The Baggies heaped more misery on Derby boss George Burley who has now seen his troops lose four of their opening five games, and former Crewe hit-man Hulse poached the decisive goal with 14 minutes remaining.
Reading maintained their impressive early form with a comprehensive 3-0 triumph at lowly Wimbledon, Shaun Goater bagged a clinical brace (12, 59) whilst Andy Hughes also got on the scoresheet (52).
Crystal Palace fell from their perch at the top of the table after being pegged back by an injury-time goal in their local derby with Millwall.
The visitors had their fifth player of the season sent off when Tommy Black saw red on the hour mark, but still managed to move ahead through teenager Ben Watson's well-placed free-kick.
The midfield starlet struck on 67 minutes and, after a determined rearguard action, Palace seemed set for an unlikely victory, but Belgian international Bob Peeters headed his first Lions goal deep into stoppage time to ensure honours ended even.
Mick McCarthy continued to revive the fortunes of Sunderland who enjoyed their third league success on the trot at Bradford.
The Wearsiders ran out comfortable 4-0 winners after three goals inside the first half hour from Gary Breen, Marcus Stewart and Julio Arca had put them in complete control.
Sean Thornton added a fourth with a quarter of an hour remaining to underline the visitors' s superiority.
Sheffield United also left it late, and Jack Lester was the hero as The Blades edged out Coventry City at Bramall Lane.
Patrick Suffo seemed to have earned Coventry a point against his former employers when he cancelled out a Michael Brown's first-half penalty on 67 minutes.
However, former Forest striker Lester pounced with time running out to send the home fans home happy.
Division One new-boys Wigan cruised to their third successive league victory with a 3-0 demolition of Rotherham at Millmoor.
Jason Jarrett, Nathan Ellington and Neil Roberts did the damage for Paul Jewell's men who move into the top four on the back of the triumph.
Trevor Brooking maintained his 100 percent record as caretaker manager at West Ham as the Hammers held on for a narrow 2-1 away win against Ipswich.
A sparkling Jermaine Defoe individual effort after 21 minutes and tap-in from David Connolly just after half-time put the visitors in charge, but they were made to cling on after Jermaine Wright reduced the arrears on 65 minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
Nottingham Forest moved into the top ten after seeing off Norwich City 2-0 at the City Ground, though it took a bizarre goal to break the deadlock.
Norwich keeper Robert Green rolled the ball in front of him to launch a goalkick forward, but was left stunned when David Johnson appeared from behind him to nick the ball off his toe and roll into the unguarded net.
Forest sealed matters midway through the second period when Marlon Harewood fired home from the penalty spot after Johnson was adjudged to have been impeded in the visitors' penalty area.
High-flying Stoke were brought back down to earth after Preston ruined their unbeaten start to the new campaign.
A single goal from Paul McKenna on 19 minutes was enough to clinch the points for embattled North End boss Craig Brown at Deepdale.
Cardiff fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at Walsall when Garteh Whalley slammed home a last-minute equaliser to cancel out Jorge Leitao's striker early in the second period, however both sides finished with ten men as Zigor Aranalde and Alan Lee saw red.
Burnley followed up their midweek success at Gillingham with another victory, beating Crewe at Turfmoor courtesy of Richard Chaplow's solitary goal.
Meanwhile Watford registered their first points of the campaign after a 2-2 home draw with Gillingham.
The Hornets twice lead after Heidar Helguson and Danny Webber scored, but twice The Gills fought back through Paul Shaw and Danny Spiller, while Watford's Neil Ardley received his marching orders one minute from time.
Click below for match summaries:
Bradford 0-4 Sunderland
Burnley 1-0 Crewe
Derby 0-1 West Brom
Ipswich 1-2 West Ham
Millwall 1-1 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Norwich
Preston 1-0 Stoke
Rotherham 0-3 Wigan
Sheff Utd 2-1 Coventry
Walsall 1-1 Cardiff
Watford 2-2 Gillingham
Wimbledon 0-3 Reading
Click here for updated Division One table
