Championship round-up: Hulse the saviour as Derby end unwanted record

(PA)

Four days before the first anniversary of their previous win, Derby County at last tasted victory again, at the 37th attempt. Goals by Paul Green, scrambled in after 24 minutes when Matt Kilgallon headed towards his own goal, and Rob Hulse, midway through the second half, earned a 2-1 win over one of Hulse's former clubs, Sheffield United. Darius Henderson had levelled after Green's opening goal, but a sequence of 28 defeats and eight draws spread across Premier and Championship matches was finally put to rest by Paul Jewell's side.

Sam Vokes, who scrambled in Wales's late winner against Azerbaijan last weekend, came off the Wolves bench at The Valley to score another two goals as Mick McCarthy's side maintained their vibrant start tothe season with a 3-1 defeat of Charlton Athletic.

"He has had a great week,"McCarthy said. "and he scored two great goals here. These days I don't turn around, look at the bench and think I can't change things. I now look at the subs and think they can change the game." And how. The Championship leaders trailed after three minutes when Wolves' goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessy, could only palm Jonathan Fortune's cross to Nick Bailey, who scored. But just after the hour Bailey fouled Andy Keogh, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake equalising from the penalty spot to set the scene for substitute Vokes's double, a near-post volley and opportunist strike after Michael Kightly's shot was parried into his path.

Second-placed Birmingham City beat Doncaster Rovers with 10 men after Mehdi Nafti was sent off in the first half for a two-footed lunge at James Coppinger. Cameron Jerome kept his head with rather more composure a minute into the second half to score the game's only goal.

There were goalless draws for third-placed Preston North End, at Coventry City, and Bristol City, fourth, at Cardiff City.

Sheffield Wednesday moved into the top six with a 2-0 defeat of visitors Watford. A long throw caused confusion in theHornets defence and Marcus Tudgay took advantage to give the Owls a 22nd-minute lead. Tommy Spurr's late goal wrapped up the three points.

After two goalless draws at Selhurst Park, Ben Watson and Nick Carle were on target as Crystal Palace earned a first League win of the season, a 2-0 defeat of Swansea City.

Blackpool and Ipswich Town began their home programmes with two defeats, but both won yesterday. Steve Kabba's late25-yard strike at BloomfieldRoad saw Pool beat Barnsley1-0, and Ipswich beat Reading 2-0, Jon Stead scoring after 62 minutes of his debut. Jonathan Walters' 86th-minute header sealed the victory.

Elsewhere, the Burnley defender Graham Alexander scored twice as the Clarets earned their first win, 2-1 at Nottingham Forest, while Norwich City beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 at Home Park, Arturo Lupoli, and Antoine Sibierski the Canaries' scorers.