Blues striker Joe Garner felt Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Derby, in which he netted his seventh goal of the campaign, was a game of two halves.

The Rams dominated the first period in which Sam Winnall gave them the lead before the former Sheffield Wednesday frontman added their second three minutes after the break.

Garner, 29, nodded in a Martyn Waghorn corner - the third of three in swift succession - on 65.

“This was a game of two halves, Derby were better than us first half and we were better than them in the second,” the Blues summer signing from Rangers said.

“We got a goal but couldn’t get the second. Martyn’s got a great left foot so it was about getting on the end of it and making it third time lucky.”

In addition to their first home defeat in six, Adam Webster limped off in the second half with an achilles problem, adding to Town’s already lengthy injury list ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Fulham, who are on the same points as the Blues but one place behind them in 12th.

“We have some big players out long term but the lads who go out there give the best and we have to make the most of it,” Garner reflected.

“We have a lot of injuries with a lot of big players out. If you look at the Fulham squad then you look at ours, they have a budget probably treble than ours, but it is not my job to look at that. The lads will work hard and try and implement what the gaffer wants.

“Fulham have had an up and down season like ourselves but they are lower than us at the moment.

“When they came here [and won 2-0 in August] they were probably the best side we had played here this season. We will dust ourselves down and go again on Tuesday.”

Derby goalscorer Winnall felt his second-half strike was as good as any he has ever netted: "It's one of the best I've scored, I must admit. You get one of those in your career and that could have been mine. It's the best I've scored.

"I'm just glad it was a goal that meant three points for the team and put us into second place.”

He added: "It was strange really because I don't normally try to shoot from there. I'd usually pass to someone else and get in the box.

"I just felt it was right to hit it. I was full of confidence after getting the first goal and I thought, 'Why not have a go?’. If you don't shoot, you don't score. Thankfully, it has flown into the top corner."

Regarding his 13th minute opener, he said: "I do like scoring headers and I always back myself in the air.

“Tom [Lawrence] put in a great corner right on to my head and all I had to do was direct it.

"I directed it into the corner and, thankfully, no one was standing on the back post. It gave us a great start in the game and we kicked on from there."

The 26-year-old had a chance to complete his hat-trick in the second half but scewed his shot wide after being fed by Matej Vydra.

"I probably should have done better,” he admitted. “It was very unselfish play from Vyds, who played me in with a great ball. I probably should have hit the target but, thankfully, two was enough in the end.”

One-time Scunthorpe and Barnsley man Winnall felt his side should have had the game settled inside the first half.

"On the pitch, it felt like we were playing some really good stuff," he added. "We made some really good chances and probably should have wrapped the game up with the chances we had in the first half.

"The keeper pulled off a great save from me and Vyds put one over when he probably should have scored.

"In the second half, we had to show a different side to our performance and grind out the three points.

"Being able to do both sides of the game just shows how far we've come as a squad and how much potential we've got to be successful this season.

"It was a bit nerve-racking at the end but, to be honest, with the quality we've got at the back - it's hard to find a better centre-back partnership than Keezy and Curt [Richard Keogh and Curtis Davies] - I had full confidence in both of them and the rest of the back four, and Scotty [Carson], that we wouldn't concede. Thankfully, they proved me right."

Winnall started his career with hometown club Wolverhampton Wanderers under Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy but made only one League Cup appearance before being released in the summer of 2012.

"I can't be too mad at him because he was the manager who gave me my first professional contract and handed me my debut as well,” he continued.

"It was nice to see him and Terry Connor, who I know from Wolves, and obviously nice to get the two goals against them.”

Photos: TWTD

blue75 added 06:59 - Jan 1 Oh Mr Garner we were a better team in the 2nd half but not the better team!! Derby deserved to win we were out played most of the game. The attendance on Saturday will show how good we are! 30 years since we won the cup and how many are expecting us to beat Sheffield Utd?
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village_blue added 08:44 - Jan 1 40 years since we won the cup.
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KiwiBlue2 added 08:44 - Jan 1 Blue 75 - sadly it's even longer, 40 years, since we won the Cup. Hard to recall any instances of us even making a semi final since then sadly......
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Cakeman added 08:47 - Jan 1 I agree blue75, we were better in the second half but we couldn't have been much worse in that first 45. Derby were always on top although we had a good ten minute spell. I can understand Garner being positive though as he is no doubt trying to do his best to keep the spirits within the club up.
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martin587 added 09:17 - Jan 1 Same old,same old.!!
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blue75 added 09:23 - Jan 1 Yep wrong count sorry
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brittaniaman added 09:51 - Jan 1 I would say the game was more like Two Thirds and a Third !!!
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Surco72 added 09:56 - Jan 1 A game of two halves . one where we set up not to get beat by two many and one where we gave it a go and performed better . Same MM tactics for past 20 years ,the only thing more boring is the different players being dragged out to spout rubbish each week after another non performance . Time for change give a new manager 2 transfer windows to get a squad in place for next season

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Rensham added 10:34 - Jan 1 A game of two halves and we lost both. And lost another chance to get back in touch with the top six. So all good then hey, Joel.
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Lightningboy added 10:35 - Jan 1 Webster's another one who's injury prone,isn't he. I know Chambers gets some stick but that guy plays no matter what - could do with a few more with his attitude.
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Rensham added 10:48 - Jan 1 How about sacking Big Mick. Much easier way to get the fans back than these ghost written "Advertorials" from the ME organisation.
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KiwiBlue2 added 11:48 - Jan 1 Wonder if Tommy might get a game at Fulham. I recall him and Chambers doing very well in MM''s early days. Would like to see following line up tmrw night Bart Spence Chambers Smith Ken lock Connolly Skuse Waghorn McGoldrick Celina Garner Subs: Crowe Webster Iorfa Knudsen Bru Ward Moore Need to go for it from the off and if this formation is not working then change it promptly to 4-4-2 or 3-5-2

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KiwiBlue2 added 11:50 - Jan 1 Whoops sorry about the spacing should run 4-2-3-1
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jas0999 added 13:56 - Jan 1 Dear oh dear. Better team second half?! Absolutely not. We played better than we did in the first half - but frankly a pub team could have. Derby the better side throughout and unlucky not to win by at least three.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:57 - Jan 1 Rensham what has happened to you ? are there two Renshams ? I amost marked you up,but then thought it may be a trap.
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Edmundo added 17:17 - Jan 1 I am probably the only one who is positive about the cup but I think we're the sort of side this season who could have a good run. Let's see...
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blueboy1981 added 17:40 - Jan 1 Rensham .... ??? - does this mean that you have at last found the light switch .. ?? Or is that just too much to expect ?
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blueboy1981 added 17:43 - Jan 1 Has a Club ever been known to have so many deluded, and delusional fans.... ?? Some can only be in total, and complete denial.
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Seasider added 17:59 - Jan 1 Sam Winnall intimated that had we stationed a man on the post he probably wouldn't have scored with his header. What he doesn't realise is that Mick McCarthy forbids this ! I know this because I recall that after conceding a similar goal,and there have been several;at the following press conference,he was asked(could have been by Phil) why he didn't put a player on the post. Our arrogant stubborn Manager said something along the lines of I have never put players on the posts in the previous 25 years,and i'm not about to start now.It was a while ago;but he may also have added that he has done pretty well without doing it;which is a matter of opinion Mick,as it would certainly have saved a goal on Saturday,which may have changed the result. McCarthy out.

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Cakeman added 18:10 - Jan 1 Seasider, our stubborn manager who at times is stuck in the 1960's never puts defenders on posts because during his early days the balls were made of leather and no one could deliver a corner kick high enough for it to be headed towards the goal 😉
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blueboy1981 added 18:17 - Jan 1 Spot on Seasider ..... absolute example of the Manager's costly stubbornness. Time, and being left behind (as he has been) will never change MM - he knows best - as he has proved with his 'success' ..... !!! at Portman Road over the past 5 seasons. His only success has been fulfilling the Evans objective of remaining mid table Championship - to suit the Evans Empire requirements. Until crowds drop below 10k nothing is likely to change unfortunately.

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runningout added 18:33 - Jan 1 looks like we are playing with next season in mind in this league, minus a few players. We are making average teams look half decent, when it is obvious our full ability is being restricted. That's NOT blaming the manager necessarily :-)
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:55 - Jan 1 i blame Swn and Gcon, they've convinced McCarthy he is a great manager and we are making progress. Rensham has made a plea bargain, and come over to the light side..LOL.........HAPPY NEW YEAR to all. [but don't expect too much cheer from our ambitious owner and his puppets .]
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Rensham added 18:57 - Jan 1 It's too easy to slag Mick off. If he can compete in this league given the amount of backing from ME he's doing a good job. As for his relationship with Ipswich, the community and the fans, he really needs to take a good hard look at himself. He single handedly has cost us the money to buy a couple of extra players this season by disaffecting about 8000 fans.
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KiwiBlue2 added 19:39 - Jan 1 Yes unfortunately he (MM) does have a way with the fans - a way of alienating them. I don't recall our two highly successful 'Sirs' who had great achievements going out òf their way to stimulate substantial reductions in season ticket holders and home crowds generally
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