Luke Varney netted against his old club eight minutes after coming on as a half-time sub to see the Blues to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Derby at the iPro Stadium where Town are undefeated in almost a decade. The striker hit a 25-yard shot - the Blues' first on target - which Rams keeper Scott Carson could only help on its way into his net.

Adam Webster and Conor Grant replaced the injured Tommy Smith and Freddie Sears in an otherwise unchanged side but with Town lining up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Grant on the left and Kevin Bru behind striker Brett Pitman.

Derby made two changes with Jacob Butterfield coming in for Johnny Russell, who has a calf problem, in midfield and Alex Pearce taking over from Jason Shackell at centre-half.

The Blues had most of the ball in the early stages but it was Derby who created the first chance on five, James Wilson breaking towards the edge of the box before Webster stopped him in his tracks.

The Rams went close to going in front in the 10th minute when Luke Chambers’s clearing header from a cross from the right only reached Matej Vydra on the edge of the box. The Czech Republic international hit a powerful low shot which Bartosz Bialkowski brilliantly stopped. Chambers atoned for his error by reaching the loose ball before Wilson

Derby continued to look the more dangerous side with their pace going forward proving a significant threat but without Bialkowski being tested again.

But the Blues began to get on top as the match reached the 20-minute mark, Bru and Jonas Knudsen combining with Grant Ward on the left before the ex-Spurs winger hit a low shot well wide.

On 22 Bru, who was finding a lot of space midway inside the Derby half, fed Grant to his left. The on-loan Everton man crossed to the far post and the ball deflected out to the Mauritius international, whose attempt to loop the ball back into the box was blocked.

Town continued to have more of the ball, passing it around confidently at times, but without creating an opportunity.

In the 31st minute a Butterfield freekick on the Derby right, awarded after Grant had fouled Cyrus Christie, was cleared to Craig Bryson, who hit a shot through a crowd of players which Bialkowski claimed at the second attempt.

The Rams were taking charge again and two minutes later, after Bru had got caught in possession midway inside his own half by Will Hughes, Bryson shot wide, off a Town defender according to the home players but not referee Stuart Attwell.

Town found themselves very much under the cosh as the half entered its final 10 minutes. Chambers blocked an Ikechi Anya shot, then Cole Skuse was booked for a foul on Hughes. Moments later, Webster bundled the ball behind after Anya had cut in from the left.

On 38 Webster made a strong run from deep unchallenged but Derby quickly regained possession and brought the ball forward again.

A minute later Berra was booked for a foul on Hughes and Butterfield sent the resultant 25-yard freekick wide.

The Derby pressure continued, Wilson hitting a low shot from distance which Bialkowski saved down to his left. Knudsen cleared the danger.

Half-time gave the Blues some respite having been pinned back in their own box for most of the final 15 minutes.

After weathering the Rams’ earlier spell of dominance, the Blues briefly got on top but without creating a serious chance. However, the home side regained control and Town will be pleased to have gone in still level at the break.

The Blues made two made two changes at the start of the second half with Varney and Tom Lawrence, making his Blues debut, taking over from Grant, who had never really got to grips with the pace of the game, and Bru, who had drifted out of it towards the end of the half. Lawrence started on the left with Varney joining Pitman up front.

Bryson hit the second period’s first shot wide two minutes after the restart, before Varney picked up a quick booking for a foul on Pearce.

But in the 54th minute the 33-year-old, in his third spell with the Blues having signed a short-term deal until January last month, put Town in front via their first shot on target.

The one-time Ram brought the ball inside from the right and hit a 25-yard shot which Carson could only palm into the corner of his net. The former England keeper will feel he should have done better with Varney’s first goal of his latest spell and third goal overall for Town.

The goal quietened down the home crowd with their side having been unable to replicate their late first-half dominance after half-time. On 61 Butterfield hit a shot which deflected through to Bialkowski.

Five minutes later Lawrence was sent away down the left and crossed accurately with the outside of his right boot to Ward, who headed over.

But the home side gradually began to put the pressure on again. Knudsen did well to cut out Anya’s final ball after some slick Derby passing into the box, then Bialkowski claimed a freekick sent in from left.

Teddy Bishop replaced Skuse in the 72nd minute, the Bristolian having received treatment moments earlier.

Hughes shot not far wide from 20 yards on 75 with the Rams being limited to efforts from distance. Two minutes later, Butterfield hit a strike which hit Webster and then Vydra before going behind.

The Rams began to put the Blues under heavy pressure in the final 10 minutes. On 82 Pitman blocked superbly on the edge of his own box.

Three minutes later, former Town man Darren Bent, who had come on as a sub, blazed over after the ball was played to him on the edge of the box after a cross from the left.

On 87, Berra and then Pitman cleared a dangerous ball in from the Derby right, sending Varney away on the left. Ward made a superb untracked run down the middle but Varney opted to go alone and shot tamely to Carson.

As the match entered its final scheduled minute Pitman was booked for a foul on Hughes, referee Attwell having allowed play to continue after the challenge but with Derby unable to make anything of the attack.

In three minutes of injury time sub Nick Blackman shot not too far wide from 25 yards and seconds before the final whistle the former Reading man came even closer to claiming a point.

Hughes escaped down the left, cut in and crossed low, the ball deflecting to Blackman six yards from goal. The ex-Sheffield United frontman seemed certain to score but Knudsen somehow blocked and Bialkowski grabbed the ball right on his line.

Moments later, referee Attwell’s whistle confirmed Town’s first away win of 2016/17 as a chorus of boos rang around the iPro Stadium.

Having ridden their luck at times towards the end of the first half, once Varney had scored his goal the Blues saw out most of the second period without too much danger until the final moments when Blackman looked certain to score.

The goalscorer will undoubtedly be delighted to have been the hero against one of his old clubs and the former Ram made an impression even aside from his goal and might have created a second for Ward.

The three points sees Town up to ninth in the table with the Blues next in action at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse (Bishop 72), Bru (Varney 46), Douglas, Ward (Lawrence 46), Grant, Pitman. Subs: Gerken, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Best.

Derby: Carson, Christie, Keogh (c), Pearce, Olsson (Blackman 88), Butterfield, Bryson, Hughes, Anya, Vydra, Wilson (Bent 64). Subs: Mitchell, Shackell, Ince, Baird, Johnson. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire). Att: 26,425.

Photo: Action Images

TractorBeezer added 22:32 - Sep 13 Three points from two tough away games is a satisfactory return for me. Well done MM.TC and the lads!
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WindsorBlueArmy added 22:33 - Sep 13 Loving the journey home along with the other 600 die hard fans.Bart was immense tonight but probably not given the credit by MM as he doesn't want the Premiership vultures hovering before January.I thought Chambers was more solid and Webster a breath of fresh air.Hopefully Lawrence keeps his place v Villa to compliment Ward on the opposite flank.I wish people wouldn't get hyped up with stats.Anyone can take a shot but if it doesn't go in where's the problem?Yes we lived on the edge tonight but certainly more pride in the shirt than Friday v Reading.Onwards and upwards.

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Tractastic added 22:34 - Sep 13 Anyone have Micks number ? I need some plastering done...Nothing major just papering over the cracks? Well done tonight though boys!
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StowTractorBoy added 22:36 - Sep 13 After being so frustrated with our performance at Reading and the final result, at the end of the day I would have taken 3 points from Reading and Derby away. We were due a lot of luck after wrong decisions at Wolves and at home to Norwich so will take this result however we play. This is a results business and if we play well all the better. Would like MM to be a bit more adventurous with his team selection on Saturday. Finally Bart I salute you as you were as much a match winner as Reg tonight.

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cromwellblue added 22:37 - Sep 13 I am sure we are happy with the result but 39% possession, 5 shots, 2 on target and no corners in 90min As an attacking force we are a shambles. A midfield of misfits When MM first arrived the first impression was at least he seemed to have a plan. Now I do not see it. Formation is a mystery A few passes at the back followed by lumping it is not a plan
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TimmyH added 22:37 - Sep 13 Bart only 7 games in and looks fairly destined to be our player of the year again (injury permitting). Well done lads a great 3 points but lets be honest a good defensive performance but we're going to have to show more than this creatively throughout the season. Well tonight we got that bit of luck which has been going against us so far this season.
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RoyalAscotBlue added 22:44 - Sep 13 Resilient, tough, and hard to beat... Boring, dour, and unentertaining. Each to his own.
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Lathers added 22:49 - Sep 13 Mick needs to quickly work out a style of play for us post-Murphy. We don't have a style of play without the normal hoof outlet that Murph was. It was quite clear at Reading and again tonight that 90% of our players don't feel comfortable putting their foot on the ball, or simply don't know how to play possession football. I'm more relieved to get 3 points tonight and not getting carried away like some on here are after what was a very fortunate win. We are a million miles away from the days of going to away matches and being excited by proper tactics and players like Bent, Kuqi, Miller, Wright, Westy, etc. Hoping we can steal a goal or else hold out for a 0-0 is a sad state of affairs, but seems like most fans on here are either happy with it like this or can't remember how football should be played. 3 points tonight, great. But bored.

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Barhamblue added 22:49 - Sep 13 Tactically brilliant tonight was our Mick. COYBs
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JamesBidwell added 22:54 - Sep 13 @runaround - absolutely superb performance. My first game at Portman Road was 1970 but I left Ipswich in 1985 and only returned 2 years ago but have had a season ticket for the last 6 years so probably only up to about 500 games in total home and away. I used to enjoy coming on to this site to read the views but as of late I only tend to come on here for the comedy value as it's become very polarised. In my view the Championship is probably the hardest league in the world but there seem to be a number of posters who expect us to play like Brazil every week and win easily. I am just a few years too young to have experienced the very volatile early years of the Sir Bobby regime but I often wonder how those early years would have been viewed by today's social media experts.

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warktheline added 22:56 - Sep 13 Pure fluke, hit your buttons ! I'll take the 3 pts, but my faith is at rock bottom, worry times....unless your happy to kick around Championship for ever and a day! McCarthy's race is run, enough said!
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Surco72 added 23:02 - Sep 13 Good 3 points thanks to one keeper playing well and the other letting in a howler . Playing like this we will drop more points than gain . Win gained by MM being forced to make changes rather than managerial decisions , Skuse being injured may be a lucky break for MM also
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Plums added 23:12 - Sep 13 We were shocking for 45 minutes. Negative, toothless and some really inept performances from a couple of players. Mick changed it at half time, we carried more threat and scored. We then hung on in there. It was exciting but far from a classic and one gritty 45 minutes against a Derby side with no confidence does not a season make. Let's hope we can build from here.
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JamesBidwell added 23:14 - Sep 13 Sorry @ Surco72 but got to disagree with you there. Every team needs a holding midfielder that breaks up play and does the ugly stuff. Skuse does this week in and week out and is the first name together with Bart for me on the team sheet every week.
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gorse added 23:30 - Sep 13 Varney scored! Bent didn't! Ta very much, Derby
2

htb added 23:32 - Sep 13 3 valuable points but once again sounds like another negative sterile boring performance. It does not have to be this way, look at Barnsley who do not have a team of superstars but still go out to attack and currently are getting their rewards . Shows what can happen with a young ambitious manager. We will never have this under MM
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dubblue added 00:14 - Sep 14 Ok so we rode our luck, Bart saved us again. Varney's goal a little lucky? But let's celebrate a Town victory. COYB!!!
3

NoelTheDub added 00:25 - Sep 14 The winning of this game was breaking up the awful 3 of Skuse, Bru and Douglas.If you have players in there that are willing to take a ball of the likes of Webster it makes a huge difference I do think there is a place for one of those 3 as a holding player..We really need the likes of Ward, Grant, Bish,or,Laurence in there.they have the legs and the youth on their side.Yes we will lose or draw games with those lads but it has to be the way forward in my view.Well done tonight but our problems are still very much there to see.At least start with the same side that finished the game tonight.

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planetblue_2011 added 01:03 - Sep 14 Great win boys! Bring on villa on sat. Why are Ince & Johnson & Bent on the bench for Derby?!! Why wonder they aren't scoring. Pleased they were on the bench against us though
1

Steelmonkey added 03:38 - Sep 14 A good three points to keep us in contention in these early stages of the season. Not a great performance style wise, but a dogged performance coupled with a piece of luck with the goalkeeping error. Good that Varney has scored, every striker needs to get a goal, one for Sears would do wonders for his confidence. Keep it going for the Villa game lads, COYB's.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 04:10 - Sep 14 That last second of the game, I wanted to punch my monitor. I'm pretty sure I yelled out "oh for f***s sake" at work. May be apologizing tomorrow lol
1

prebbs007 added 06:02 - Sep 14 Oh please. 3 points is obviously fantastic. But let's be realistic. Not moaning, not criticism for criticism's sake but honesty. That was not a good performance. We've totally mugged them. 25 shots to 4. 10 blocked shots. So we've defended well (apart from chambers who was once again truly awful) we've thrown bodies on the line, we've scrapped for everything, we've worked our backsides off. All of these are admirable qualities but to start saying 1 point off play offs, all looks rosy and start putting on here that the moaners are quiet you really are being rediculous. We've massively got away with a no creativity, no forward thinking ability, no pace, no power, no class performance in terms of taking the game to the opposition. This type of luck will not happen every time we are totally outplayed and will once again partially vindicate our out of touch stubborn no plan b dinosaur of a managers tactics of setting up a team NOT TO LOSE. It can only take you so far. We still have the worst two full backs in the league. We still have the slowest two CM. We still have players out of position. Will most certainly take the 3 points of course but let's not believe for one second that all is rosy in the ITFC garden coz is definitely is not. Let's get lucky again Saturday COYB

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Keaneish added 06:04 - Sep 14 Some Slovakia style defending, some MM tactical bludgeoning, an outstanding Bart and some good fortune and we conjure up a much needed win. It sounded anything but spectacular but much needed for MM. Lawrence sounded decent. Maybe you could shed some light Swn98? And Skuse was subbed. FINALLY!!
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Dissboyitfc added 06:48 - Sep 14 Prebbs007... your post covers the facts perfectly. First effort on goal (53 mins) a very welcome and much needed 3 points but lets not kid ourselves that everything is now wonderful!
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Swn98 added 06:49 - Sep 14 I have shared my thoughts on other pages cant wait till Saturday to grind out another hopefully 3pts. I still stand by my opinion we wiĺ be knocking around the play offs come May.
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