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

midastouch added 09:39 - Feb 1 It said Evans always leaves 5 minutes before the end, well if we keep playing like he will be the last one out of the stadium soon (apart from the away fans)! And as for our paper tiger strikers who can't hit a barn door, it would seem that a non-league 10k lad looks more likely to score than any of them! Shame on them! He probably earns peanuts compared to the likes of DmG and Pits but right now he's looking the better option! Our midfield is weak, our strikers our weak, our manager is w**k, our owner is skank, our defence is starting to look weak, and our future is looking extremely bleak. All we've got is a decent goalie! Reasons to be cheerful? Not bl**dy many!

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warktheline added 09:41 - Feb 1 Well there you have it!!! Swn has finally SEEN THE LIGHT!! Praise the lord!
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Charlieblue added 09:51 - Feb 1 #mmout
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blueingreen added 10:00 - Feb 1 Oh dear, Mick has lost the plot....Poor tactics , players running around like headless chickens and he was like a rabbit caught in the headlights. It was strange to see the usual timid TC shouting and pointing at players,does this reflect that the players have lost confidence in their manager? Poor investment from Evans could indicate that he's not backing Dino, and can't afford to get rid.....and crossing everything that we get over the line! What ever, we need honest talks from Evans to us fans......Not this stupid 5 point plan but a realistic plan....why is Mick not walking and where is the investment!!

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wherescounago added 10:02 - Feb 1 At the end of last season I gave up my season ticket as I'd had enough of the rubbish being served up. I have however been to a few games this season and was there last night, but I won't be returning anymore. That is until that Ticket touting King Evans is out of the club and the rest of the rubbish he has attracted has also gone, but I fear by then we will be the new Coventry City. It's all very sad to see, £8m. may well have brought us Danny Ward and Jordan Hudgell (probably spelt it wrong) but we decided to invest £10k in Kiefer Moore. In fairness he did alright when he came on but I can't help but think he's the next Balient Bajner, a big lad who tries hard but hasn't got what it takes at Championship level. I cannot believe that Spence is preferred to Emmanuel and I hope the Scottish Rugby team where there last night as they'll probably take Berra, well he is good at kicking the ball upfield into touch. All very sad to see, after almost 50 years supporting ITFC, I will be returning to the team of my boyhood my hometown club Lowestoft Town. Come on you Trawlerboys!

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megamoth added 10:05 - Feb 1 Wow. 3-0 and Nugent wasn't playing. That's the level of it. More disturbing is that this season I have NEVER 1. seen a Knudsen long throw go to an ITFC player. 2. seen ITFC turn around a one goal deficit at half time (let alone a 3 goal deficit). 3. seen the team complete more than 3 passes. 4. seen the opposition (fans or manager) say that they were impressed with us If it was just this season, I could write it off but we are 15 years in the Championship and have shown clearly that our only way out of this division is through its arse. My son keeps asking for a Spurs shirt and I'm through with saying no. Totally FED UP

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the_beat added 10:12 - Feb 1 In 50 years of watching Ipswich I have never left a match at half time but this was hurting far too much. I am fed up with hearing about a lack of money, it would appear that MM has lost the dressing room.
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Swn98 added 10:24 - Feb 1 Warktheline it was with heavy heart that I had to write that post but things are not going to get better after last night the injuries have completely changed the scenario so now I feel our team selection apart from Bart is like a random jig saw put the complete 30 pieces in a bag pull out 18 and see how we can fit the lucky 18 into a team it's obvious the pressure has got to MM as his decisions have become irrational to say the least. Some will argue they have been for years yes they might of been but we got results that kept the majority of the Faithfull on side now it's dark dark days which I hope don't result in relegation an event I don't think we could recover from.

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jackkiley2017 added 10:27 - Feb 1 Yeah lets go another win for my boys, well deserved and gonna have to keep the run going.
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runningout added 10:40 - Feb 1 'Senduntd' it's not a matter of how much money you spend on transfer fees.. Although a decent amount now and then Ye. It's how you assemble and put a mentally strong team together. Will always follow ITFC through thick and thin. Seems to be way too much thin right now, and it's a sad state of affairs
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dreamer added 11:40 - Feb 1 MaCarthy do you have no self respect? Evans the only reason you haven't sacked him is because you don't want to pay him off. Lowest gate in 17 years.......... Does it have to be relegation before either of you do the right thing???
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louisitfc added 11:44 - Feb 1 I really feel MM and Evans are slightly behind on the latest transfers, everyone now is costing money, this market is more expensive, Scunthorpe are rejecting 4m bids, that says it all, we should have brought Lawrence at the start of the season as soon as we saw his potential but now he will be going elsewhere and I cannot blame him, all these loans are a joke, we are loaning players who cannot even get into their current squads, that is poor management, I respect the "half decent" bid for Hugill but seriously as a manager he should have many options lined up, we should have signed a striker the minute Murphy left, Evans needs to give MM a budget and a decent one at that, or they both need to go, time to get someone in with some pride, the players are just as bad, half the squad look like they are just there to collect their paychecks, I would rather have 16 players who gave their everything all game, every game,rather than 11 players who will happily lose and be happy to add another 5,000 pound to their bank accounts, basically this club is a joke and it will remain that way until we change a lot of things.

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Razor added 11:48 - Feb 1 Heard rumour in crowd last night that Benty happy to come on loan to us but MM blocked it. May or may not be true---does antbody care any more?
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BlueMachines added 12:28 - Feb 1 We haven't won after going behind for 28 games. The lack of ability to turn it round is astounding and speaks volumes.
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megamoth added 12:32 - Feb 1 BlueMachines - my point entirely,. What a gutless wonder this team is
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alfromcol added 12:38 - Feb 1 Perhaps a few tweets to @marcusevans might help with a link to TWTD to show his customers what an asset ITFC is to the ME empire?
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Town7579 added 12:50 - Feb 1 what is upsetting me the most is the people running our club don't care. and everything the cobbolds, sir Bobby, sir Alf, and there teams where built on,and everything we are about is being destroyed.
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GiveusaWave added 13:05 - Feb 1 We are becoming the next Coventry City...it's just a question of time. I fear for next season...not this.
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buryblue77 added 13:14 - Feb 1 I haven't been to a game for ages, initially I stopped going because of work. I work weekends and usually don't finish until at least 7pm so just can't get there. I'm glad I changed jobs now, I don't really want to be watching this cross! Also football is very expensive these days and doesn't represent good value for money for me, especially when we're served up this rubbish. Whilst I'm firmly in the Mick out camp I think Evans has to take the blame, we've spent hardly any money in the last 5 years, Evans seems to think it can all be done on a shoestring budget and the problem was for a while Mick was doing quite well on just that, I can't believe he doesn't want to sign players, he must be frustrated at the situation as well and has said as much. Even if we'd signed these few players on £1m + fees would they be good enough, look at the money other clubs spend in this division just to compete, Sheff Wed spending £10m on a player (maybe, still not confirmed) the first Joker let go and they are usually there or there abouts in the play offs but never serious automatic contenders and they've spent blood money in the past on players too. I read League one here we come!

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buryblue77 added 13:17 - Feb 1 Sorry, most of my above post doesn't make much sense due to stupid predictive text aarrgghh!!!!
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MathieandMarshall added 13:23 - Feb 1 to those saying that we more than held our own second half and were unlucky... Derby clearly took their foot off the gas at 3-0. It was game over for them! they could have and probably should have won 4 or 5 nil and it wouldnt have flattered them. We were awful! Berra again terrible, Bru didnt touch the ball for the first half an hour yet Digby pulled off who at least tried to get on the ball once moved into midfield. Berra seems untouchable yet has been woeful for 18 months MM has lost his way. He used to set out 442 with a team who battled and ran and pressed and were difficult to beat. He now has as look at opposition and matches their system each week regardless of who they are. Players dont look like they know what they are doing! no one works hard anymore, no longer a threat from set pieces oh and to top it all off another wasted opportunity to put things right in the transfer window. Club stuck a bid in for a player who wasnt for sale so they can say "we tried" Its not good enough!! the fans deserve more. Its time for Evans to come out and actually speak to local press and be honest about his plans for the club. If he continues as it is we will be playing in League 1 in front of crowds of 10k each week. See how much interest he has in having MARCUS EVANS on the shirts then!

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runningout added 13:29 - Feb 1 reckon that won't be our lowest league gate this season. Not unless players and coaches wake up to reality, and show some professionalism
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Seasider added 14:20 - Feb 1 Was at the game as usual,and have just watched 10+ minutes of lowlights on Player as far as Ipswich are concerned. Just like against Lincoln my club looked clueless,much slower than their opponents to the ball,unable to string many forward passes together,frightened to take players on,losing the ball when they did;and lacked the bite and enthusiasm shown in McCarthy's earlier days at the club.He does get them passing the ball more on the ground;but this is mostly in their own half under no pressure,in front of the opposition.Any offensive built up is so slow and cumbersome;unlike Derby who ran at their poor opponents,passing and moving as they progressed forward with little opposition. The quality of the squad is gradually getting worse,as are the results,and the club are gradually drifting lower towards the trap door to the third tier with the Manager increasingly seeming to not know what to do.He now increasingly says about his team lacking expensive signings,and seems resigned, almost ,to losing matches against the bigger clubs ;who seem to be increasing in number,as he talks down this club to now be one of the minnows in the Championship. +Wouldn't think his team talks are particularly inspiring anymore either,as he seems to have thrown in the towel;probably realising most of his players,tactics,and coaching are substandard compared to the majority of his competitors. A lack of support form Evans doesn't help his cause,and the malaise could well see this club in the third tier if action isn't taken very soon to address the deteriorating situation. A very sad day,and a very sad supporter of some 55 years

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DoseOfReality added 14:21 - Feb 1 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA JUST SEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS COZ I REFUSE TO GO ANYMORE WE DIDNT GET A KICK !!! ME YOU ARE A DISGRACE YOU HAVE LIED TO THE MANAGER & THE FANS GET OUT MAN ... NO FUNDS, NO OPTIMISIM, NO FANS I WONDER WHERE THIS WILL END FOR YOU NO OWNER HOPEFULLY
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Bob7881 added 14:42 - Feb 1 The sad fact is the club has now been in the wilderness for years, we have to accept the fact we will be a feeder club at best which im happy to see if the club is run right. The modern game is all for the wealthy clubs so we as a club must build on a well run youth system with coaches who can bring on and develope quality players. In any club the Manager is at the top of the pecking order in terms of the footballing side he will have a style of play he wants his coaches to teach ideas and methods he wants the whole set up to acheive. Ive not witnessed that at ITFC for years now. Jackie Milburn first implimented a youth system which Sir Bobby took on and improved with great scouts like Ron Gray. The Facilities are now far better than ever i question have we got the right staff in place. McCarthy for me is not now or never been the right appointment for ITFC we should be forward thinking as a club bring in a young manager who can rebuild from the bottom up yes we need to compete yes i want us to gain promotion but i want those things being entertained seeing my club in the press being applauded for the right way of playing football and giving youth a chance. Wholsale changes every season is not the way forward the biggest compliment we can get as a club will be the big boys knocking on our door wanting our players because that will mean we are acheiving some sucess. We are never going to compeat on wages etc so whats the point in trying, the Club under Sir Bobby mixed it with the big boys for a good few years but that was a different era then. Leicester Have done fantastic by winning the league and up till now have done well in the Champions league which proves we can all still dream, however with patience and the right owner, manager coahing set and player i believe we can bring back some of the gloss and style Sir bobby gave our club. I wish i had a name i could put forward i dont sadly but there has got to be wise heads in the game who can advise. Perhaps a director of football of some sorts i know football can be an old mates club but we have to try and go back to our roots and rebuild in the right way homegrown talent with a few good signings chucked in but it must be done in a way where the choosen man is given time and we can all see the club is moving in the right direction. The one thing Evans does is give the manager time with the right appointment even he could see what we can acheive with the right balance of investment and youth. We as fans have to accept we are stuck with Evans as much as he is stuck with us, looking at the transfer business done in Jan im of the opinion that McCarthy will depart at the end of the season payoff intact. The next choice of manager will be so important to the long term future of ITFC as the way i see it Relegation to the third tier is not an option i want to contenplate, because i could see our club staying there for years or even worse.

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