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

MickMillsTash added 08:32 - Aug 22 First game since Blackburn and definite improvement Donacien looks like a right back - won loads of tackles Nsiala is an athlete- solid, decent positioning defending - apart from the first 10 minutes - we looked good and were the more likely to score - even though either team scoring looked remote We broke well, first time passing but lacked final ball /shot - Nolan looks dangerous, Chalobah decent Second half again pretty comfortable - 2 deflected goals- we've had our luck at Derby in previous years. Not sure where the goals will come from yet - confidence will be key - Harrison needs a goal and is isolated but if fitness improves and moving the ball with more purpose improves I can see us hitting teams on the break and being dangerous. We're not going down, We're not going up - we're Ipswich Town and we don't ....

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Bergholtblue added 08:51 - Aug 22 Looked vulnerable after Skuse went off. Toothless up front. Can't see where the goals are coming from.
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jimmyjames added 08:57 - Aug 22 We desperately need a goal scorer. Of the 2 games I've seen, sadly Harrison at times looks a little lost - runs well, work rate ok, but that clinical instinct at the moment is missing. I'm sure it'll come, but I'm not seeing a Murphy / Waghorn / Mathie / Kiwomya-esque style target front man there at the moment. And that's what we need. In fact, two of them. In front of goal we just don't look a threat, aside from Edwards when he breaks forward and takes people on. Bit concerning as we cant win games if we don't score.

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TimmyH added 09:01 - Aug 22 huurraaaahhh!...at last a good post from Gcon, the 'penny dropped' sometime ago. The last few years I was never a McCarthy fan and thought he'd been here too long, in Evans interview he said 'we were going to try something new' - well yes that's certainly true and a gamble but 'nothing is new' in terms of him reserving the cash from transfers. Agree Evans seems part of the problem...

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afcfee added 09:13 - Aug 22 Skuse was toothless in midfield made nothing
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:23 - Aug 22 PH will need to hold his nerve as the criticism mounts. I hope it doesn't all end in tears. With hindsight, it looks as if we might have been better promoting some of our U23s, but Hurst has a plan and at the moment he is sticking to it. Maybe this plan will develop to integrate some of our "own" players as the season progresses. Huws and Dozzell would be great, for example. And you can add to the mix the fact that PH didn't get in all the players he wanted to fulfil his plan. But the bottom line still remains: Some of our play is ok, but for a whole 90 minutes, we don't even look remotely likely to score; and without a goal, the other team is always likely to nick one at some point, leaving us the losers and flirting with relegation. Over to you, Paul.

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warktheline added 09:48 - Aug 22 We are currently in a period of 'limbo', another six games on and the 'predicament' ( good/bad ) will become much clearer. Too many 'swaying in the wind' trending on whether we've won, lost or drawn! Of course it's a 'worry' not picking up early points, but nobody to date has been 'relegated' four games into season! Looking forward to Hurst having a 'full' compliment of players available to work with, and 'time' to show what he's all about as a Championship manager!

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midastouch added 09:51 - Aug 22 So far it seems Edwards, Donacien, Nsiala and Nolan might be able to adjust quickly enough to life in the Championship. Hard to day about Jackson or Harrison as they haven't really had much service so we can't necessarily say they aren't up to it. Trying to be positive after last night but the league table doesn't lie. I think a defeat to Norwich might be enough to tip some over the edge. If we are still without a win after the Norwich game then I have to admit I will be really concerned. We need to see a Plan B perhaps. If you are only going to play 1 up front they need to be top draw at holding the ball up to allow others time to support the attack. So far I haven't seem much evidence of that. I can't see how the likes of Sears and Ward (based on current average form at best) can be ahead in the pecking order of some of the brighter looking U23 players. And Knusden and Bart seem to have World Cup hangovers. 1 up top doesn't seem to be working that well, I think Paul might need to consider changes in personnel and formation as the longer we go without a win the more people are going to start asking questions. I thought the next manager was going to be more attack-minded, while some of the play looks neater than under Mick we look toothless and we looked far more dangerous last season from set pieces and with the threat of Waghorn, DmG (when fit!) and Celina (when playing!) under Mick. Next 2 matches are massive. I honestly feel like the Norwich match could be make or break match for Hurst. Win that and a lot of the doubts would be erased in an instant and people would be off his back for a while but if we lose that and we're sitting rock bottom in the league (hopefully we'd still be above Queens Park Relegation at least!) then I think it would be pushing some to their limits! It would be a lot harder to win the confidence back from the fans if we lose to Norwich, but if we win that one it could be just the tonic and catalyst Paul and the squad need to get things back on track.

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finidi added 09:57 - Aug 22 I hope PH is not going to be stubborn like MM, and keep persisting with a formula that doesn,t work. We need change of shape three at the back, seams that most sides now try one up front but that player has to have support. What has happened to Nydam?? Looking at the Sept fixtures there is nothing to fear accept maybe Brentford at home. Just need that confidence building first win.

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TimmyH added 09:58 - Aug 22 blues1 - completely wrong do your maths on the transfers in and out...
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WoodfordTim added 09:59 - Aug 22 So disappointed with the result. We seemed to lack energy and I thought Derby were nothing special. I've still got my doubts about Jonas. He doesn't seem fast enough for a full back. To me it seemed that most of Derby's early attacks were along his channel and Jonas does not stop enough crosses coming in.
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TimmyH added 10:02 - Aug 22 According to transfermarkt our 2018/18 dealings Evans is near to £6M in pocket.
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Paddy39 added 10:16 - Aug 22 Freddie Sears should start down the middle up front. Our other strikers are not cutting it at present. But I'm confident in Paul Hurst, it will better.
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ThaiBlue added 10:24 - Aug 22 We seem very lightweight against a big phisical derby can't see us scoring many with 1 upfront.bart needs to sharpen up as he has looked very sluggish so far but probably due a drop in form as week in week out outstanding.think we are in for a very hard long season COYB.
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Lightningboy added 10:33 - Aug 22 The one thing that I found a bit worrying before we appointed Hurst was the fact that Shrewsbury weren't banging in goals last season,think most of their wins were by the odd goal. So far Hurst has stuck with 1 up front - and it's failing miserably so far - he needs to change something sooner rather than later - I just hope we haven't swapped one stubborn Yorkshireman for another.

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finidi added 10:33 - Aug 22 Just done a quick calculation profit from sales and world cup 6.1 million, rising to 13.1 million with add ons for Waghorn and Webster. that will help cover wages and running costs. Therefore ME not putting much money into the club at all, is he thinking of selling??
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Kirbmeister added 10:40 - Aug 22 We lose millions each year so any money made on transfers gets swallowed up. I love it when people try and tell others how to spend their money. Get real we have no money and will make do with frees and loans. If we don't get relegated it will be a miracle in my opinion.
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blues1 added 10:50 - Aug 22 Timmy h. Yes. I miscalculated a bit onvwhat weve taken in. Actually over £10m with garner sale. The outgoings are correct tho. But whatever amount ur saying hes up is physically correct at the moment. But he has stated thatall money from transfers out will be reinvested. And so far nothing has happened to suggest thats not gonba happen. Already over £5m spent, loans being looked at now and with the january window to come the possibility that more could be spent. So my point to jas was that hes judging evans( as he always does every time we lose), on this occasion way too soon. Wait and see what gappens is my point, before slagging him off .

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blues1 added 10:54 - Aug 22 I have to say, im not sure why everyone is judging the 2 new strikers as harshly as they are. Its not as if theyre spurning chances after all. Fact is the chances arent being created for them to score. Who knows how many they will score if they get the service they require. Im sure once the chances come that the goals will start to go in.
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Bluearmy_81 added 11:25 - Aug 22 And so far nothing has happened to suggest thats not gonba happen. Evans has never reinvested sale proceeds sufficiently. His whole history of investing in ITFC suggests that's not going to happen!!
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TimmyH added 11:27 - Aug 22 Still not sure where your getting that we've spent £5M this summer.
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Bluearmy_81 added 11:28 - Aug 22 I love it when people try and tell others how to spend their money. I love it when Evans apologists care more about his bank balance than their own football club. A strange breed indeed.
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Kirbmeister added 11:40 - Aug 22 Bluearmy - you buy the club off him then and show us all how's it done properly.
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Northstandveteran added 11:57 - Aug 22 I think Evans said that he would invest the money from the Webster sale in the transfer market. Can't recall him mentioning the money from others. Still, in his interview he was a very nice man. Which I suppose you have to be to become a billionaire 😂. We're not doomed I tell ya. Don't panic, don't panic! A complete overhaul of the club in terms of players and management will result in a settling down period. It'll all come good.

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corfu72 added 12:00 - Aug 22 Strikers are only as good as the service they get.At the moment,there lies the problem.And we all know who we're waiting for.
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