Andrews Wins It For Town

A contentious headed goal from Keith Andrews gave Ipswich Town a 1-0 victory over Derby County as Portman Road. It wasn`t so much the decision than the manner in which it arrived with the linesman not signalling anything before consulting with the referee and the goal being awarded. Derby enjoyed the better of the firsthalf with Jamie Ward and Craig Bryson both being denied by Arran Lee-Bennett although Carlos Edwards did curl an effort narrowly over at the other end. However, just moments into the second half Frank Fielding misjudged a deep cross and Andrews` header was eventually adjudged to have crossed the line to give the home side the lead. Chances were scarcer from there on in with John Brayford and substitute Theo Robinson both heading wide with rare sights of goal. The return of Nathan Tyson in the closing stages was a bright moment for The Rams who failed to find a break through before the final whistle.

Callum Ball came in for his first start of the season and there was also a return for John Brayford in midfield and Nathan Tyson was a surprise inclusion on the bench. The Rams saw a lot of the ball in the opening stages but they didn`t have a shot on goal until just after a quarter of an hour when Jamie Ward cut in from the left but his shot from the edge of the area was pushed behind for a corner by Arran Lee-Barrett in the home goal. At the other end Frank Fielding was forced into his first save of the match when Keith Andrews hit a swerving effort but the young Derby keeper palmed the effort away.

The Rams were back on the front foot again and Lee-Barrett did will to keep out a well struck effort from Craig Bryson and he then reacted quickly to block another effort from Ward at his near post from point-blank range. Carlos Edwards curled an effort just over the top after Derby gave the ball away in midfield and Jason Shackell made a superb last-ditch tackle to take the ball away from Michael Chopra inside the area as the home side enjoyed a short spell of pressure before the break.

After enjoying the better of the first half Derby found themselves a goal down early in the second half on controversial circumstances. A cross from the left was misjudged by Fielding and Keith Andrews headed the ball goalwards only for James Bailey to clear to safety and the game continued. After a brief delay the referee, Mr Webb, decided to consult with his linesman and eventually gave the goal despite no signal having been initially made from his colleague.

Shaun Barker was inches away from a Ward freekick on the hour when only a touch would surely have seen him score and Fielding pulled off a fine save to keep out Lee Martin`s effort from distance. Theo Robinson was introduced from the bench in place of Bailey with just over fifteen minutes to go and Bryson came close with an effort from inside the area but his effort was deflected wide at the expense of a corner. Brayford headed wide of the mark from a Gareth Roberts cross and Robinson was also off target with a headed effort with ten minutes to go. Nathan Tyson came on in place of Brayford with eight minutes to go and Ben Davies replaced Jeff Hendrick on the closing minutes but neither could make an impact and Ipswich claimed the points.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Edwards, Sonko, Collins, Cresswell, Martin I(Carson 90), Andrews, Bowyer, Murphy, Chopra (Emmanuel-Thomas 71), Scotland (Bullard 82).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Wabara.

Derby County: Fielding, Green, Barker, Shackell, Roberts, Brayford (Tyson 82), Bailey (Robinson 64), Hendrick (B Davies 90), Bryson, Ward, Ball.

Subs Not Used: Legzdins, O'Brien.

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