A late Danny Haynes penalty won Town a 2-1 victory over Derby in a pulsating game at Portman Road. Matt Oakley put the Rams ahead prior to the dismissals of Alex Bruce and Derby keeper Stephen Bywater, but Town were on top throughout and Franny Jeffers equalised before Haynes's late spotkick.

Keeper Lewis Price failed to recover from his foot injury, so Shane Supple came back into the side with no sub keeper on the bench. David Wright was OK to keep his place after his virus, continuing at left-back with Fabian Wilnis on the right.

Jaime Peters returned on the right of midfield with Gary Roberts on the left and Owen Garvan and George O'Callaghan in the centre. Up front, Alan Lee dropped out with Jon Walters starting alongside Franny Jeffers for the first time.

Derby were without on-loan Town midfielder Darern Currie under the terms of the deal which saw him join the Rams, but ex-Blues loanee Jay McEveley was at left-back for the promotion hopefuls.

Fabian Wilnis hit the first strike of the game but failed to test keeper Stephen Bywater. Soon after Jeffers shot wide.

Derby went ahead with their first attempt on goal. A long Bywater clearance was nodded down by Steve Howard and Matt Oakley struck a superb volley past Supple from 25 yards.

Town looked to get straight back into the game with Walters forcing a save from Bywater from 20 yards and then Jeffers heading a Peters cross over.

The Blues continued to have the better of the match with Roberts scraping a right-foot shot wide after making a good run with the ball from halfway, then Garvan hit another effort which was similarly wayward.

Matt Oakley received the first of the game's many cards in the 23rd minute for a foul on Gary Roberts having received a warning earlier in the match for another challenge. Former Canary Marc Edworthy picked up referee Iain Williamson's second yellow card of the match soon after for a foul on Jeffers.

The game erupted in the 28th minute when Bruce and keeper Bywater clashed inside the area after a corner. The referee called both players over and red-carded first Bruce and then Bywater. The former West Ham man reacted angrily to his sending off and chased after Bruce, pushing him and grabbing him by the throat until the pair were separated by a steward and the rest of the players.

While the duo were removed from the pitch, order was being restored and drinks were being taken by the dug-outs, Derby manager Billy Davies encroached onto the pitch and appeared to berate some of the Town players before making his way back to his seat. However, referee Williamson had seen the incident and sent him to the stands.

Davies looks set for a touchline ban after his third dismissal of the season, while Bywater could find himself sidelined until next season with an automatic three-match suspension for violent conduct plus any further matches added on for his later assault on Bruce.

Derby switched striker Craig Fagan for their sub keeper Lee Grant, while the Blues brought on Dan Harding for Gary Roberts. Harding moved to his usual left-back role, Wright to the right and Fabian Wilnis into the centre in a 4-3-2 formation.

On 41 David Jones became the third Derby player to receive a yellow card was booked for dissent as the Rams continued to show a cynical side to their game. The referee failed to stamp out timewasting in particular, despite all the cards, while Seth Johnson ought to have had his name added to the book for a late tackle on Garvan which some referees might have deemed a straight red. Giles Barnes made one laughable dive over Jason De Vos and spent the next five minutes rolling around on the ground before receiving lengthy treatment.

Despite his knock, Garvan volleyed just wide as the half entered seven minutes of injury time. Town continued pushing forward and De Vos headed over. Soon after, Garvan made a sharp break down the left but his cross-shot flew between Jeffers and the far post.

Town didn't deserve to be behind after a half in which they had enjoyed most of the chances and possession. Aside from Oakley's excellent goal and a couple of spells of not overly threatening keep-ball, the Rams had shown little to show why they have spent much of the season towards the top of the table.

Owen Garvan had ended the half clearly struggling and came out early after half-time to undergo a fitness test, which he evidently failed. George O'Callaghan replaced his countryman at the break, while Derby switched Seth Johnson for Morten Bisgaard.

Franny Jeffers continued where he had left off before the break unleashing a shot which struck the bar and went behind. Soon after, sub O'Callaghan couldn't get any power on a header, although keeper Grant made a meal of taking control of the ball and collided with the post.

Jeffers hit another strike on the hour mark, cleverly twisting and turning before shooting but Grant had it covered, grabbing the ball at the second attempt. Supple saved David Jones's 25-yard freekick in the 68th minute after Jason De Vos had fouled Steve Howard.

The Blues finally got back on terms a minute later. Jeffers reacted quickly to race onto Fabian Wilnis's ball from the back and neatly slipped it past Grant for his third Town goal. The ex-Everton man celebrated by removing his shirt and picked up a yellow card.

At this stage Town looked the only side capable of grabbing the three points and former Blues loanee Jay McEveley stopped a Peters shot with his face at close range. Haynes took over from the tiring Jeffers on 79, the one-time England striker having once again shown why Jim Magilton wants to make him a permanent signing over the summer.

Dean Leacock and Tyrone Mears added their names to the lengthy list of Derby bookings, then Dan Harding joined them in the book for a foul on Mears.

Supple saved sub Gary Teale's curling shot in the 87th minute before the now customary Danny Haynes late show began. The pacy frontman took the ball into the area from the right, went round the outside of Edworthy, who came close to fouling him, then went inside McEveley, who did foul his former team-mate.

Referee Williamson immediately pointed to the spot and Haynes equally swiftly grabbed hold of the ball. The Town striker confidently drove the ball into the corner of the net to Grant's left, giving the keeper no chance. Like Jeffers, Haynes celebrated his goal shirtless and joined his fellow striker in the book.

Derby's languid approach to throw-ins and goalkicks suddenly disappeared as they went chasing an equaliser. However, the only remaining action was another Derby yellow card, their sixth in addition to Bywater's red, after Steve Howard had fouled Fabian Wilnis.

The final whistle sparked a standing ovation for the Blues, who have now beaten all the division's top three.

It was another excellent home display with Garvan at the heart of everything in the first half and Williams coming more to the fore in the second. Jeffers gave the Derby backline problems all afternoon and thoroughly deserved his goal. At the other end of the field, Jason De Vos had much the better of his battle with Steve Howard.

Derby's somewhat niggly approach wasn't undeserving of the seven cards (six yellow, one red, plus Billy Davies's dismissal) which will bring them an FA fine, although referee Iain Williamson seemed quick to reach for his yellow card throughout.

It was difficult to see the incident which led to the red cards, although Bywater will now surely face further action after continuing the matter after being red-carded.

Overall, another excellent home performance from the Blues, one which suggests that Town could be capable of making their mark at the right end of the division next season.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan (O'Callaghan 46), Williams, Roberts (Harding 31), Peters, Walters, Jeffers (Haynes 79). Unused: Lee, Miller. Att: 24,319.

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