Town Down Rams

Derby County fell to their ninth defeat in eleven matches despite an early Alberto Bueno goal as Ipswich Town came from behind to win at Pride Park. Gareth Roberts was released down the left and he unselfishly squared for the young Spaniard to roll home into an empty net to give his side the lead on seven minutes as Derby started brightly. After a sharp save from a David Norris effort Stephen Bywater was then beaten by a Jimmy Bullard volley from distance as he could only palm the ball into this own net and neither side threatened to add to the scoring until Norris drove home from the edge of the area with twenty minutes to go. Ben Davies showed a little more quality with his set pieces with some dangerous deliveries and he had a late effort from wide on the left tipped over the top but Derby failed to trouble Martin Fulop on a regular basis and never looked likely to rescue a point after falling behind.

Nigel Clough made four changes to the side that started against Nottingham Forest ten days ago with Stephen Pearson, James Bailey, Paul Green and Gareth Roberts coming in to replace Robbie Savage, Dean Leacock, Kris Commons and Dean Moxey. Miles Addison moved to the centre of defence to replace the suspended Leacock with John Brayford remaining at rightback. The Rams looked to start quickly and they were lively in the opening stages and took the lead with a well worked goal on seven minutes. Stephen Pearson picked out Gareth Roberts` run forward and as the leftback ran into the area he squared the ball to Alberto Bueno to tap home with the goal at his mercy.

Derby were working hard and keeping possession well without threatening the visitor`s goal and Ipswich went close on twenty-five minutes when David Norris hit a low shot from the edge of the area that was well saved by Stephen Bywater down to his left. The Rams` keeper was beaten five minutes later however when a high header away by Shaun Barker was met on the volley by Jimmy Bullard and the ball somehow made it`s way through the crowded area and Bywater could only palm the ball into his own net when he should really have done better. Derby were on their heels for a little while but fought their way back into the match with Ben Davies putting in a number of dangerous deliveries from freekicks but they couldn`t get the vital touch and the sides went in level at the break.

The home side started the second half quickly and Ben Davies flashed a valley past the post ten minutes into the second half as they looked to get back in front and John Brayford met a Davies` corner with a powerful header moments later but couldn`t get enough direction on his header to trouble Martin Fulop. David Norris dragged his effort wide of the post with Ipswich`s first shot of the half and the visitors` captain put his side in front with twenty minutes to go, Tamas Priskin worked the ball to him and he drove home a low effort from the edge of the area.

The goal prompted the arrival of Steven Davies off the bench in place of Chris Porter and Tomasz Cywka in place of Paul Green as Nigel Clough tried to find a fresh creative edge. The Rams were desperate to get back into the match but didn`t look like making the breakthrough despite enjoying the larger share of possession. Ben Davies had a freekick from the edge of the area deflected wide of the target and another effort from wide on the left tipped over by Fulop in the only moments of note in the closing stages as Ipswich saw out the final minutes to claim the win.

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Barker, Addison, Bailey, Green (Cywka 79), Pearson, B Davies, Bueno, Porter (S Davies 72).

Subs: Deeney, Savage, Doyle, Pringle, Hendrick

Ipswich Town: Fulop, McAuley, Delaney, Leadbitter, Edwards, Norris, Wickham, Martin, Bullard, Priskin, Kennedy

Subs: Peters, Scotland, Lee-Barrett, Smith, Healy, Livelli, O'Dea

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