In a game that saw Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood sent off, it was left to Darren Bent to net the winning goal from the penalty spot as the Rams moved above Middlesbrough in the table.

Will Hughes almost got on the end of Simon Dawkins's through ball, but Westwood did well to race from his line to thwart the England Under-21 international.

Lewis McGugan gave the visitors the lead on 20 minutes when he curled in a free kick on the edge of the box, before Thomas Ince struck the woodwork from close range as Derby responded well.

Fit-again midfielder George Thorne, who was one of the two changes to the Derby side, fired in an ambitious effort from around 30 yards which whistled just wide on the half-hour mark.

Ince went close again when he saw his goal-bound free kick tipped over the bar by Westwood, and the Rams were unfortunate not to make their pressure tell with an equaliser before the half-time whistle.

However, Steve McClaren's side deservedly levelled two minutes into the second half when Jake Buxton rose highest from a corner to header home.

Their parity lasted around seven minutes as Will Keane pounced to make it 2-1 to the visitors after Derby had been guilty of over-playing at the back.

Hughes and Ince linked up well as Derby went in search of their second equaliser, but the latter could only see his shot deflected wide on 65 minutes.

McClaren's men did have their leveller, though, when Buxton again headed home from Craig Bryson's delivery.

Westwood was then given his marching orders after bringing down Ince, and Bent netted his seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot to give Derby three precious points.