First-half goals from Craig Bryson, Tom Ince and former Blue Darren Bent saw Derby to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Town in front of Portman Road’s lowest league crowd for more than 17 years. Bryson and Ince netted on nine and 12 to set the Rams on their way and Bent added the third just before the break and the Blues never looked like getting back into the game.

Skipper Luke Chambers, who is staying with Town despite interest from his former club Nottingham Forest, started for the Blues with manager Mick McCarthy making three changes from the team which drew 1-1 at Preston on Saturday.

Paul Digby, Jordan Spence and Kevin Bru came into the side for Josh Emmanuel and Grant Ward, who dropped to the bench, and Toumani Diagouraga, who missed out.

The Blues started in a 3-5-2 system with Chambers in the centre of the defence between Christophe Berra and Paul Digby. Jordan Spence and Jonas Knudsen were the wing-backs.

In central midfield Cole Skuse was partnered by Kevin Bru with Tom Lawrence ahead of them and Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman up front.

Derby were without Blues nemesis David Nugent (knee), midfielder Will Hughes (hamstring) and winger Jonny Russell (knee). Ex-Blues striker Bent started.

After a scruffy start, Derby won a series of corners which eventually led to their opening goal in the ninth minute.

Chambers headed a flag-kick from the right clear, the ball was played back into the right of the box to Ince, who took it down and laid it to Bryson on the edge of the box, from where he struck a low shot past Bartosz Bialkowski to his right.

Within three minutes it was 2-0. Ince brought the ball in from the right unchallenged and smashed a left-footed shot across Bialkowski and into the net, a goal reminiscent of Lawrence’s at Preston on Saturday but from the other flank.

Town switched to a four-man backline as they looked to get back into the game with Digby moving into five-man midfield with Lawrence on the left and Sears the right and Pitman up front on his own.

The Blues threatened for the first time in the 21st minute when Lawrence tricked his way past a couple of defenders on the edge of the box then hit a shot which was too close to Derby keeper Scott Carson.

Town toiled as they sought to get back in the game but Derby created the next opportunity, Abdoul Camara cut the ball back to Ince, whose low shot was too close to Bialkowski.

The Blues were making little headway with Derby happy to sit back and let Town play the ball around unthreateningly at the back. With nine minutes of the half remaining McCarthy switched Digby for David McGoldrick.

On 41 Lawrence made a run towards goal towards the right and hit a shot which was blocked. The loose ball fell to Bru, but his low cross into the area was cut out.

Two minutes later, Bru sent Sears away on the right and the ex-West Ham man won the first of three corners. From the third, Chambers headed into the ground and Carson pawed the ball away from Berra at the far post.

Moments later, Lawrence, Town’s only first-half danger man, turned his ankle as he cut inside a defender and required treatment.

In injury time Ince sent a dangerous ball across the Blues six-yard box, which Chambers turned behind.

And in the aftermath of the resultant corner, the Rams made it 3-0. The ball was cleared to Bryson just outside the area from where he struck a powerful shot which Bialkowski superbly tipped onto the bar.

However, the ball was sent back in from the right and an unmarked Bent nodded into the net from close range with several Town players claiming that the former England striker - who didn’t celebrate against his old club - had fouled Knudsen as the ball came over but to no avail.

Soon after referee Andrew Madley’s whistle ended the half and started a chorus of boos which followed manager McCarthy off the pitch and down the tunnel.

Derby had hardly been made to work for their three goals, the two early strikes having set the half up for them perfectly.

Having got comfortably in front the Rams were happy to sit back and let Town try to find a way through them, which the Blues were wholly incapable of managing with only Lawrence showing any threat at all.

The third goal was just as poor as the other two from a Town perspective and made the already very difficult task of getting back into the game all but impossible.

Lawrence was replaced by Ward at the start of the second half, the Wales international having succumbed to the injury he suffered at the end of the first period.

The Blues were first to threaten after the restart, Sears hitting a 47th minute shot from the left of the box which deflected over. Two minutes later, Ince hit a low effort through to Bialkowski from the edge of the box.

On 50 Knudsen crossed from the left and found McGoldrick at the far post but the Irish international’s strike was hit straight at a defender.

Derby should have gone four in front in the 53rd minute when Bent cut the ball back to Ince who shot against the outside of Bialkowski’s right post from eight yards with the goal gaping following a swift counter-attack.

The Rams continued to look the more likely scorers with Bialkowski saving well from Bent as the game moved towards the hour mark.

After Ward had sent over a dangerous low ball from the right which Carson cleared with his boot, Kieffer Moore replaced Pitman in the Town attack.

The 6ft 6in striker immediately got involved, hurling himself towards a Bru cross from the right but a defender got to the ball ahead of him. Soon after, Ince curled a freekick over at the other end, then ex-Blue Bent was applauded off by his old fans as he was replaced by Matej Vydra.

Derby continued to look the more likely next scorers, Bialkowski saving from Bryson on 69, then making an even more impressive stop from Jacob Butterfield, the Pole somehow clawing the ball away from his line after the former Barnsley man had hit a low shot to his right having been found on the left of the box by Ince’s clever pass.

On 75 Bru won a freekick 25 yards out which McGoldrick got over the wall but too close to Carson.

Town kept at it and as the game moved into its final five minutes Ward claimed a penalty after he looked to have been caught as he took the ball inside a defender on the edge of the area after good work from McGoldrick. Referee Madley was again unmoved.

Moments later, Moore saw a shot deflect wide, then from the corner the big striker headed back across the area but Marcus Olsson cleared.

Boos greeted the final whistle but many of the 14,719, Town’s lowest home league attendance since December 1999 when 14,712 watched the 3-1 defeat of nine-man West Brom, had already made their way home after another thoroughly disappointing Portman Road display by the Blues.

The game was all but over after the two early Derby goals with the third sealing it before half-time.

After the break the Blues toil with little success and but for some poor finishing and another impressive display from Bialkowski in goal the Rams would have increased their margin of victory.

The result sees Town drop to 17th but still 10 points off the relegation zone but with Wigan and Blackburn in 22nd and 23rd having two games in hand over the Blues.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Digby (McGoldrick 36), Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Bru, Lawrence (Ward 46), Sears, Pitman (Moore 66). Unused: Gerken, Douglas, Dozzell, Emmanuel.

Derby: Carson, Baird (Christie 80), Keogh (c), Pearce, Olsson, Johnson, Bryson, Butterfield, Ince, Camara (Anya 56), Bent (Vydra 69). Unused: Mitchell, Shackell, de Sart, Blackman. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 14,719 (Derby: 464).

Photo: Action Images

BillBlue added 22:18 - Jan 31 To me, Mick has destroyed us in the same way as he destroyed Wolves, only worse.
13

grumpyoldman added 22:18 - Jan 31 Even those who call us not true supporters seem not to bother anymore defending the indefensible, and I don't me our back three/four/five
6

blueboy1981 added 22:19 - Jan 31 ........ after this lot there just has to be a SERIOUS statement from Portman Road tomorrow morning - otherwise this Club no longer deserves ANYONE through the turnstyles - season ticket holders, or not. The Question HAS to be answered as to what, if any, future plan there is for OUR CLUB. I, like many, are in complete shock as to what has happened to our once great Club - the very name of IPSWICH TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB deserves so much better than what is a complete and utter SHAMBLES.

18

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 22:19 - Jan 31 Headline tomorrow - Fans should stand behind MM. Dip in form blamed solely on crowd reactions. Milne says MM is doing a great job and Evans backs MM. Different day same dire performance.
5

Grumpyoldgit added 22:20 - Jan 31 The whole club is a shambles,rotten from top to bottom.No idea, no money, no pride and no hope.Desperate times.Really fear for Town now.Can't see where the next point is coming from.Very sad state of affairs.
12

grubbyoik added 22:25 - Jan 31 Evans is faceless Mcarthy is clueless The tactics are pointless The Ipswich Family.. The state of our once proud club
5

bluesince76 added 22:33 - Jan 31 No surprise.same crap differant day .Regime change on the horison.Poyet/Tarrico for me.
6

BlueWax added 22:34 - Jan 31 So yesterday afternoon I was offered a ticket for tonights match.......then I get a call to say the ticket was at Felixstowe as a friend forgot to drop it off.... I really couldn't get the enthusiasm to travel to pick it up from my home in Colchester . I remember the days when I would have walked miles for the chance of a ticket! Brighton away coming up on Valentines day.......probably another massacre, but all I can hope for Is to fall back in love with the club that I and so many have felt so much for!

5

munstermanagement added 22:36 - Jan 31 The Radio Suffolk post match interview with MM was as tame as you like!! They should be pushing MM to come out and explain the level (or not) of support he's being given by ME in the transfer market. Why are we giving these people an easy ride?? This is turning into a scarily similar situation to that of the dying days of the Jewell era. Hard to stay positive right now.

5

Taricco_Fan added 22:37 - Jan 31 In truth, this could have been a five or six nil drubbing, possibly more. Bialkowski kept an element of respectability to the scoreline, if you can call it that. The defence is the most prominent issue with this team, particularly Knudsen whom I believe really isn't good enough for this level. Berra looks bereft of confidence and Spence got run ragged by Camara. Derby defended from the front and were much more decisive on the attack. By comparison we are slow, ponderous and lack the quality that Derby have in every position. The only positives were good performances from Ward and Moore. We enjoyed some good spells of possession but the end product just isn't there, hence the lack of chances. Referee was awful. Crowd was completely apathetic. Woeful stuff.

3

PortmanTerrorist added 22:37 - Jan 31 C cc c c
1

froudy added 22:38 - Jan 31 Stayed in the pub when I saw we were 2-0 down after 12mins. For all those upset at that, I don't care. If I thought there was even the slightest chance we would make a game of it I would have still gone. Back in the Royle or Burley days maybe, but not now. Worrying times.
3

cranky_old_tractor added 22:39 - Jan 31 Did management confuse this seasons objective as relegation? Sad to say there is more brown stuff here than at my local pig farm at the moment. MM don't open your mouth we do not give a shlte about what you say now.....get on your tractor and leave IP1 now. Mr Evans, is there a plan, vision or is ITFC just a tax dodge? FCUK off if your heart is not in it. We want our great club back!

4

runaround added 22:42 - Jan 31 Cancelled my season ticket recently but decided to go tonight just to see if I could be wooed back. In a word, NO! We were embarrassingly poor with a number of players obviously with shot confidence & a total lack of direction. Fans have had enough some behind me left on 30 minutes! Others went to the bar where apparently there was some pushing & shoving. The club is dying but the sad thing is I no longer care, there are more important things in life now. I will miss the match day banter with supporters & laughs at some of the things said but Portman Road is atmosphere less at the moment & not a fun place to be currently. Hopefully change will happen & I will be tempted back in August but ITFC has died & is sleepwalking towards relegation. It must be obvious to everyone that Mick's time is up & a new broom is desperately needed. Fail to act now & things could deteriorate further quickly. Club needs a massive boost & with all due respect signing conference players & reserves on loan won't cut it. Mick leaving is only remedy I can see

18

Lathers added 22:44 - Jan 31 Evans has got a feck load to answer for... After another shocking result, I see Jordan Rhodes is moving to Sheff Wed for £10 million which just twists the knife that bit more. It does illustrate that this club has been phucked now for years. Mick papered over the cracks for a couple of seasons but in the Evans years we have gone from being a proud club with genuine promotion aspirations, to a shambles and embarrassment of a club who now can't attract average championship players, have a manager in charge who in any other club in the football league would have been sacked months ago, and who are hurtling towards the 3rd tier at a rapid pace - if not this season then next season for sure.

12

blueboy1981 added 22:45 - Jan 31 ..... munstermanagement ........ don't blame the media, they can have little, if no effect. The people who can make the point are the people who went through the turnstiles tonight - and shouldn't have. Keep turning up and the dross will continue - empty stadium would have the desired effect - or prove once and for all the Owner and Manager couldn't care two hoots about the Club, in which case we know where they both should go. That being as FAR away from the two great statue's outside our ground - as they can possibly get.

9

BlueWax added 22:46 - Jan 31 Congrats to Bent for not celebrating btw, probably cares for our club more than MM and ME combined. Oh for the ex-palyer days in charge of the town playing great football from the back.....GB and super Jim!......oh and yes they loved the club. I would even give big Terry a go in charge of us .
12

Gandj64 added 22:46 - Jan 31 Luke you've got 16 minutes to sort a move back to Forrest? I for one and I am sure many others would not blame you and indeed would wish you all the best. You deserve better then this.
5

EssexTractor added 22:46 - Jan 31 Cannot imagine any other alleged " good team" suffering as our team has with no visible Chairmanship face and voice But now despite his financial injection he is not a football man , not an Ipswich Town Football man McCarthy is poor, his tactics poor ,His team selection hopeless and looks and sounds totally despondent. Interviews like a man off to the gallows Per Sky " highlights" did any player actually move, except out of Derbys way when ball went in the net They are beyond being jaded Loan players, non League players with great respect NoNoNo Tonight there certainly are not three teams worse than Itfc in the Championship And that substantially is the fault of Marcus Evans...non Football Man . Non Ipswich Town man

13

blueboy1981 added 22:48 - Jan 31 ......... the carrot crunchers at the other end of the A140 are laughing their socks off - and justifiably so too.
7

Cloddyseedbed added 22:50 - Jan 31 I really can't see a way out of this now. I can't pick anything positive to say about the owner, manager, Milne or the players we had or what we've ended up with on transfer deadline day. So many players of poor quality signed just to make up numbers! How are they going to turn things around? The manager didn't know his best players for positions before the influx and looks totally confused as do the players. I wrote to ME saying my concerns and all I got back was a letter signed by Milne thanking me for my support over the years and telling me to stick with the club as everyone is working hard to turn things around. Yeah right, working hard only gets you so far, you need a mix of skill and judgement too, they are the factors that are missing from the owner, manager and playing staff. As for Milne, words fail me! I can't see that there are 3 worse teams than us at the moment in this league. There are clubs with fewer points, but I can see us not being able to beat anyone. Confidence is long gone, along with all the money.

12

Blue_Fred added 22:54 - Jan 31 Just a thought, when MM gets us relegated this year does he have to pay back the bonus he got for 'saving' us in his first half year? Tbh I don't lay all of the blame at his door, he doesn't help himself with his arrogant attitude towards fans, but it's the owner that's the problem. This once greatly respected club is being run worse than a pub team
6

planetblue_2011 added 22:59 - Jan 31 What a load of rubbish, the players have lost it, the manager has lost it & the chairman, board everyone has lost it. We need a change fast!! We are sliding fast!!!!
9

GiveusaWave added 23:01 - Jan 31 On another topic, sounds like Chambers wanted to go but ITFC couldn't clear the transfer in time before the deadline?
3

MickCuresInsomnia added 23:03 - Jan 31 There needs to be a coordinated protest or protests from supporters and it or they have to be large enough to get national recognition...........it's the only way to rid ITFC of the poisonous threesome that is McCARTHY, MILNE AND EVANS
4

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls