Town crashed out of the FA Youth Cup and missed out on a home tie against Manchester City in the next round after losing a tightly-contested game 3-2 at Derby, the Blues’ goals coming from from Tom Winter and Mark Timlin (pictured).
Town took the lead 12 minutes in with Jack Marriott touching Byron Lawrence's cross into to path of Tom Winter at the back post who hit the ball into an empty net.
The Blues close came seconds later with Marriott pulling his shot wide when he was through on goal.
Derby drew level from the penalty spot with Rhys Sharpe sending keeper Michael Crowe the wrong way for what looked like a certain penalty after Matt Clarke had brought Sharpe down.
The Rams began to get back into the game with Kwame Thomas and Sharpe coming close with Crowe saving well.
Town central defender Omar Sowunmi was knocked out near the end of the first half and after a lengthy stoppage left the field on a stretcher and was taken to hospital, Joe Robinson replacing him at the back.
Derby got the goal that looked to have been coming in first half injury time when Crowe parried a shot into the path of Andy Dales, who scored from close range.
Minutes later, Town drew level when Lawrence's shot across goal was saved by Ross Etheridge but only into the path of Mark Timlin at the back post and the Irishman finished with ease.
Russell Osman’s boys came close in the second half with Winter shooting just wide of the right post from the edge of the area.
With ten minutes to go the Rams — who had introduced regular first-teamer Will Hughes from the bench - took the lead with Hanson scoring from a freekick from the right side of the box. The ball went into the right side of the goal with Crowe looking as if he knew he should have done better.
Overall, Town, who were watched by boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor, struggled in the middle and didn't provide enough service for what were dangerous looking strikers. Derby, who were also threatening up top made more chances and could have had more
However, if Sowunmi hadn't have gone off things may have been different with the defender looking solid at the back.
U18s: Crowe, Hammond, Sowunmi (Robinson 44), Clarke, October, Winter, Berkane, Leddy (Willbye 84), Timlin (Galvin 90), Lawrence, Marriott. Subs not used: Marsden, Ramadan. Att: 436.
Report: Blair Ferguson