West Bromwich Albion survived playing with 10 men for nearly an hour to win at Derby County for the first time in 23 years and go top of the Championship table.

Albion were almost relegated to League One last season but lead the way early on this time thanks to a predatory finish from Aune Heggebo.

Right-back Brayann Pereira was sent off just 34 minutes into his debut but the visitors produced a determined and otherwise disciplined display to continue their rehabilitation under head coach James Morrison.

Derby were unable to take advantage and drop into the bottom three after a fourth defeat of the season already.

Albion turned to Morrison in April after a season of toil last year in which there were two sackings and a points deduction.

And their former midfielder has done wonders so far to have Baggies fans dreaming of Premier League football for the first time since 2021.

Derby started brightly, pressing Albion high and looking sharp on the ball with former West Brom man Alex Mowatt pulling the strings in midfield.

But Albion then decisively took the lead with their first real attack.

Callum Styles did brilliantly on the left to win the ball back, and when Jimmy-Jay Morgan flashed a cross in, Heggebo was able to slam in from close range.

Right-back Pereira then saw a second yellow card after clattering Charlie Taylor just minutes after being booked.

Derby dominated the rest of the half to no avail, having their best chance when David Ozoh wriggled into the area and poked the ball across goal but Styles was alive to clear.

Albion lost Nolan Galves, who only came on after the first-half red card, to injury early in the second period, but their defence dealt well with another reshuffle.

The Rams were toothless in response, with a frustrated crowd making their feelings known at full-time after another defeat.

West Brom manager James Morrison to BBC WM:

"I am very proud after that but I need a sit down. The lads deserve every bit of credit, they have shown their commitment to the club and to each other. It was everything you want to see as a coach.

"It's important you don't get disjointed and leave gaps. We defended crosses so well and as the game wore on they got frustrated. There were big performances from everyone.

"It's still early in the season and we are still bedding in. We are basing this team on clean sheets and that's pleasing for me. We limited them to not much.

"The red card was [down to] inexperience but the lads bailed him [Pereira] out. He'll learn from that the hard way - welcome to English football."

Derby County boss John Eustace to BBC Radio Derby:

"The way we started the game was excellent and then to go behind in the way we did against the run of play was a kick in the teeth. It's another early goal at home which is something we want to stop.

"The attitude of the boys was very good. In the second half we threw everything at their goal but we couldn't get the quality in the final third to break them down.

"That's where we are at the moment. We had to be patient when they went down to 10 men, we needed forward runners and we had two or three good chances.

"There is a lot of work we need to do."