Stalemate

Derby County and Ipswich Town played out a goalless draw at Pride Park with the point moving The Rams into the top half of the table. Ben Davies came closest when his effort struck the inside of the post in the second period with Theo Robinson unable to force home the rebound and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas also hit the woodwork for Ipswich. Robinson twice came close from Ben Davies` corners, firstly with a bicycle kick and then with a glancing header but he couldn`t add to his eleven goals this season as neither side could find the breakthrough.

Jamie Ward came back into the side after missing eight games with an injury picked up on international duty and started up front alongside leading scorer Theo Robinson. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Grant Leadbitter had efforts from range in a quiet opening to match and a misplaced pass from Jake Buxton eventually lead to chance for Michael Chopra who turned in the area but his effort was well kept out by a combination of Frank Fielding and Jason Shackell. At the other end Theo Robinson`s pace almost took him clear of the Ipswich defence but he took too long and played a poor ball to Paul Green and the chance was gone.

Ward`s effort was blocked when he let fly from inside the area and Fielding clawed away an effort from Lee Martin as the sides looked to break the deadlock and Emmanuel-Thomas came close with a curling effort but it was just the wrong side of the post for the visitors. Craig Bryson released Gareth Roberts down the left and Theo Robinson was first to his low ball across the area but he stabbed his effort just wide with the last shot of the first half.

Derby came out quickly at the start of the second period but Darryl Murphy had the first effort when he fired over the top from the edge of the area. Robinson fired just wide with a bicycle kick when a corner was not cleared and he then glanced a header wide from another Ben Davies corner as they continued to apply the pressure. Davies was then played in by Ward but his well struck volley bounced back off the inside of the post and Robinson couldn`t force the ball home from close range. Emmanuel-Thomas struck the post with an effort from the edge of the area which Fielding looked to get a slight touch on and Jason Shackell had a header cleared off the line but neither side could find the all-important goal and had to settle for a point each.

Derby County: Fielding; Naylor, Buxton, Shackell, Roberts; Green, Bryson, Hendrick, B. Davies; Ward (Tyson 78), Robinson.

Subs Not Used: Severn, Bailey, Carroll, Bennett.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett; Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell; Leadbitter, Drury, Emmanuel-Thomas (Bowyer 82), Martin (Scotland 69); Murphy, Chopra (Stevenson 85).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Sonko.

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