Derby County fell to a 2-1 defeat in a battling
performance at Pride Park Stadium against promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in the
Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
A Lewis Travis own goal after eight minutes saw the visitors get in front, and the visitors held their one-goal advantage against heavy pressure from the Rams towards the end of the first half.
Derby continued to threaten, and a Rhian Brewster penalty in
the 68th minute drew the game level, but a header at the far post by Leif Davis
put Ipswich in front once again, against the run of play, after Derby’s sustained threat was held at bay by the visiting defence.
Key Moments
Ipswich got in front after eight minutes when the ball was headed in off Travis for an own goal in a packed penalty area.
Matt Clarke made a sliding intervention in the 16th minute when Iván Azón was slotted in behind and looked to be in a shooting position.
Ipswich had another opportunity denied as they held pressure, when Jack Clarke slipped Anis Mehmeti down the left to shoot, but goalkeeper Josh Vickers was equal to the shot.
Ben Brereton DÃaz’s chasing of a lost cause earned Derby their best chance of the half after 23 minutes.
A ball over the top saw the winger battle and win against full-back Leif Davis, and he delivered a low cross into the box, which striker Patrick Agyemang saw just out of reach for his audacious back heel attempt.
The Rams picked up the momentum in the game after the chance, with both David Ozoh and Agyemang carrying the ball at the opposition defence – Agyemang’s effort winning two corners which were defended by Ipswich.
A prolonged spell in the 42nd minute saw Derby moving the ball cutely about the pitch to open up a chance. After a few openings were well closed by the opposition, interplay between Travis and Brereton DÃaz found Brewster in the box, who sent an effort curling wide of the far post.
HALF-TIME: Derby County 0-1 Ipswich Town
Vickers came up trumps after a quick turnover saw Wes Burns one-on-one with the Derby stopper, who rushed out and made himself big to make an excellent stop in the 50th minute.
Changes after the hour saw Oscar Fraulo and Jaydon Banel enter the field for Derby as the Rams looked to find an equaliser.
It came when Clark won a penalty for the Rams in the 65th minute when Azor Matusiwa felled the midfielder in the box following a dangerous cross in by Agyemang.
Brewster stepped up to take and finished confidently to level the scoring.
Captain Travis tried for goal in the 72nd minute and saw his arrowed attempt from 25 yards fly just over the crossbar.
Ipswich regained the lead with their first threat of the half
as Kacey McAteer hung a cross to the far post, which full-back Davis headed
into the back of the net, giving Vickers no chance.
Rams defender Clarke came agonisingly close to rebalancing
the scores in the 84th minute when he wrapped his foot around a low cross to
whip the ball just to the wrong side of the near post.
A late sending off for Travis, as he received a second yellow card, saw Derby reduced to 10 in added time. Moments later, a marauding run from substitute Owen Eames nearly bore fruit as he charged to the byline, but was tussled off the ball by the defender and penalty appealswere waived away – leaving Ipswich the victors at Pride Park.
Teams
Derby County: Vickers (GK), Murkin, Batth, Clarke, Agyemang, Brewster (Salvesen 83), Ozoh (Fraulo 60), Ward, Brereton DÃaz (Banel 60), Travis (C), Clark (Eames 89).
Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Forsyth, Thompson, Eames, Canoville, Allen.
Ipswich Town: Walton (GK), Davis, Kipré, Matusiwa, Burns (McAteer 64), Taylor (Neil 75), Furlong, O’Shea (C), Azón (Hirst 75), Mehmeti, Clarke (Akpom 75).
Unused Substitutes: Palmer (GK), Walle Egeli, Cajuste, Johnson, Greaves.
What’s Next?
Derby return to Pride Park Stadium for the visit of Swansea City on Saturday 14th February (3pm kick-off).
