PAUL JEWELL, the Derby manager, says his side are becoming difficult to beat and a run of six games without defeat is testament to that. Their 2-1 win at Norwich yesterday came despite having keeper Roy Carroll sent off at the start of the second half.

“We showed the sort of character that was sadly lacking last season,” Jewell said of his side, who were relegated from the Premier League with the lowest points total in its history.

Rob Hulse’s strong header put the visitors in front after 26 minutes against a side hit by injuries and suspension.

Carroll was dismissed for bringing down Leroy Lita, who was making his debut for Norwich. Sammy Clingan fired the spot kick past substitute keeper Stephen Bywater.

Derby substitute Nathan Ellington hit the winner five minutes from time when he was gifted the ball by Norwich keeper David Marshall.

Alan Gow’s strike five minutes into added time, after Paul Parry’s first league goal of the season looked to have won Car-diff the points, gave Blackpool a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road.

Parry, a 64th-minute substitute for the injured Joe Ledley, struck with seven minutes remaining, curling the ball in from the edge of the area.

Gow, though, a 77th-minute substitute for Steve Kabba, made the home side’s intense late pressure pay when the on-loan Rangers player chested down the ball before firing in for his first goal for Blackpool.

Barnsley passed the eight-hour mark without a goal during yesterday’s game with Doncaster but then scored four times after being reduced to 10 men to win the South Yorkshire derby 4-1.

Brian Stock’s 11th-minute penalty after Barnsley captain Stephen Foster pushed Lewis Guy gave Doncaster hope of ending a run of five defeats.

The veteran Barnsley defender Darren Moore was sent off in the 49th minute, when Guy was again the victim. Foster headed the equaliser in the 54th minute, with Jamal Campbell-Ryce fireing Barnsley in front.

Substitute Jon Macken hit the third with his first touch before Iain Hume curled in the fourth from long range in the 87th minute.

Sean O’Driscoll, the Doncaster manager, said: “I have no problem with the players’ ability or attitude but it is between the ears where we are letting ourselves down.”

Crystal Palace continued their recent revival with a 2-0 win at bottom-club Notting-ham Forest. Paul Ifill gave the visitors an early lead, with She-fki Kuqi confirming Palace’s first away win of the season with a 12-yard shot.

Brian Laws, the Sheffield Wednesday manager, said his side were not going to Home Park to defend. He was right about that. They lost 4-0 to Plymouth, delighting the hosts’ manager, Paul Sturrock, Laws’s predecessor at Hillsborough.

A Mark Beevers own goal set Plymouth on their way, before Paul Gallagher continued his fine form when he scored from close range. Jamie Mackie struck the third, with Marcel Seip heading a late fourth.

Chris Coleman, the Coventry manager, set his side a target of 15 points after 10 matches and that is where they are after last night’s 4-1 defeat of Southampton. Jay Tabb, two, Leon McKen-zie and Leon Best were all on target, with Andrew Surman replying for the visitors.