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

Northstandveteran added 17:12 - Aug 22 Oh Swn... Are you upset about today's news regarding the half finished statue of Mick? I think it very responsible of ITFC to show their care for the environment by melting it down to make a turnstile.
5

blueboy1981 added 17:43 - Aug 22 ..... Swn98 - still not capable of more than six words, and a sensible post I see. Oh Well, no good expecting it where it obviously isn't I guess.
5

Cakeman added 17:47 - Aug 22 tractorboybig, just my opinion but as well as QPR, Reading and Rotherham will also finish below us.
2

hyperbrit added 17:50 - Aug 22 ...Town have assembled a very good League 1 side. It remains to be seen if it can compete in the Championship!!
3

leahcar88 added 17:51 - Aug 22 I'm sure some of these doom and gloom posters havent been to a game this season. Positivity from the stands and good atmospheres will help the team immensely, as it has been proven time and time again. As for the mickalous fans I hope you don't want us relegated so you can purrrrr about mick. Bet people calling for guests head already where eager and stated give mick time. What's sacking managers gonna bring etc Come on the football was atrocious and is better now The results will come. Patience please.

7

Rimsy added 17:53 - Aug 22 Predictable overreaction by many. We were nowhere near as bad as some are making out. Up until they scored we were holding our own. Players just need time to acclimatise to the championship, although we need two up front for sure. I'd get Sears in to play as part of that duo, where he needs to play. He's never been given a run in his favoured position.
3

blueboy1981 added 18:12 - Aug 22 ..... it doesn't take more than a brain cell to see that experience at both Management and Player level isn't what it needs / will need to be. PH in my opinion is the right choice right now, whether he was when other options were available, only time will tell. He needs experienced help to deal with what he is trying achieve - however, I think he may be too proud to accept such. I repeat again, if he is going to be a success at Portman Road, George Burley needs to be brought back into the Club post haste - otherwise Paul Hurst's proudness and decision making could be his downfall. I sincerely hope not, and remain 100% behind him.

0

blueboy1981 added 18:24 - Aug 22 ...... obvious that some need to remember that ‘not being that bad' and ‘playing ok up until' is not resulting in GOALS - you need them to WIN matches, and if you don't the trap door eventually awaits. EXPERIENCE is what is needed to help this promising young Manager, who I feel needs that ‘experience' to help make decisions / run ideas past. Who is there other than Bryan Klug ? - and he didn't want the job for possibly good reason.

0

Swn98 added 19:29 - Aug 22 Great to see you've climbed out from under your rock i was beginning to miss you😢 IMO the football isn't much different to last year we just move the ball quicker to achieve nothing. Lets hope the League 1 players gel so we can bounce straight up from Div 1. No wonder Waghorn And Garner wanted out.
-7

pragmatic added 20:58 - Aug 22 126 points to play for we need another 53 real supporters will get behind team to achieve that!!
1

warktheline added 21:08 - Aug 22 @swn, what a total embarrassment you are! After the Villa game you ‘praise' Hurst and team.....days later, you revert back to ‘Sh**e' or type, if you prefer ! Do you attend Portman Rd, Swn? Not so long ago you announced ‘Au revoir' and departed for life away from ‘old Blighty'....did you not? Would that account for your 8am early start on Saturday to reach your destination ( Portman Rd ) on time! What I can't fathom is 7 hours to arrive but only 3 hours to return home! I can only assume ‘strong winds' assisted your sails homeward bound! Talking of ‘hot air'!......😂

2

19781981twtd added 21:36 - Aug 22 Just seen tonight's scores scum won we are now in bottom 3 our league 1 manager and players are nearly home to where they are suited well done all you football experts you wanted MM out and entertaining football well now you can slate me for this post call me named,disloyal all that old bollo**s but guess what you know alls backed the wrong donkey so live with my comments now to get wacked by the scum then the humiliation will be complete cheers guys just goes to show you no jack Sh** about football "be carefull what you wish for " hey ho here we go down !!!

1

jas0999 added 21:42 - Aug 22 Blues1 - no disrespect, but you are deluded. As someone else pointed out, MM made £20M in transfer profits. PH already made Evans £5.25M. Evans hasn't invested for years. He has reinvested some of the money received. Big difference. Emphasis on some. After watching us struggle up front in all games this season, the point I made is entirely relevant. Evans got rid of three strikers - all with experience - and allowed Hurst to sign just two inexperienced players in return, raking in huge profits in the process. I blame Evans 100%. It would seem I'm not the only one.

4

aas1010 added 21:57 - Aug 22 19781981twtd. I agree with you I said we get relegated yesterday and I was slated by a few . Again 1st 2nd division players in the championship dnt work !!
0

19781981twtd added 22:11 - Aug 22 Aas1010 thank god im not alone when saying what everyone else is thinking but they are to deluded to say anything as you say do the math league 1 manager+league 1 players =league 1 football now in bottom get used to it guys, cheers aas1010
0

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 22:50 - Aug 22 21st in the table after four championship games, knocked out of the cup by Exeter and still without even ONE win. But hey ho all's fine and rosy according to most on this board. Feel free to mark me down like you usually do.
-1

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 23:04 - Aug 22 I side with blueboy1981, George Burley IMMEDIATELY as Director of Footbal may help to steady what is a sinking ship. Just a little reminder of where we were this time last year: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40907802
0

blrmy added 08:33 - Aug 23 @BcarefulwhatUWish4 -- and via that link, the table on that day had Bolton, Brentford and Millwall as the bottom three. Today, two of them are in the top six (3rd and 4th), and the other mid table (14th). So be careful with stats mate. You can tell any story you want.
-1

Northstandveteran added 09:10 - Aug 23 In theory, Burley in as director of football sounds like a great idea and had it been put in place at the beginning of the season perhaps. But Hurst is his own man and has made no secret of his ambitions. He wouldn't have come in the first place had this been the case and certainly wouldn't accept it now. This is a crazy division. As long as a team is floating around mid table come January, promotion is always a possibility, provided by the above post. Look at Millwall last year. A good run and they almost made the play offs after being bottom half most of the season. Look at West Ham the year they beat us in the play offs. Mid table all year. We all knew this was a season to rebuild and we really haven't played too badly from what I've seen and can make of it. Come the next transfer window Hurst will have a better idea of the players he needs. Hang on in there, we'll be alright.

1

Swn98 added 10:10 - Aug 23 Warktheline don't make assumptions or statements on only small pieces of information there's a good fella you make yourself look a very silly Billy.
-2

Swn98 added 10:16 - Aug 23 Warktheline I always post what i see saturday 10 men played well against Villa the team deserved praise, as stated before from what i've witnessed i cannot see where the goals are going to come from that will save us from struggling at the business end of the season. FYI i missed 2 Town games last season if your organised you can leave the country and be back in time for kick off. Unless you live in the Warktheline cocoon.

-2

GiveusaWave added 12:57 - Aug 23 We are playing better looking football but have no cutting edge....clinical finisher badly needed in my opinion so stand with Swn98 on this one. Also...we are good at winning corners but offer no threat once we've won one...frustrating to say the least. I can't see the two lads we've brought in getting more than 5 each...which is nowhere near what we need over the course of a season. They put in a good effort...but you need more than that in the Championship.

2

blueboy1981 added 13:05 - Aug 23 ..... Swn98 .... dreamboat extrodinaire. Follow him/her and you'll end up lost for the next decade.
0

Swn98 added 18:29 - Aug 23 timmy h Dissboyitfc ITFCsince73 dirtydingusmagee warktheline cat bluebores disciples from under the rock near Felixstowe ferry.
0

blueboy1981 added 19:24 - Aug 23 Swn98 ..... best you go nowhere near Felixstowe Ferry - instead of turning left or right you'd go straight on. Hang on a minute ..... !!! - just a thought.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls