Joe Garner headed his seventh goal of the season for the Blues after Sam Winnall had scored twice for Derby as the Blues ended 2017 with a 2-1 home defeat to the Rams. Winnall nodded the visitors in front in the 13th minute as they dominated the first half, then added the second three minutes after the break. Town were better in the second half but were only able to respond with Garner’s goal on 65.

Bersant Celina, Jordan Spence, Kevin Bru and Grant Ward all returned to the Town starting line-up with David McGoldrick, Dominic Iorfa and Freddie Sears dropping to the bench, while Teddy Bishop is out for the season due to a hamstring injury which requires surgery.

Bru joined Callum Connolly in the centre of midfield with Spence coming into his usual right-back role and Celina and Ward either side of Martyn Waghorn in the trio behind lone striker Joe Garner.

Derby, who arrived at Portman Road late, made five changes with Winnall, ex-Blues loanee Tom Lawrence, Andre Wisdom, George Thorne, Johnny Russell all starting.

Former Canary Bradley Johnson and Wales international Joe Ledley both missed out with back problems, while Town nemesis David Nugent - scorer of 15 goals in 16 games against Town and 10 in eight matches at Portman Road - Chris Baird and Andreas Weimann dropped to the bench.

Garner struck the game’s first shot as the 10th minute approached after an uneventful opening to the game. However, the former Forest man’s shot deflected harmlessly through to Scott Carson in the Derby goal.

Three minutes later, the Rams went in front via their first attempt of the match. Lawrence sent over a deep corner from the right, Sam Winnall reached the ball ahead of Jonas Knudsen and the striker’s guided header just crept into the corner of the net.

The former Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday frontman’s sixth goal of the season looked like one the Blues really ought to have prevented.

Derby should have made it 2-0 almost immediately after skipper Luke Chambers and Adam Webster left a Rams through ball for one another just inside the Town half, allowing Matej Vydra a free run on goal. The former Watford man looked certain to double their lead but as Bartosz Bialkowski advanced he shot wildly over. It was a major let-off for the Blues.

Connolly looped a header towards goal from a Celina freekick on the left in the 18th minute, Carson claiming before he was fouled by Garner.

But the visitors were continuing to present the greater threat with Vydra finding space to shoot from the right of the area a minute later, however, Bialkowski was able his effort away.

On 26 Thorne unleashed a ferocious strike from distance which flew only just over Bialkowski’s bar.

Derby continued to dominate and Lawrence went close to adding to their lead three minutes later. Russell cleverly cut the ball back to him from the byline on the right and Chambers dived in to make a vital block from the ex-Town loanee’s goal-bound strike.

Town weren’t far away from an equaliser as the match reached the half-hour mark. Waghorn sent over a corner from the right and Connolly, who scored the only goal when the teams met at Pride Park last month, sent a looping header towards goal only for Lawrence to nod off the line.

Vydra diverted a cross from the right well wide on 36, then a minute later Huddlestone hit Winnall with a shot from the edge of the box, referee Oliver Langford irking the Blues players by pulling play back for the freekick when they were breaking.

The Town goal was at times living a charmed life. In the 39th minute Vydra cut the ball back from the right from the byline inside the six-yard box and Spence was able to clear from just in front of the line ahead of Winnall.

A minute later Town threatened on the break for the first time, Celina taking the ball forward at pace before turning inside and eventually hitting a shot not too far wide of Carson’s left post.

Soon after, Connolly struck another effort which deflected behind for a corner which the Derby keeper claimed at the second attempt.

But Derby were still looking the most likely scorers of the second goal and on 40 Winnall hit a shot from an angle on the right which Bialkowski helped wide. Webster was subsequently booked for a foul on Vydra in the build-up.

After one minute of injury time the half-time whistle was greeted by boos from some sections of the Blues support.

Derby had dominated the half, were good for their lead and really ought to have been even further in front given the chances they had created after Winnall’s opener.

Town had toiled for the most part, struggling to get out of their own half for long spells with Celina’s long-distance effort and Connolly’s looping header the nearest they had come to an equaliser.

Ward struck the first shot of the second half soon after the restart but Carson claimed confidently down to his right.

But in the 48th minute Derby finally scored their second goal. Winnall picked up a loose ball on the Rams left, brought it inside and smashed an unstoppable 25-yard strike beyond Bialkowski to take his season’s total to seven.

The visitors weren’t too far away from a third in the 53rd minute, Bialkowski doing well to cut out and then claim Russell’s cutback from the left.

Town gradually began to make some headway, Connolly hitting a 25-yard strike wide off a team-mate on 55.

Winnall spurned a chance to complete his hat-trick on the hour, screwing his shot over from inside the area on the left after being found by Vydra.

A minute later, Thorne struck a low effort which Bialkowski pounced on to his left, then Lawrence shot only just over from 30 yards.

Town, with Celina now in the middle of the trio behind Garner, almost pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Ward crossed from the right and Bru headed wide when unmarked at the far post as he broke into the area from deep.

And three minutes later, the Blues did get on the scoresheet. Waghorn whipped in the third of three corners from the right and Garner headed into the net from close range. It was the first goal the Rams had conceded since losing to the Blues at Pride Park a month ago, 601 minutes of football ago.

Having got a foothold in the game the Blues began to look more confident going forward. In the 69th minute Knudsen cut in from the left and hit a right-footed shot which was deflected behind.

The Rams failed to deal with the resultant corner but the ball wouldn’t fall to a Town player and eventually referee Langford awarded a foul against a Blues player.

On 70 McGoldrick replaced Bru for Town, Weimann having taken over from Lawrence for the visitors.

Two minutes later, the Town number 10 almost made a dramatic impact, flicking a near-post header across the face of goal but wide from a Waghorn corner on the right.

Blues defender Webster went down having suffered a knock - worrying it appeared to his ankle - following the flag-kick and was replaced by Dominic Iorfa with Spence joining Chambers at the centre of the defence.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Town were having most of the ball but finding it tough to create an opening against Derby’s resilient backline.

The visitors were still having chances, however, Bialkowski doing well to force Weimann wide after he was played in on the right of the box by Richard Keogh. On 81 Marcus Olsson replaced Vydra.

Ward shot over on 85 with the Blues continuing to push for an equaliser. Four minutes later Derby swapped two-goal Winnall for Chris Baird.

The fourth official indicated five minutes of additional time as Town took a freekick on the left. Eventually Ward’s cross from the right reached Knudsen at a tight angle at the far post but the Dane’s header hit the side-netting.

Town were unable to threaten again before referee Langford brought the game to an end to cheers from the visiting fans in the Cobbold Stand. In contrast to the half-time boos, the Blues players were applauded off by their support.

Having been very much second best in the first half, and fortunate to be only a goal behind, Town were much better in the second, but after the Rams had already doubled their lead via Winnall’s brilliant second of the afternoon.

Garner’s goal got the Blues back in the game and they kept pushing until the whistle but without carving out the chance which would have won them a point.

Former Town loanee Jack Colback, these days with Newcastle, was in the crowd, understood to have been a guest of his former Sunderland team-mate Waghorn.

The defeat - the seventh successive game between the Blues and the Rams to be won by the away side - sees Town drop to 11th but still five points off the play-offs ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Fulham, who are one place behind them on goal difference alone following their 2-2 draw at Hull City this afternoon.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Webster (Iorfa 74), Knudsen, Connolly, Bru (McGoldrick 70), Ward, Waghorn, Celina, Garner. Unused: M Crowe, T Smith, Sears, Kenlock, McDonnell.

Derby: Carson, Wisdom, Davies, Keogh (c), Forsyth, Huddlestone, Thorne, Russell, Vydra (Olsson 81), Lawrence (Weimann 69), Winnall ( Baird 89). Unused: Mitchell, Martin, Pearce, Nugent. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 18,267 (Derby 1,389).

Photo: TWTD

gamezone added 18:42 - Dec 30 Blue Moses could be right, went for a pint after game to drown my sorrows, Smith leaving this week, as Dinasour refuses to play him, he is apparently fit and wants to play, so regrettably has made himself available. Disgraceful, Mick out Smith in.
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Northstandveteran added 18:44 - Dec 30 Another £60 saved 😁 Almost time to stop looking at the top half of the table. Resentment, disappointment, lowering of expectations and hopes. Welcome back old friends, Normality has resumed
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Bert added 18:50 - Dec 30 Outplayed for 60 minutes but cannot fault the have a go attitude after that. Don't agree that the tactics were wrong. Celina was poor and gave the ball away for the second goal.waghorn and Ganer worked their socks off. Far better entertainment than the QPR game. As usual no understanding of the reality of football from the hardened outers. Just more personal attacks. From the outset today it was clear that with no midfield to speak about we could not attack in the way we would all like. Get real .

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bluelady added 18:53 - Dec 30 tractorlegend some great points. Heathen66 are you having a laugh? Bru was awful, run around like a headless checkin offered nothing defensively or in attack absolute joke to compare him to Skuse. Our game picked up when he left the pitch that's no coincidence. Thought Mcgoldrick was terrible - actually couldn't work out why smith didn't come on but clearly Mick wanted Iofra to offer an attacking option which he for once actually did - not a fan but thought he did well. Both CB had been awful before the change. I am also sick of Garner never going for a header but going to ground every time - refs are not falling for it and we end up losing possession.

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Swn98 added 18:53 - Dec 30 Derby should of had the game put to bed by the 30 minute mark but didn't. Another piece of appalling defending cost us the point lost count how many goals we have let creep in past the right hand post,why don't we try putting a player on the post to see if it improves the situation. On to Fulham Tuesday. Happy new year to you all.
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Rensham added 19:09 - Dec 30 if we're not challenging for top six and we get booted out of the cup next week what is the point of keeping Mick McCarthy till the end of the season? If ME doesn't act then it won't only be Mick that can't be bothered with it all.
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alfromcol added 19:17 - Dec 30 Save your money Marcus until you have got rid of McCarthy.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:25 - Dec 30 ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Rensham you now got split personality to add to your credentials, you swinging both ways ,
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Rensham added 19:35 - Dec 30 Keep Mick if we're challenging for top six, if we're not replace asap.
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NormEmerges added 19:43 - Dec 30 I think we all ought to remember that we have probably SIX midfielders who would have played today ahead of those in the team if available - Bishop, Huws, Dozzell, Adeyemi, Hyam and Skuse. If those had been fit all season, don't you think we'd be in a play-off place? Might need to patch it up with loan midfielder and central defender to see out the season though. In the circumstances I think Mick has done remarkably well.

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Rensham added 19:45 - Dec 30 Someone needs to sort out if MM can be bothered to stay as the Ipswich manager next season.
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heathen66 added 19:46 - Dec 30 Bluelady..no not having a laugh I was applauding Kevin for trying to make something happen, and trying to get the team on the front foot, unfortunately none of his team-mates had the same ideas which left him isolated and perhaps made it look like a headless chicken. It was not taking Bru off that changed the game as his replacement was even more ineffective. In the past it has been bringing Bru on that has changed the game as he has a more positive attitude...imo

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bluelady added 19:57 - Dec 30 Fair point heathen I just don't see how you can compare him to Skuse who is so composed in midfield and a massive loss today. Mcgoldrick was ineffective but Ward did better central than he had out wide
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Seasider added 20:08 - Dec 30 Overrun in midfield in the first half.Suppose have an excuse with so many players out;but it is dis- heartening to see our club out played so much at home,with McCarthy seemingly powerless to do anything. Ist goal would have been prevented had there been a man on the post.I know sometimes it is left to the goalkeeper;but I recall 'Old Big Head'in answer to that question said that he has never had players on the posts during his managerial career,and he wasn't about to start now.I therefor conclude that our know it all Manager wouldn't leave it to the players to decide. Their 2nd was a magnificent effort;but again had there been a man on the far post he could possibly have headed it away. Recall their keeper had very little to do until the closing minutes,the best effort was from the classy Celina in the 1st half.Although there were a few scrambles in their area they looked a class above us for most of the game;whereas we looked mid table.

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BarleyBoy added 20:16 - Dec 30 Well, just my 2nd visit this season with my lad ( 1st being the Fulham debacle ) & sadly, little, if anything to inspire a 3rd jaunt down the beloved A14. Whilst I genuinely sympathise with MM's injury dilemma re the midfield, I have to agree with many posters questioning the starting tactics...........repeatedly pumping aimless high balls down the channels to Garner being marshalled by a couple of 6ft 5 CB's was not only dull but pointless..........a mere flashback to last seasons dismall endeavours. When we did get the ball down & miraculously managed to execute 3-4 consecutive passes, hey-presto.....we actually looked ok & had advanced upfield nicely. Injuries aside, there's an undeniable lack of quality coupled with confidence issues. Whilst many praise Wester, IMO he was woefully repeatedly giving the ball away, looked immobile & short of pace/general alertness. Celina was even worse today......sad as I was really looking fwd to an attacking display from him & as for Ward, I'm struggling to understand his role/value & he too seems confused.......average at best defensively & like a rabbit in headlights when the opportunity arises to attack........how many times did he pick up the ball today & seemed to jog fwd rather than drive with threat & purpose......I just don't understand his role/purpose ( or instructions he's been given ). All in all, a real disappointment.......especially given the delightful Xmas pressie from my 15 yr old lad that got me up for the game ......the retro Pioneer shirt.....oh the memories of yesteryear. Feels like another mid table mediocrity season that'll follow an uninspiring turf window.......heyho, Happy New Year to one and all.

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poldark added 20:27 - Dec 30 Come on Pro McCarthy idiots defend this shambolic attempt at playing football this Idiot needs to be put out to graze somewhere as far as possible from PR
3

Swn98 added 20:52 - Dec 30 Yes poldark a decimated midfield most of the season and still only 5pts off the play offs if Mccarthy goes I fell the weight of expectation will be a very heavy burden for his successor.
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Steelmonkey added 21:05 - Dec 30 I really hate to admit this but as a team we are missing Skuse, never been a player I have been impressed by, which in itself is not saying much for the replacements coming in. The days have gone where a player does one type of job for the team. Skuse does what he is asked to do, but has aspects of his game that need doing better. After coming on today McGoldrick had a mare of a game, is he carrying an injury or was it him playing so deep that the role didn't suit. As others have said why was Smith left on the bench when Webster came off? Just another unexplainable substitution by MM. Well unless the teams above us now go into meltdown it's the season over for us once again.

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warktheline added 21:40 - Dec 30 Whatever excuse some have today, yesterday , last month or last year, the fact remains McCarthy has continually failed to beat, on any regular bases, teams in and around top 8! Divert the blame onto financial restrictions ( McCarthy was made fully aware of policies ) it still leads to managerial failure! People can argue on how well his tenure has been but ultimately he's shown all he can do under the circumstances and a decision needs to be made quickly! Carry on in a mediocre fashion or give the club fresh impetus with a new man, under the same working conditions!

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SheptonMalletBlue added 21:59 - Dec 30 What a TOSSER of a manager McCarthy is! Out classed, Out thought, Out dated. Just go and shut the friggin door behind you.
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Lightningboy added 23:52 - Dec 30 I fear the 2nd half of the season is going to be a real struggle what with all the injuries mounting up...great start to the season was followed by a slump in October,now a decent run has hit another slump. Said the other day that the constant and recurring injury problem needs looking into - 2 or 3 injuries is just bad luck but 8 or 9 is ridiculous and something in our training/fitness regimes needs changing otherwise we're going to struggle to put a team out come spring. When we have a full squad I expect us to challenge for the top 6 but now I think we'll end up in the bottom half once again..no point bringing anymore players in if they're going to end up spending all their time in the treatment room. Seriously hope these problems are being looked into 🤔

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:40 - Dec 31 Pity is there's actual opportunity in the weeks ahead but I'm following a team that isn't equipped to challenge. So many factors that are keeping us behind from injury concerns to not being focused enough and clear void of attacking intent. First and foremost Marcus Evans in the #1 issue. An ignorant ass of an owner who seems oblivious to the welfare of Ipswich Town Football Club, never makes an appearance on behalf of the club, least of all provide any substantial funding so we could challenge the league. So sense in berating the manager, you can only ride that horse so far into the ground. Credit where it's due Derby appear a good team, may well feature in the elite league in August, (and) Rowett is a manager with vision and ideas, something that is clearly deficient within our own set-up. Sorry we couldn't end the year on a winning note, but still opportunity to do something in this league while time permits itself.

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Swn98 added 07:45 - Dec 31 Lightning boy unfortunately most of the players we get are carrying some sort of injury that's why they are CHEAP.
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martin587 added 08:27 - Dec 31 To me there seems to be a lot of uncertainty creeping into the club.Rumers of player unrest and falling out with MM. Quotes by Mr.Milne stating they will talk about replacements when needed.To me that means uncertainty within the club. Certain players on the pitch yesterday ran around like headless chickens.Poor substitutions.Thats just my opinion,but that's how I see it.MM just running his time down.!!

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corfu72 added 09:31 - Dec 31 My first match for three months due to illness and I was really looking forward to the match.Outplayed by a very competent Derby we were chasing shadows for most of the game. The defence is still very suspect and lopsided need I say more. Ok,we are missing key players in midfield but we should still compete,and that we did not do.How do you expect the strikes to score without support. I agree with other posters on here that there seems to be be uncertainty within the club and I too have heard many rumers,possibly some untrue but there is no smoke without fire,so the saying goes. I cannot understand why Smith never came on for the injured Webster.Very strange decision.I just hope we can hold on to Bart,as without him we are in trouble. I fear the rest of the season is going to be hard going.I just hope I'm proved wrong.

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