third and burst clear on goal, and he unselfishly laid the ball across goal for Becchio to tap home from a few yards out to send the home crowd wild.

Leeds almost took the lead on the halfway point of the first period, but Naylor's shot on the turn inside the area hit the crossbar and bounced away to safety.

Straight down the other end Derby were back in front from the penalty spot after Bessone brought down Cywka inside the box.

Under immense pressure Commons kept his cool and calmly sent Schmeichel the wrong way to restore Derby's lead.

Bailey and Commons both came close to extending Derby's lead, with Leeds struggling to cope with the Rams' slick passing and movement.

However Collins did give Derby a scare later in the half when his downward header clipped the top of the bar.

But Derby finished the half the stronger of the two sides and Schmeichel had to be in top form to deny both Commons and Green making it 3-1.

Derby were forced into a change at the break with Anderson suffering from a tight groin, meaning a dramatic return to action for Shaun Barker.

The defender didn't play a minute of Derby's pre-season campaign, but such is Nigel Clough's faith in last season's Jack Stamps Trophy winners' fitness he was thrown into the action.

Within a few minutes, Barker showed his commanding figure is still very much intact with two well timed blocks to keep Leeds out.

When the defence was breached, Bywater was in good form and he made a good save diving to his right to save Johnson's long range effort.

Before the hour Derby enjoyed a spell of pressure that almost resulted in a third goal but Schmeichel made another good save, this time at point blank range to deny Green.

Back down the other end Bywater did well to a shot away from Kilkenny as Leeds upped the pressure.

But Derby were standing firm, and with the quality in the side they were always a threat going forwards.

Looking to add a different dimension to their attacking play Pringle replaced the hardworking and excellent Cywka on 74 minutes, Derby's second of the afternoon.

Schmeichel was keeping Leeds in it as Derby pushed and pushed for the third goal their play deserved, with the former Notts County goalkeeper producing a magnificent double save to thwart Hulse and Barker.

Bodies were being put on the line, literally, to keep Derby's lead intact.

First Barker threw himself in front of a powerful Johnson free-kick which was goalbound, followed by Roberts clearing off the line from Naylor's header at the near post.

Porter replaced Commons with six minutes left in Derby's final change, slotting into the midfield three just behind Hulse.

He almost made the ultimate immediate impact but a header from Savage's cross was straight at Schmeichel.

With the crowd getting anxious and Leeds fans baying for an equaliser, the home side pushed forward in numbers in the dying minutes in hope of salvaging a draw.

Derby weren't in any mood to let the lead slip, and they dug deep to find the energy to see the game out and collect a deserved three points.

Leeds United: Schmeichel, Connolly, Collins, Naylor, Kilkenny (Clayton 77), Becchio, Sam (White 70), Howson (Grella 86), Johnson, Watt, Bessone

Subs: Higgs, Bruce, Hughes, Bromby

Booked: Naylor, Howson

Goals: Becchio (16)

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Anderson (Barker 46), Leacock,Savage, Bailey, Cywka (Pringle 74), Green, Commons (Porter 84), Hulse.

Subs: Deeney, Buxton, Moxey, Doyle.

Booked: Savage, Hulse

Goals: Hulse (13), Commons (27)

Attendance: 26,761