Derby County 2-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 21st Aug 2018 21:51

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

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Bluearmy_81 added 12:01 - Aug 22 I can't afford to. I can however criticise him for chronically underinvesting in the club which may well lead to league 1 this season. He has the money to invest properly, just not the inclination. Yet you defend him. What on earth is wrong with you?! This is YOUR club!
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tractorboybig added 12:04 - Aug 22 cakeman...other than qpr name one?
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blues1 added 12:15 - Aug 22 Timmyh. £2m for nolan/nsiala. £750,000 for harrison.£700,000 for edwards. £750,000 for donacien(once made permanent). £1.5m for jackson. Plus loans of chalobah and edun. Actually in excess of £6m.
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BigHibbs added 12:47 - Aug 22 I feel desperately sorry for Harrison. I think he's a good striker, good in the air, quick and I know he's good in front of goal as I watched him at Bristol. But being isolated up top on his own without a midfielder who can slip a ball through (Dozzell, Bishop or huws) I just wish hurst would drop a midfielder in favour of 2 up front.
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Gcon added 12:57 - Aug 22 TimmyH - Look back through any post I have ever made and you will see 100% consistency in my opinion of the real problem at ITFC, namely the owner. If the penny has finally dropped for you, all well and good, but please don't suggest that I have changed my own tune.
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ITFCsince73 added 13:02 - Aug 22 BigHibbs. We have premiership class Skuse. Is he not good enough?
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blueboy1981 added 13:17 - Aug 22

In both Harrison and Jackson I beleve we have good signings, however playing them as lone strikers is asking too much of them in terms of being able to adjust to a higher level. Playing even an experienced Championship striker on his lonesome is a task in itself, ask any that have found themselves in such a situation ?
The longer these guys go without scoring, any confidence in their own ability will be draining away - playing two up front has to be the answer on all fronts.
One up front invariably does NOT work, how much more proof is needed... ??

Again, my phylosophy is that the best form of defence is attack - and always will be.
In the meantime, bring George Burley in as Director of Football - Paul Hurst needs help from an experienced head. Now.

TimmyH added 13:26 - Aug 22

I've always known that 'part' of the problem is Evans but the other part for a couple or years or so was McCarthy (not going into that as it's all been discussed) - the issue I have currently with Evans is the sale of BOTH Garner and Waghorn, I simply don't believe they BOTH wanted to leave after only a year here, really!?!...I thought this was a likeable club and I certainly don't believe it's because McCarthy departed or they weren't in Hurst's plans so what's the ulterior motive?

Very early days for Hurst really for anyone getting on his back, the big question is how much collusion is there between Evans and his managers financially?

TimmyH added 13:28 - Aug 22 Sorry blues1....your correct with that extra £2M for the Shrews boys, so more to the tune of £4M in his pocket which in Championship values poor expenditure wise.
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Butcherboy added 13:34 - Aug 22

We only had 38% of the possession last night and 2 shots on target which is very reminiscent of the McCarthy era. It's a worry but let's hope he turns it round soon.
Personally I think bringing in so many new players all at once and then playing them all straight away is too much too soon. I am also surprised that he feels that 9 new players aren't enough and he wants another 3! Not everything that was in place under McCarthy was bad but it's starting to feel like if McCarthy liked it then Hurst is determined he won't.
Chalobah is behind Dozzell in the pecking order for England but is getting to start, it's not like he has had lots of experience of senior football so it will be interesting to see when Dozzell is fit whether this will continue to be the case. I'm glad he's not sending Dozzell out on loan but he needs to play him. It's almost as if he's trying too hard to make changes to prove he's in charge and is going to do things differently.
Think it was Joe Royal who said if you buy lower league players you end up with a lower league club so I sincerely hope he is wrong. Let's also hope the stat about every club McCarthy left has been relegated the following season is also wrong.

bugledog123 added 13:42 - Aug 22 Long way to go and a new team that need to gel (quickly). Still optimistic! COYB!
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BobbyBell added 13:49 - Aug 22

Many teams will have a run of 2 draws and 2 defeats in 4 games throughout the season so why are some of you starting to panic? Many teams will also have a run of not scoring or making chances. That's why managers are there, they will do their best to put it right without upsetting the parts that are working well. It could take 20 games to get this new team / squad to gell but let's hope they do it in 10 or 12. Just look at QPR and their start!!

Lightningboy added 14:59 - Aug 22

@TimmyH

With you on that with regards to Waghorn & Garner leaving..up until the final 24/48 hours of the transfer window I thought we were ok squad-wise but the sale of both of those virtually right at the death of the transfer window was ridiculous & has left us dangerously short up front.

Always makes me laugh when players say they want to move closer to home - are you seriously telling me that if Barca or Madrid or Juventus had come in for either of the above they would've said no cos it's too far from the north of England?!..I don't think so ðŸ¤”

We need to bring in at least 2 loanees this week (we can't keep waiting on Dozzell,Huws,Bishop & Adeyemi)..we need an experienced centre forward who can hold the ball up,a centre back to cover the defence & possibly (depending on the above) a centre midfielder who can actually command the midfield - something we haven't had for about 10 years.

Hurst has to realise that managing in the championship is a totally different beast to managing in league 1..getting away with 1-0 wins at Shrewsbury is not going to cut it at this level.

Gcon added 15:17 - Aug 22 BobbyBell - Probably because it is very easy to see how quickly the team's confidence could falter and it could rapidly spiral from there. With a poor start from a new, young manager and a lot of inexperienced players it's easy to see that happening. A win (any win, albeit scrappy, lucky, whatever) will help to put them back on track.
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geminimustang added 15:30 - Aug 22

PH is up against a far higher level of Manager.The lower league players are up against far better players.ME has always been up against Clubs that have far more money to invest.Why are the majority surprised at the way the season has started.Still early days and plenty of time for it to turn around but some of us who appreciated MM realised this could happen.However,keep believing and hoping and praying the transfer window in January helps.

runningout added 15:37 - Aug 22 Money doesn't always bring success. Get a decent team together that have hunger and passion to improve day in day out, and your there. I hope we are developing this
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warktheline added 16:17 - Aug 22

“All those that appreciated MM”!!!!!.....boring uncultured football, ‘journeymen' and ‘sick notes' aplenty, surviving in Championship, dwindling attendances, plus unprecedented damage to the image of Ipswich Town Football Club!

Obviously not all like ‘change' or dragged out of their ‘comfort zone'!!! The ‘patient' have become ‘intolerant'.....maybe MM was wearing them to ‘breaking point' without their realisation !!!!

cat added 16:21 - Aug 22 This is predominately a new team playing for a new manager on a limited budget. Like everyone in life they deserve a chance, some of the hysteria on here is so uncalled for, specially at this early stage. What they need is support and I'm optimistic that we will be ok.
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cat added 16:24 - Aug 22 Hey walktheline, you and me on the positive side, god things have changed. Best place to be though.ðŸ‘
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finidi added 16:30 - Aug 22 Team for Sheff wed Gerken Donachien Chambers Niasla Kenlock Huws if fit Cholobah Edwards Edun Harrison Sears Wait for all the flak!!! purely based on current form
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