Boss Jim Magilton was delighted with the way his side bounced back from last week's 1-0 defeat at Doncaster by defeating Derby County 2-0 at Portman Road. Pablo Couñago and Jon Walters netted the goals which sent the Blues back up to eighth.

Magilton said: "We played well and our tempo was excellent. We started very brightly and had a real enthusiasm, which had been missing last week.

"We were very lethargic in that game and paid a heavy price, but this time we got back on track.

"I was extremely pleased that both my strikers scored. Pablo is very cool in those situations, while Jon deserves a goal for his work ethic alone.

"It was important for him to score and it's nice from my point of view to look over my shoulder and see the firepower of people like Jon Stead and Kevin Lisbie.

"It gives me options and I know that whoever plays up front we've always got the capability to score goals.

"Jon has that ability and is so adaptable, given that he can play out wide or through the middle.

"He's still young and is still improving, but he has wonderful attributes and is so hard working and honest.

"He'll get better and better, although I'd rather talk about our overall play than single him out for praise.

"On the back of the QPR game, that's two very good performances at home and there are signs that we are getting back to the sort of form we showed last season at Portman Road.

"Derby came at us after half-time and that was credit to them, but we withstood what they had to offer and came back with more and that was very pleasing.

"Shumi did well for us in midfield and both full-backs were solid. I knew Ben Thatcher could cope - coming in for his first game for a while - and David Wright is having a good season."

Rams boss Paul Jewell admitted his side were poor: "It was one of our worst displays for a while - the type of performance I thought we'd left behind.

"I'm at a loss to explain it. I'm not the type of manager who brushes things under the carpet and says it was a bad day at the office. It just wasn't acceptable.

"We weren't strong mentally or physically and, given the manner of their first goal, after a catalogue of errors, it was always going to be an uphill struggle.

"Everything that was good last week [when they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0] was poor this time round.

"We weren't compact enough and our shape wasn't as it was last week. There are ways of losing and today's way has really upset me."

Photo: Action Images

BrettenhamBlue added 05:10 - Nov 22 Looking forward to many long years with you at the helm Jim. One of the best managers we have ever had.
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