Released Town striker Matt Robinson reminded the Blues what they will be missing when he scored the winning goal for Derby reserves against Town's second string at Portman Road on Wednesday night. Robinson, who is currently on trial with the Rams, struck after 49 minutes of a dismal encounter.

The Blues' only chance of the game fell to Alun Armstrong came in the ninth minute when Dean Bowditch dispossessed Derby keeper Lee Camp on the edge of his area. The ball ran to Armstrong 25 yards out from the open goal, but he screwed his shot wide.

It was a scrappy affair and only distance efforts at the other end from Labathe Tome, Doyle and Tudgay troubled Lewis Price, the young keeper doing particularly well to tip over Labathe Tome's 20-yard one bounce volley.

Derby had the best of the game, played mainly in driving rain, and Robinson came close to his second goal of the game on 67 but Price saved his header. A minute later the same player was only just over the bar with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

While Robinson will have impressed watching Derby coaches, Town trialist Alex Rhodes, a left winger from Newmarket Town, found it very hard to get into the game and was substituted in the 63rd minute. He clearly had pace but looked lightweight and was largely a peripheral figure.

Convalescing defender John McGreal came through 63 minutes seemingly without a reaction to his back injury and may well be setting his sights on at least a position on the substitutes bench when Richard Naylor serves his one-match suspension against Gillingham.

Up front neither Dean Bowditch nor Alun Armstrong overly impressed in what was a disappointing display from a reserves side which, although mainly made up of youngsters, had a fair smattering of experience.

Reserves: Price, Mitchell, Krause, Murray, McGreal (Atay 63), Nash, Abidallah (Barron 69), Bloomfield, Armstrong, Bowditch, Rhodes (Morrow 63).

Photo: Action Images

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