Town allowed a 4-1 half-time lead slip as Derby County fought back to claim a 4-4 draw at Pride Park. Daryl Murphy scored twice and Christophe Berra and Aaron Cresswell once each before the break with the home side having pulled one back through Zak Whitbread. The second half was almost constant Rams pressure and they eventually grabbed a point with skipper Craig Bryson scoring twice and Jamie Ward once.

Mick McCarthy named an unchanged team for the third successive match with the only switch in the 18 Tyrone Mings’s return to the bench in place of striker Jack Marriott.

The Rams, watched by new boss Steve McClaren, who takes charge tomorrow, handed a debut to defender Whitbread, who joined on loan from Leicester yesterday.

On-form Blues striker David McGoldrick went looking for what would be his first ever Town away goal early on, but failed to find the target from 20 yards in the fourth minute.

At the other end, Craig Forsyth crossed but former Norwich man Chris Martin got under the ball with his header.

But it was Town who would draw first blood in the sixth minute. McGoldrick won a freekick on the left after he was fouled by Jake Buxton. Aaron Cresswell sent a freekick to the far post and Christophe Berra powered home his second headed goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Daryl Murphy forced Rams’ keeper Lee Grant to parry a shot from the right. Ryan Tunnicliffe was unable to get in a clean strike at the rebound and McGoldrick’s subsequent strike deflected wide.

From the corner, Town went two in front. Cresswell again whipped the ball over and this time it was Murphy who powered home the header.

Three minutes later, the home side pulled a goal back after Connor Sammon forced Berra to concede a corner on the right having beaten Cresswell. Ben Davies whipped the ball in and debutant Whitbread’s header flew past Gerken.

But it took only another two minutes for Town’s two-goal lead to be restored. Good work from Cresswell, Tunnicliffe, Murphy and Paul Anderson on the left ended with the former Forest midfielder playing in the left-back at a very tight angle. Cresswell brought the ball in before hitting a low shot which struck keeper Lee Grant and then the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

The basketball style end to end scoring eventually subsided, although the Blues could have been 4-1 up in the 18th minute when a McGoldrick shot deflected to Murphy with the Rams’ defence again all over the place but a defender’s toe stabbed the ball out, although referee Trevor Kettle awarded a goalkick.

Just before the half hour Berra headed over from another Town set piece, this time a corner, then at the other end Ward curled a shot wide for the Rams. Two minutes later, McGoldrick shot wide after being cleverly played in by Luke Hyam.

Town did make in 4-1 in the 34th minute and once more from a set piece. Cresswell whipped the ball in and Murphy flashed a header past Grant and into the net for his second of the season.

Large numbers of the home fans decided they’d seen enough of the first half at this point and were sung on their way by the Blues’ support, who earlier had given Steve McClaren his first burst of ‘You’re being sacked in the morning’ before he has even officially taken charge at Pride Park.

Davies shot wide for the Rams, then with five minutes of the half still McGoldrick headed Anderson’s right-wing cross beyond Grant’s left post.

Gerken was forced into action in the 44th minute when Ward dispossessed Anderson but the Blues keeper reacted quickly and blocked. Moments later, the former Sheffield United man curled a strike over from distance.

Referee Kettle’s whistle brought a breathless half to an end after a lengthy spell of injury time in which the Rams won several corners.

Town were worthy of their lead with the home side unable to deal with Cresswell’s set pieces for three of the goals and having been taken apart by slick Blues passing for the goal the left-back scored himself.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Derby's interim manager Darren Wassall made two changed at the break, John Eustace taking over from Sammon, leaving Martin as the only out and out central striker, and youngster Mason Bennett replacing Davies.

Within two minutes the Rams pulled a goal back. Will Hughes playing in skipper Craig Bryson on the left of the area, from where he slipped the ball under Gerken much to manager McCarthy’s frustration in the technical area.

The home fans were suddenly in far better spirits and the volume was turned up several notches. There was another scare for the Blues a minute later when sub Bennett was played through on goal but Berra made a superb challenge as he burst into the box. Eustace lashed the loose ball wildly over.

Town weren’t far away from a fifth in the 50th minute when Cresswell and Skuse played a well-rehearsed freekick to McGoldrick on the edge of the box but his shot was just too high.

But the home side’s comeback was to continue. In the 61st minute. Martin backheeled the ball into the path of Hughes on the left and the promising youngster’s low ball into the six-yard box was diverted home by Ward.

McGoldrick screwed a shot from a tight angle wide on 62 but it was the home side doing most of the pressing. On 66 Eustace was booked for catching Tunnicliffe with an elbow. Three minutes later, the on-loan Manchester United man joined him for a revenge foul on the veteran midfielder.

After a Eustace header from a corner was blocked, Carlos Edwards replaced Anderson and Jay Tabb took over from Tunnicliffe.

On 74 McGoldrick was booked for a foul on Ward, the freekick flying wide off Eustace’s head. Soon after Berra joined him Mr Kettle’s book, also for a foul on Ward, then Skuse was yellow-carded for a foul on Adam Smith.

Frank Nouble replaced McGoldrick for the final 10 minutes with the Blues hanging on to their slender lead in the face of near constant Derby pressure but the additions of Tabb and Edwards having notably made a difference.

With seven minutes remaining, Ward hit a low shot through to Gerken, then Cresswell’s name was added to referee Kettle’s book for timewasting at a freekick.

In the 88th minute, the equaliser which the home side had been threatening to score came. Gerken failed to deal with a corner from the left which was headed up into the air. Whitbread’s header was blocked but the loose ball fell to Bryson, who slammed into the net to a rapturous reception from the Rams’ crowd.

In injury time, a low Nouble cross into the box almost caused problems for the Derby backline but the ball was eventually cleared, the Blues frontman picking up a late booking for a challenge on keeper Grant.

Edwards tried a repeat of his goal in the final moments of the game here in April but this time failed to hit the target and the whistle went soon afterwards.

Town had the game all but won at the break but handed the impetus to the home side by conceding the second goal so soon after the start of the second half.

From there, the Blues defended too deep, rarely venturing out of their half and ultimately paid the price.

Boss Mick McCarthy is unlikely to be impressed with the way his team threw away what should have been their first away victory of the season and only their second of 2013.

Derby: Grant, Smith, Buxton, Whitbread, Forsyth, Davies (Eustace 46), Bryson, Hughes, Ward (Russell 90), Sammon (Bennett 46), Martin. Unused: Deeney, Lowe, Hanson, Jacobs.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson (Edwards 71), Hyam, Skuse, Tunnicliffe (Tabb 71), Murphy, McGoldrick (Nouble 82). Unused: Loach, Hewitt, Mings, Wordsworth. Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland). Att: 21,037.

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 08:25 - Oct 2 Sundre totally disagree about Bera I think he is a fine centre back and very accomplished on re ball and there lies the problem and why I believe we have chambers out of position. If he plays Hewit or brings in a RB on loan who does he drop? By bringing Bera into the team he has in effect created his own problem. Chambers is pretty much our full time captain now so he won't drop him, Tommy hasn't put a foot wrong and Bera is a very very good player. However the back four as it stands is not the same force it was last season with stearman as a natural RB. I also think we lack a natural winger and that surprises me as I really thought that is what Mick would address. I'm not flouncing like many, I think we will have our best season since Jim, BUT we are a top middle table team at best - 8 to 12 place finish

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planetblue_2011 added 08:34 - Oct 2 Terrible result it feels like a lose. I keep thinking at least we got a point but then I'm letting the players off the hook from which should of been a comfortable win. I'm going to Sheff wed's on sat I can't deal with another game like that. Please sort it out Mick!! Sheff wed did concede an 89th min goal against Brighton so their confidence could be low after that. We will see on sat!!!!

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jarrettboy added 09:02 - Oct 2 Very disappointed about this, to give away a 3 goal lead is just unacceptable, mick has to take some blame as he should have put 5 in the middle and cancelled them out, but the players are the 1's to blame as they are the 1's out there and they should be able to do there jobs for 90 mins and be big enough to know how to see a game out and not to get cocky, and as for Gerkin well he has to have a long hard think about himself. Just hope they will bounce back against Sheffield Wed now because that must feel like a loss to them. Total disgrace they need to show more character if we are to be a top 6 team

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:08 - Oct 2 that was a wild west gunfight in a telephone kiosk ! what the hell was going on ? I think the score at half time was the reason we fell apart, a false sense of security, the team probably came out in 2nd half thinking it would be a Turkey shoot for them ,but it backfired in spectacular fashion .A terrible result on what could and should have been a great night .I hope the team learn from that . Enough said .

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MickMillsTash added 09:08 - Oct 2 I thought that we got to 4-1 without having to be very good, there was an air of casualness about our play in the last 5 minutes of the first half that carried over to the second. It really was a very unusual game. Derby did change it - They brought on Eustace who I think is a good player and he picked up every second ball and gave it easy. In the first half we managed to put pressure on their players but were deeper in the second and paid the price- Gerken did not have to make too many saves throughout. If I have a criticism of McCarthy it was that we did not bring Nobile on before- his pace would have given us a ball over the top and relieved pressure. I also thought Anderson should have come off after 60 as he was tiring and it was down their left that they had most space. But its hard to level much at McCarthy - the players should be able to defend a 3 goal half time lead. All their goals were scored in or near the 6 yard box Cresswell is becoming a top class player These things do happen, we are as good as we have been for the last 6 years.

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FenboyBlue added 09:16 - Oct 2 I felt sick when I saw the full time result. However, I'm not overreacting. That was probably a freak one off game for the season. Move on. But we need to work on our away game mentality.
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TractorCam added 09:50 - Oct 2 Shameful
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BillBlue added 10:34 - Oct 2 Slightly more relaxed so will now post. My single thought is, I hope there are no surprises in our next game because there does seem to be a slightly over positive feeling from some of our supporters over that game and, of course, anything could happen.
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Blaine96 added 10:41 - Oct 2 Obvisouly its a very disappointing result after being 4-1 up but every team has that day at some point and sadly for us it was this game. We started very very well going forward which is a positive and its nice to see other people score apart from McGoldrick but i thin alot of Town fans can agree that breaking the Smith-Chambers paring is what has caused us to concede these amounts of goals. Berra is a great defender but after last season i never understood why Mick made the decision to break them up. But now we move on its a point but not a good one, however we move on and focus on going to Sheffield Wednesday and scoring the goals and looking to be more stable and be able to cope with the pressure they put on us. I will support Ipswich no matter what the situation is. Now to focus on Saturday and it's a chance to put things right. COYB!!

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Bergholtblue added 11:21 - Oct 2 Just be grateful that McLaren didn't come down and tinker with the formation at the start of the match. The way we were outplayed in the second half, this could have been another 6+ goal away defeat!
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linhdi added 11:21 - Oct 2 After the 0-0 at Huddersfield last season, Mick Mac said "I've never had a bad away point in my life". I suspect he might change his mind now. I was mystified that we took so long to change things around; even in the first half, they were far better on the ball a lot of the time, and able to pass around and through our midfield. A touch of Tabb would have made a difference, I am sure, and maybe Hewitt's pace on the right wouldn't have gone amiss. Still, onwards to Saturday, and at least it's not boring!

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bugledog123 added 11:40 - Oct 2 It feels like we lost. I can't take many positives from this......
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richard_4_itfc added 11:54 - Oct 2 Good grief! What sort of lame game was that by Town?! I really don't like to criticize but at times I feel compelled to and this is one such! I listened to the game on Radio Suffolk and Town were comfortably 4-1 ahead at the break mainly because Derby were poor. Town played like xxxx in the second half though and were lucky not to get beaten! I will credit Derby for a great fightback but Town were awful in the second half and didn't react to the Derby changes and didn't show enough fight-just fright! After Wigan, Mick MacCarthy said Town were not ruthless and they haven't learnt that lesson. I hope he tears into them for that second half performance and I agree with lots of comments here it was shocking! Come on Town players ... man up! Town just cannot be so inconsistent if they are to realise any of their undoubted potential...Wow..the highs and lows of being a Town fan! :-) COYB

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multiplescoregasms added 11:58 - Oct 2 Absolutely gutted. There can be no excuses for that 2nd Half performance. We had no idea how to cope with the changes they made, and that really makes me worry. We still have no idea how to shut games down from winning positions, and if you can't do that at 4-1 up, when will you. No doubt we are a much improved side from the one MM had when he arrived, but we are obviously a long long way from competing at the top level. The Sheffield game is now a big 3 pointer for us if we want to keep up with the top teams in the Division. Teams don't get promoted on just home form. COYB

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TimmyH added 12:30 - Oct 2 Totally agree with Bluelady's post at the top of the page. To me Mick at the least needs to address RB problem, GK and a quality left winger/midfielder - don't think we'll get anywhere near the play-offs without these issues being sorted. Just above mid-table is probably a good guess at present. Re: last nights game, psychology plays a big game in all sports at the top level - forget about tactics and diamond formations we simply didn't go out for the second half with the right mind set and that was to compete, do you think they would have scored 3 with no reply if it was level at half time? no chance. The team needs to be far far stronger mentally as a unit.

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EssexTractor added 13:15 - Oct 2 Not at the game last night so comments have to be restricted to Radio Suffolk reports and Sky Sports "Goal clips". Today a little less angry than immediately after the match and trying to form sensible constructive words rather than rant and rave as was last nights desire. I understand all of the comments about splitting up the Smith/Chambers partnership, the repeated calls for Stearman or a more natural rb than Chambers and yes it would be great to have a pacy winger but in my view I consider the shortcomings to be in midfield. Yes we have neat and tidy but I dont think we have "fist clenching/sleeves rolledup" defensive midfielders or "silky smooth dfensive splitting" attacking midfielders. When push comes to shove we are lightweight and timid right across our midfieid, mentally and physically. Illustrated perfectly last nite when Carl Skuse was facing his own goal lost control, was too easily dispossesed and wham bam goal to Derby. Our lack of resilience in midfield is of great concern and means that part of the team goes back or is pushed too far back too easily and consequently the support for the back four (whoever they are ) is overrun. A vocal leader is required in centre midfield For to be fair there is no great petition calling for the heads of Smith or Chambers or Berra (and we have the best left back or corner kicker! in the divsion), a talented McGoldrick, so stiffen up that midfield Mick and just as a PS, maybe reconsider how important having a good championship keeper is.

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del45 added 14:04 - Oct 2 Poor second half by mm should have made changes after 4-2 he must take the blame. Why do we keep letting in goals in the final mins good sides keep the ball to see out the game.
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Lightningboy added 15:36 - Oct 2 There was almost a "morning after the night before" feeling today..woke up and thought i'd dreamt it. Hopefully (??!!) the result will get them to pull their fingers out on saturday and make up for that second half disaster last night. Anyone know what the current situation is with Stearman & Henderson?..don't think either are featuring for their clubs at the mo?..surely we could sort something out for both?

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nitroblue1970 added 16:59 - Oct 2 edmundsblue....im not saying we are an average championship side because of the Derby result, we have , at our best, been average for at least five years. Being an average side for the whole of this season would be a big improvement! Anyone who thinks that just because we are Ipswich we should be in the top six is deluded.
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dubblue added 17:16 - Oct 2 To be blunt we have been below average for most of last few seasons, second half of last season showed significant improvement but it has not been maintained so far this season. In 10th place is statistically average but it is still early days!
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bluetractor73 added 17:25 - Oct 2 What hell went on in 2nd half did the Wally with the brolly go in towns dressing room at half time to give team talk 2nd,3rd and 4th goals unacceptable defending was non existing
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TractorBoy666 added 18:33 - Oct 2 blues1. He made a few mistakes before Wigan, however none of them led to goals but could have done (the one he headed back to a boro player who should have scored). Loach I don't have much confidence in either, so a new keeper on loan would be ideal if we're realistic in reaching the top 6.
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blockb_steward added 18:44 - Oct 2 My brother lives in Sussex and we went to see the Brighton v Sheffield Wed game last night. Despite us losing a three goal lead, our progress is there for all to see - we have to learn from this. Brighton and Sheffield Wed however, were pretty clueless and I would be disappointed if Town did not pick up something on Saturday. Brighton were all at sea throughout and clearly missing Poyet and Wednesday have League One written all over them. Onwards and upwards, we would have been happy to be sitting in 10th at this stage before the season started...that I guess is a positive.

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blockb_steward added 18:47 - Oct 2 Wanted to add...still gutted :(
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blueboy1981 added 18:53 - Oct 2 Letchworth Blue - I was there on Saturday against Brighton (as always) and one goal from Brighton could have seen the same happen as last night in my opinion. Gutted - but not surprised to be honest, at what happened against Derby. We have a history of sitting back on a lead, to our detriment as again seen. As normal, and to some degree you can understand why - far too many people are blinded by 'blue' sunlight, and only see in a game what they want to see.

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