Second-half goals from sub Joe Ledley and ex-Blues loanee Tom Lawrence saw Derby County to a 2-0 home victory over Town, their first win against the Blues at Pride Park since November 2006. Ledley put the Rams in front on 59 and Lawrence sealed the three points with a freekick in the 68th minute with Town never looking likely to get back into the game.

Grant Ward returned to the Blues starting line-up for the suspended Tayo Edun on the left of midfield in an otherwise unchanged side.

For Derby, Martyn Waghorn dropped to the bench alongside Jack Marriott, while Lawrence started, as did Town nemesis David Nugent, who was looking to add to his 15 goals in 16 games against the Blues.

Craig Bryson hit the game’s first effort over in the second minute after Lawrence had been crowded out on the right of the box with the Rams starting brightly.

Town’s first shot came on eight after a Gwion Edwards cross from the right had reached Trevoh Chalobah on the edge of the box but the on-loan Chelsea man shot weakly wide.

There was a scare for the Blues on 15 when Chalobah’s poor pass allowed Mason Mount to break inside the Town half but Bryson’s cross was too far in front of Nugent at the back post.

Town broke from the subsequent corner and Bryson was shown the game’s first yellow card for a cynical foul on Ward in front of the Blues’ technical area, almost sending Blues boss Hurst crashing as well as the midfielder.

On 17 Nolan shot powerfully but wide following a Town freekick on the left, then with the game continuing to be a stop-start, scruffy affair Derby were forced into a change in the 27th minute when George Evans suffered a knock. Wales international Ledley took over.

Blues nemesis Nugent shot wide from the edge of the box in the 35th minute, then two minutes later Mount crossed from the right, Bartosz Bialkowski punched to the 18-yard line from where Bryson scuffed a shot into a Town player.

The Blues had spent most of the period in their own half albeit without Derby looking overly threatening for the most part but on 40 Ward twisted and turned in the box having seen his first shot blocked and his second effort took a deflection but fortunately flew straight to Scott Carson in the Rams goal.

Two minutes later Ellis Harrison caught one-time Town academy schoolboy and ballboy Richard Keogh in possession on halfway and the Ireland international hauled him down and was deservedly shown the yellow card by referee Scott Duncan.

Just prior to the fourth official holding up his board to indicate three additional minutes, a loose ball fell to Chalobah following a corner but the midfielder screwed his shot high and wide.

The scoreline remained 0-0 at the break which was a fair reflection of a not particularly enthralling first half of few chances at both ends.

Derby had had most of the ball but had been unable to force Bialkowski into a save with their rather ponderous approach.

Carson had also been relatively untroubled, Ward’s late effort aside, although the Rams hadn’t looked entirely comfortable defending Town corners.

Blues boss Paul Hurst is likely to have been the happier of the two managers walking off at the break.

Skuse picked up an early second-half booking for a foul on Ledley, then on 50 Mount shot wide having been found in space on the right of the box by the Welshman.

A minute later, Nolan worked himself some room on the edge of the area at the other end but scuffed wide.

On 55 Skuse was replaced by Flynn Downes, then moments later skipper Luke Chambers headed a Ward freekick from the right over.

A minute before the hour mark the Rams took the lead. A Mount corner from the right was headed out by Toto Nsiala to Ledley who struck a 25-yard effort through a crowd of players which deflected past Bialkowski to his left.

Town switched Harrison for Kayden Jackson in the 63rd minute as they looked for a way back into the game.

But in the 68th minute the Rams made it 2-0. Lawrence was fouled just outside the area by Nsiala, who was booked, and the one-time Blues loanee deftly struck a freekick which appeared to go through the Blues wall. Despite a deflection, Bialkowski got a strong left hand on it but couldn’t prevent the ball from falling just inside the post.

Derby swapped Mason Bennett for Florian Jozefzoon as Town prepared to restart the game.

On 70, Edwards sent a dangerous low ball across from the right but without a Blues player being able to get a touch. Five minutes later, the Welshman was replaced by Jordan Roberts, who joined Jackson up front.

Derby continued to dominate and on 76 Mount shot wide from 25 yards, then two minutes later ex-Blue Marriott took over from Nugent.

Chalobah blazed over on 79 with the Blues looking unlikely to get back into the match having failed to test Carson at any stage of the second half.

Jackson hit a low shot through to Carson in the penultimate minute of scheduled time but the Rams were comfortably saw the game out to end the Blues’ long unbeaten run at Pride Park.

Town can have few complaints about the result. Although there was little in the game until the first goal, the Blues made little impression in the second half.

During the first, while Derby had the lion’s share of the ball, Town had had spells but after the break they made little headway and Carson was largely a spectator.

The Rams hardly peppered Bialkowski’s goal, but Ledley made the most of a weak clearance and Lawrence reminded Town fans of his threat from freekicks, although the Blues keeper certainly felt his wall ought to have been more effective. Again both the goals came from set pieces either directly or indirectly, as have most of those Town have conceded this season.

The Blues go into Saturday’s away game at Sheffield Wednesday still without a win under new boss Hurst and in 20th position.

Derby: Carson, Forsyth, Bryson, Tomori, Keogh (c), Mount, Lawrence, Evans (Ledley 27), Bennett (Jozefzoon 69), Nugent (Marriott 78), Bogle. Unused: Roos, Wisdom, Waghorn, Lowe.

Town: Bialkowski, Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Chalobah, Skuse (Downes 55), Ward, Nolan, Edwards (Roberts 75), Harrison (Jackson 63). Unused: Gerken, Spence, Roberts, Sears, Kenlock. Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland). Att: 24,362.

Photo: TWTD

Esseeja added 22:28 - Aug 21 If Waghorn was to stay, he would of fit perfectly as a lone striker, but would not fit a pass and play system, so either the sort of 4-2-3-1 system we played (sort of is the key word) or a 4-4-2 diamond or just a normal 4-4-2.
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BrettenhamBlue added 22:30 - Aug 21 Could be in the relegation zone this time tomorrow. Starting to keep my fingers crossed that there are 3 teams worse than us this season. Early days but table doesn't lie.
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blue86 added 22:33 - Aug 21 @ delias cheesy flaps, agree about 352 or even 442 as 4141 or the 4231 system is not working so far. I was impressed with harrison as the lone striker in the west ham friendly, but he clearly needs someone up there with him. Not gonna panic just yet though, ph needs to change it up slightly as not working at the mo, but a proven loan striker i know feel is a must! Things will be become clearer after 10-15 games, trying to keep the faith. Coyb

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BraveDave added 22:35 - Aug 21 Mixed feelings on this one. Two disappointing goals, and if we hadn't conceded them, I think we would have all been praising a hard earned draw. That's because we tried to play football, at times moving the ball superbly around midfield. Similarly, our defence was fairly comfortable up to the first goal. So, still feeling positive. However, and this is not a moan as I'm sure this will come right, we never looked like scoring, and that has generally been the case for most of the minutes we have played this season. All strikers need a bit of luck to get into their groove, and this will happen, but unfortunately neither of our strikers look quite on the mark at the moment, and that is a bit of a worry. I still think we are showing some real quality at times, and so I have no doubt we will be nowhere near relegation come the end of the season. Hurst needs to keep believing in his way of playing and not panic (like some fans on here!).

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ITFCsince73 added 22:35 - Aug 21 Need to stop blaming the new signings. They will come good, I've no doubt. What is concerning is the continued poor performances of our senior players. Chambers, Skuse and Jonas. As I've said previous these players needed to step up this season, and lead by example. But they continue to hold us back. A good Chambers performance on Saturday, to be followed by 3 poor to average games, isn't good enough. Jonas just been poor in all minutes played so far. Skuse very average at best, and offers zero.

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Dog added 22:36 - Aug 21 I thought Skuse had a decent (ish) game and that edwards ran around like a dog chasing a ball. Then again, it was a crap team performance so to single any one out for praise or criticism is a tad wrong. We were so slow. The ball in the air too much. Cannot remember a shot on goal inside the box - although my dad was round and talking about tractors / ploughs. My mum was also distracting asking who was at home and why the whole crowd appeared to be grey. PH has one plan and one plan only. Just try something else.

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Viking1759 added 22:37 - Aug 21 FGS give them time and a chance!! Rome was not built in a day!! Why you all expect miracles straight away? Crazy. COYB's!!!! Agreed need to score though.
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BraveDave added 22:40 - Aug 21 ITFCsince 73 - 'Skuse offers zero'. Obviously weren't watching tonight then. Either that or you'd already typed out your comments before the match. Everyone has their opinion, but it's just lazy to keep criticising Skuse. I'm not surprised, as you've already decided that our only weaknesses are the players who played under MM. Watch the games and comment and what you actually see.

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LonE17Blue added 22:48 - Aug 21 I'm just probably repeating what other people are saying or thinking; loving the new Ipswich but the 4141 isn't working right now, so I would ask PH to please review this mind set and try something different, so that we can get some points on the board. No disrespect to PH but so far upfront we are coming across very weak.
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pazzy added 22:48 - Aug 21 must play 2 up front and 1 must be morris to play off Harrison or jackson
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EssexTractor added 22:49 - Aug 21 We should make comments on what we see On Saturday one man down and with a resilient team we played hard with pace and enthusiasm, but maybe against over confident opposition Tonight at half time it was though someone had hypnotised both teams into a state of sleep walking It was so so dull, half paced, but surely anyone would know despite their first half adequacies , Derby did have the crowd and more of a physical strength then Itfc Tonight our midfield inadequate Frontline weak., really weak That's what we saw tonight Cannot deny it Facts So although early in the season will PH admit that his ideal of fast paced intense football cannot be played at this level with the players so far chosen , particularly with a sadly unphysical frontline Let's hope the alternative plan/ ideas are there

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ITFCsince73 added 22:49 - Aug 21 BraveDave. Skuse offers nothing for a team looking to improve. Average tonight. Jonas just poor. Chambers inconsistently poor. That's what I've seen tonight and so far.
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bluearmy84 added 22:50 - Aug 21 should never of gotten rid of mick mcarthy he never lost at derby!! we dont look like scoring and same tactics as micks and thats hard graft!!! everyone wants us to have a "go" but im sorry i didnt see any of that tonight did we have a shot on target!? at this rate well be playing league 1 next season if PH doest get this sorted quick!!! and believe me i want us to do well but im struggling to see how we gonna score a goal right now???

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BraveDave added 22:53 - Aug 21 ITFCsince1973 - yes, of course, those 3 were definitely the problem tonight. I'm sure that would have been your conclusion regardless of what actually happened
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Gcon added 22:55 - Aug 21 The owner sold our goal scorers just before the season started. and now we don't score goals. Just like he did with Daryl Murphy. MM made an overall profit of £20m in player purchases/sales. Why has it not been reinvested? Why is the manager forced to shop only in the bargain bucket? I am blaming the same person I have been blaming for the demise of this club for years. When will the penny drop, folks?

14

runningout added 23:02 - Aug 21 We looked good in spells, but made Derby look better due to little creativity up front. We should have pestered Keogh as he looked shaky. Nolan and Nsiala looked a very decent I reckon. Onwards and upwards if we manage to get in good loans
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ITFCsince73 added 23:02 - Aug 21 BraveDave. The 3 mentioned are our most senior outfield players. They have yet to step up to the plate. If you believe there doing ok within this young, new group of players, you see things differently to me.
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TraktorBoyz added 23:04 - Aug 21 I've literally watched skuse play terrible every game why on earth are you defending him
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Suffolkboy added 23:04 - Aug 21 Not clear at all what's going right or wrong , but it is clear there's got to be changes made to 1 who we play where 2 how we play3 how we get everybody singing together off the same hymn sheet AND how we develop a plan B or Plan C. Almost all reports say we lack a plan, many chose still to criticise individual players , often not the same ones so quite evidently PH and CD are going to have to get THEIR act together very soon . I'm sorry to reflect that in his press interviews PH comes across in boring , almost monotone uncertain manner which does nothing to inspire in any way ! I do hope I'm wrong , but if the team as a team are not responding in a united fashion then there's every possibility of disagreement in the dressing room and about on- field tactics and strategy .PH shows little evidence of clinical judgement or confidence on how to manage a game ,or plan effectively . Come on everybody at ITFC really get together !

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44_not_out added 23:06 - Aug 21 I'll repeat what I've said previously, a squad that needed tweaking has had a massive overhaul. For example, we had two fairly average full backs in Spence and Emmanuel. So what's the point in spending £650,000 (I think) on another in the shape of Donacien. Nothing against the lad, but where is he any better than what we had? Should the Webster and Waghorn money been spent on two like for like replacements and then our up and coming youngsters filled the rest of the squad?? I'll leave that out there.....

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TraktorBoyz added 23:09 - Aug 21 Bad touch weak slow poor positioning unable to play forward passes but apparently I don't know football or haven't watched properly to see what he does. Also I was a massive MM fan and never wanted him sacked. I know what I see all of the above.
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ITFCsince73 added 23:18 - Aug 21 BraveDave. Couldn't care less if there players from MM days. There not performing as hoped. Simple. The new younger players have an excuse, if you like. Jonas needs a good kick up the backside.
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ldnj added 23:21 - Aug 21 Not looking forward to a Jordan Rhodes, who's rediscovered how to score, in the opposition team. Unfortunately in the competitive Championship I think giving it 10 games might make it a bigger hill to climb.
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Benjamineyriey added 23:22 - Aug 21 Poor game. We weren't creative enough; our set-pieces were woeful. Chalobah looked sloppy, woke up after we went 2-0 down. Still, we have an entire season to go, Derby are a good team. COYB.
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BraveDave added 23:26 - Aug 21 TraktorBoyz - "I've literally watched Skuse play terrible (sic) every game why on earth are you defending him". Yes, of course, you're right. Why would I want to defend one of our own players, who played well tonight and who both our previous and current manager believe in. In fact, why defend any of the shower. I'll be booing next game.
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