Sub Jon Nolan’s second goal of the season saw the Blues to a 1-1 home draw with Derby County, former Town loanee Tom Lawrence having given the Rams an early lead. Lawrence netted in the second minute but the Blues were the better side throughout and deserved more than Nolan’s equaliser in the 55th minute.

Town were without Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse, the skipper having been been suffering with a foot injury since the Aston Villa game and feeling the problem late on at Norwich, while Skuse was ill.

The Blues’ captain’s absence saw Jonas Knudsen join Matthew Pennington, a Rams target in January, at the centre of the defence with Myles Kenlock at left-back and James Bree on the right. In the absence of Chambers and vice-captain Skuse, keeper Bartosz Bialkowski wore the armband.

Trevoh Chalobah took up the deeper-lying midfield role with Teddy Bishop returning to the starting line-up alongside Flynn Downes ahead of him.

Alan Judge was behind strikers Will Keane and Collin Quaner with Freddie Sears out for nine months having suffered an ACL injury at Norwich, while Gwion Edwards was back in the 18 after a groin problem.

Derby included ex-Blues striker Martyn Waghorn and former loanee Lawrence from the start, but another one-time Town frontman Jack Marriott was not ready to return after illness and an ankle injury.

Back in the Derby side for the first time since his ban for biting Stoke’s Joe Allen in November was ex-Canaries midfielder Bradley Johnson.

The game got under way following a minute’s applause for World Cup-winning keeper Gordon Banks, who died yesterday.

And as on Sunday at Norwich, the game couldn’t have got off to a worse possible start for Town with Derby, like the Canaries, taking the lead in only the second minute.

Johnson lofted a ball to the right of the box from midway inside the Town half on the left and Jayden Bogle nodded it back across the area to Lawrence.

The former loanee, who had gone into the match without a goal in 10 Championship games, volleyed into the ground, catching Bree with his follow through, and the ball deflected off Knudsen and arced past the wrong-footed Bialkowski to his right.

Despite conceding another early goal, Town quickly started to make some headway, Keane feeling he might have won a freekick after being bundled over having beaten the hesitant Fikayo Tomori to the ball, however referee Andy Madley waved away his appeals.

The Blues began to dominate possession and on 10 Keane fed Quaner on the edge of the box but the German shot over.

Four minutes later, Quaner won a corner on the right and from Judge’s flag-kick Pennington’s header took the ball away from Knudsen at the far post, who was the better placed of the two.

Just after the 15-minute mark was passed, Bishop won the ball midway inside the Town half, broke forward and played forward into Keane’s path but just too far ahead of the on-loan Hull City man, who was being watched by former Blues boss Mick McCarthy, now the manager of the Republic of Ireland, who the striker has switched international allegiance to represent.

Waghorn was booked for a dive when he claimed he’d been fouled by Pennington in the 21st minute, then three minutes later a Kenlock pass in to Bishop on the edge of the box was just too powerful for the midfielder.

As at Norwich, Town were seeing most of the ball but without seriously threatening the Derby goal.

The Rams meanwhile were looking more of a threat on the break, Knudsen making an important block from Johnson in the 27th minute.

Town broke straight up the other end with Judge feeding Quaner to his left from where the on-loan Huddersfield man shot not too far over.

Moments later, Quaner found Keane on the right and the on-loan Hull man’s shot was blocked, then on the half hour, with the Blues keeping up the pressure, a Chalobah effort from 25 yards was deflected wide.

As the half moved into its final scheduled five minutes Chalobah flicked a Judge freekick from the left just wide, although without unduly worrying Derby keeper Kelle Roos.

There was a scare for the Blues on 45 when a corner from the left reached Tomori in the six-yard box hit the defender on the shin and fortunately bounced wide of the post. But it was Town who were still on top as the half-time whistle was blown.

Town’s first-half display had been virtually a carbon copy of the performance at Norwich with the Blues passing the ball around and confident in possession - perhaps even more so than at Carrow Road - without being able to carve out a clear-cut chance opportunity to level.

Aside from Lawrence’s second-minute goal, another which looked all too easy for the opposition, stand-in skipper Bialkowski had hardly been threatened.

Town need to turn their possession into chances and in turn into goals if they are to prevent another home game from ending in defeat.

Harry Wilson scuffed the second period’s first effort through to Bialkowski in the 49th minute as the half got off to a scruffy start.

Town swapped Downes for Nolan in the 53rd minute as Lawrence underwent treatment with Derby players spending time on the ground with increasing regularity.

Within two minutes of coming on the summer signing from Shrewsbury levelled the scores.

Quaner made a powerful run towards the penalty area before laying it to Nolan to his right from where the sub smashed a low drive past Roos and into the net, his second goal of the season.

Bishop was yellow-carded for a foul on Tomori, then Duane Holmes joined him in the book for a late challenge on Nolan.

Having got their equaliser Town continued to take the game to the visitors with increased confidence and with the Blues support becoming more and more vociferous.

Blues nemesis David Nugent replaced Wilson on 62 before Chalobah was booked for pulling back Lawrence.

Judge curled a freekick goalwards from 25 yards in the 66th minute but Roos was able to claim with little fanfare.

Two minutes later Keane, putting in his most impressive display of his time with Town, deftly took the ball down and flicked it into the path of Bishop, who took it on and struck a shot which was deflected over.

From the resultant corner, the Blues went even closer. Chalobah got a flick on Judge’s corner from the right and the ball reached Knudsen, who slammed a first-time effort powerfully towards goal but Holmes somehow headed it off the line. Moments later, Andre Dozzell replaced Bishop, who was warmly applauded off by the home support.

On 72, Chalobah shot not too far wide form distance following a Town move which included a sublime inch-perfect Dozzell pass to Bree.

Nugent, scorer of 10 goals in his eight previous games at Portman Road and 15 in 17 matches against Town, shot against Pennington, then on 75 Town switched Quaner for Ellis Harrison.

Town continued to press as the game moved towards its final 10 minutes, Pennington heading over from a corner, then Harrison crossing deep into the stand before just failing to loop another ball in from the right.

On 83 Dozzell’s ball through to Judge was just overhit with the Irishman otherwise in on goal.

There was a big scare for the Blues in the 84th minute when Keogh was found at the far post with his diving header goal-bound until Bialkowski pawed it away. Referee Madley was unimpressed by a Nugent dive and Tomori blazed over when the ball fell for him.

Town went closer moments later when Pennington headed a Judge freekick from deep across the box and Keogh somehow blocked a low Dozzell shot which looked destined for the corner of the net.

The Blues found themselves under more and more pressure as the end of the game neared but were looking a significant threat on the break.

Bialkowski, looking more his old self, helped a Waghorn header over the bar in the final scheduled minute then, just before the fourth official held up his board indicated five additional minutes, Knudsen slid in to block from the former Blues frontman.

Moments later, Nugent came close to adding to his Portman Road goals when he headed the ball off Pennington and then the bar from a corner.

Pennington picked up a yellow card for a foul on Rams sub Mason Bennett deep in injury time as Derby broke with Town having plenty of men caught up field. In the aftermath of the freekick, Nugent shot straight at Bialkowski.

That was the final action with the whistle greeted with applause by the Town support with a draw the least Town - and a depleted Town at that - deserved from probably their best home performance of the season.

There was little sign of the 32-point gulf between the teams for the most part with Derby only really on top in the closing stages when the Blues began to tire.

There were excellent displays throughout the team, with Judge at the heart of everything going forward, Quaner and Keane causing Derby plenty of problems up front and Knudsen outstanding at the back. Right-back Bree is also starting to find his feet with the Blues.

More performances like tonight’s, particularly against the division’s less-fancied sides, and more goals like Nolan’s well-taken equaliser and Town ought to close the gap to the teams above them, even if it might now be too late for them to bridge the divide to safety, which remains at 10 points plus goal difference following Reading's 2-1 victory over Blackburn.

The result ends a four-game run of defeats with Stoke City visiting Portman Road on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski (c), Bree, Pennington, Knudsen, Kenlock, Chalobah, Bishop (Dozzell 68), Downes (Nolan 53), Judge, Quaner (Harrison 75), Keane. Unused: Gerken, Edwards, Jackson, Nsiala.

Derby: Roos, Bogle, Keogh (c), Tomori, Malone, Johnson, King (Bryson 73), Wilson (Nugent 62), Holmes (Bennett 73), Lawrence, Waghorn. Unused: Ravas, Wisdom, Cole, Huddlestone. Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 18,604 (926).

Photo: TWTD

algarvefan added 22:36 - Feb 13 I thought player wise there was some big bonus's tonight. Please can we keep Pennington and Knudsen as our CB's Thought both were outstanding tonight. Quaner was great, strong and laid off beautifully for our goal. Judge was a human dynamo and Bishop gave us quality at times . I'd like to see Jackson get a run out with Quaner, Jackson will score goals and is the quick player we need up front. All in all so much better than Sunday, well done lads, well played.

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Wishing4arightback added 22:38 - Feb 13 Tonight there can not be any negatives about the team as walking away from the ground it was a great feeling knowing how the whole team really had a go. Sometimes unexpected things force changes and perhaps one happened for the good tonight. Pennington and Knudsen looked balanced and solid, I know he is the captain and certain people will mark me down like last week, but we were positionally so much better without Chambers. Derby have really good championship forwards and we dealt really well with them. The energy and forward play of all the midfield caused Derby issues, as they had to worry about us for once.. Skuse was immense when Lambert first came in but he has not been the same since his injury. I do not feel it was a coincidence that we were more forward thinking without him, and Bishop is showing what we all hoped. It may have been a draw, we are going down, but I was proud of the team and will happily keep going week in, week out to watch a game of football like that. That's what football should be like. COYB!!!

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TimmyH added 22:41 - Feb 13 Certainly one of our better performances tonight with again a lot of commitment and at times some good passing but again largely lacking any clinical threat up top, for 75 minutes up until the last 10 minutes or so when we began to tire and the game got stretched we were the better side and looked relatively comfortable in defence (Knudsen again a reasonable game in the centre). Disappointing aspect for me is how ineffective we are at dead ball situations even with Judges good crosses. So did we miss Captain Chambers and sideways Skuse tonight?...not one bit. Shame really we've made no headway on the other teams around us as they all did fairly well and a point was not enough...

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Wishing4arightback added 22:44 - Feb 13 Timmy... sorry pressed wrong side. Meant to be mark up. Sorry
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Tractor_Bhoy added 22:48 - Feb 13 The lads played well tonight, a lot of positives, but thought Pennington was immense at the back tonight, there's something of the Berra about him at center half
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Rimsy added 22:49 - Feb 13 Much better showing. 2 up front suited us better, got tokeep with that formation home and away. Looked a much better team without Skuse and Chambers. Knudsen played well, looks much more at home at center, his distribution was superb at times. Pity we'll be losing him imo.
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TimmyH added 22:54 - Feb 13 I would have really been gutted if Derby scored at the end (they looked the more likely by then) after we played the more enterprising stuff for most of the match - we just looked tired by then, all we can hope is for the same endeavour and hard work with maybe some luck putting it between the sticks for the rest of the season! Wishing4arightback - you can still mark me up! :) no worries.

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timkatieadamitfc added 22:57 - Feb 13 .
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timkatieadamitfc added 23:05 - Feb 13 What a brilliant performance, couldn't tell who was pushing for play offs and who's bottom, best game we've played all season by a mile. If only we had a cutting-edge up front we would have romped this game tonight. It's no coincidence that when we played Bish/Dozz/Judge/Nolan in game we played well. On that performance tonight if we had played like that for most of this season we would be right up there challenging for play offs, really can't fault anyone tonight and it was a real JOY to watch.

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PSGBlue added 23:09 - Feb 13 For the first time in a some time we are starting to look and play like a team. Surprise, surprise it was without Skuse and Chambers. I am becoming impressed by the speed and the direct attacking going forward, just like Town of the past. I still believe we are down, even four wins on the trot would still keep us in the bottom three. But as a team going forward, this was a positive display orchestrated by a positive manager. League One may turn out to be a whole lot of fun! Much better than finishing 17th every season in the Championship under MM!

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Umros added 23:11 - Feb 13 Actually came away feeling entertained and worth the trip today. Shame we didn't nick a winner but to stall a promotion push against a cocky, snowflake Derby side is always a pleasure. All the falling over and feigning injuries seemed to stop after our equaliser........referee got conned by it before. Good performances across the pitch, the two upfront particularly good. How Derby are up there is beyond me, their defence when pressured looks truely awful, Keogh in particular a stand out for dodgy, worst central defender in the championship by far having also seen him in the away game.

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Bert added 23:14 - Feb 13 We were the better team throughout. Enthusiasm, skill, flair and passion deserved all three points. Great atmosphere against a team that we really rattled.
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DebsyAngel added 23:18 - Feb 13 Terrific game! Entertaining, fast flowing football after such a terrible goal in the first minute. At least our heads didn't drop and we were the better team. Cracking goal from Nolan as well. Bishop, Judge, Challobah and Keane were brilliant. Keep this side on Saturday, and who knows - we could win.
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Zondervantheman added 23:30 - Feb 13 Chalobah is not a midfielder!!!! I am not sure what deal Chelsea have with us but surely it makes sense to play him at centre half when we are struggling. Cracking atmosphere tonight really enjoyed the game. We seriously need to practice set pieces though not once did we look like scoring from a free kick or corner and that was the same against the carrot crunchers. I really rate Keane but he is going to need help. Judge looked class but was cream crackered by the end of the game. And how nice was it to see bishop, Downes and Dozzell play their part..roll on stoke.

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Warkys_Tash added 23:43 - Feb 13 Judge class, Keane Quality, Bart much better, Knudsen playing in his best position and solid. Pennington also decent. Why on earth did we not play like that against Sheff Wed?? they were there for the taking..
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Linkboy13 added 23:51 - Feb 13 Much better to night the biggest improvement is up front where the ball is being held up i thought keane and judge were excellent.
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Saxonblue74 added 06:41 - Feb 14 Superb to a man, absolutely 100% commitment all over the pitch. Jonas had a decent game again (shop window for end of the season perhaps but who cares?). Showed creativity at times with Judge, Quaner and Keane looking sharper with every minute of football they get which was always going to happen given their lack of games prior to their arrival. My only slight concern is can we play 90 minutes at that tempo? We tired slightly toward the end, particularly Judge who was dead on his feet having given us his all. Thoroughly enjoyed the game. It's ultimately all about entertainment and we got that for the first time in a very long time. Onwards and upwards, even if it only ends up being confidence and momentum for next year....well done Town. Anyone see Oliviera for Reading last night? I hate to say I told you so....but I told you so!😁

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:07 - Feb 14 Great entertainment. What worries me a bit is how many of last night's team we will be able to hang on to in L1. PL has said we will need to use the Academy, which most of us probably think is positive, but there will be another round of team-building, which might make it difficult to hit the ground running. Proud of our efforts vs Derby, though. In PL we trust. Hopefully he can make the move to a L1 team a controlled transition, rather than a complete re-start.

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Cakeman added 07:08 - Feb 14 Very pleasing evening. Paul Lambert has certainly galvanised the club and in a very short time. It was a pleasure to be there last night to witness the team perform so well with an incredible home backing. Much to look forward to. Alan Judge has made a huge difference to us. A player of real quality. Ted Bishop was immense too. Nothing negative to say at all.
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Nobbysnuts added 07:23 - Feb 14 It was a great performance but unfortunately draws are not going to save us. We all know that.☹
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Sparky85 added 07:59 - Feb 14 First game for a while (I still try and play Saturday football) After the first 2 minutes I had that sinking feeling, then as we progressed into the game it had so many similarities to Sunday, only this time we got the breakthrough. To a man we were brilliant. Would seem unfair to single many out so lets go through them all: Bart - couple of dodgy moments but good save at 1-1 Bree - offered a good wide option and got stuck in Pennington - collosus! Won everything in the air Knudsen - solid game out of position. Unlucky not to score Kenlock - really growing as a youngster. The game time will do him good Chalobah - MOM. Simply outstanding. Bishop - What we've missed in midfield. Great composure and the sooner we get 90 mins out of him the better Downes - did what he had to. Little off the pace as the game went on but illness explains that Judge - had a great game. Just behind Chalobah IMO Quarner - can see why we signed him. Bullied defenders and ran with purpose. Needs to get match fit Keane - great hold up play and won most headers Nolan & Harrison - The only PH perm signings getting near the starting 11. Nolan took hos goal well and Harrison full of running Dozzell - didn't have the impact we hoped. Needs a run of games Cant fault the formation or substitutions from PL. Went for it and replaced like for like. Showed real emotion to the SBR stand at the end where there was a great atmosphere and was a pleasure to be a part of it. Roll on Saturday!

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ThaiBlue added 08:07 - Feb 14 Watched at home and was very happy with the performance of the side.everyone giving everything let's keep it going as we have nothing to loose.well done Lambert for making the subs at the right time.derby will not make the playoffs either very average side.
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Orraman added 08:47 - Feb 14 We are going to need experience amongst the younger players next season so would it not be worthwhile offering Knudsen a contract? I have never rated him as a LB but in the few games he has played CB in the past I have always thought that he is more than comfortable in that position. PEnnington won't be here next season so need experience to help Kenlock and Woolfenden along. The only problem is that his ego will not sit well in Div 1

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Gazelle added 08:49 - Feb 14 What a coincidence that our midfield is much more mobile without Skues walking around.
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budgieplucker added 08:50 - Feb 14 Blimey I was having some flashbacks last night...... the twists and turns of Teddy “Thijssen, the gutsy in the hole performance of Alan (Judgey) “Gates”. If only we had a left sided midfielder with a wand of a left foot.....and lo and behold unexpectedly Andre “Muhren” appeared from the bench. More recent reminisce saw Jon Nolan burst forward and drill into the net in “Chuck Norris” style. All seriousness that was a gutsy performance from all 11 players last night - PL has them all playing for the shirt and the clubs great traditions. The primer shop may be a million miles away at the moment but the romance with the club could well and truly be back and PL has to take enormous credit for regalvinising the club and its supporters just to appreciate what the game and Ipswich town is all about. No aimless hoof but managed aggressive football. Liked the system by playing two forwards but often each of them starting wider but often drifting inside and being fluid throughout the game. Predict Keane and Judge to want to stay regardless of outcome and that would be a big positive. Some were starting to waver on PL earlier in the week, the evidence is that people will go home happy if they see a full of guts performance like last night with more than a little skill on display and the add the ingredients of a healthy mixture of our “own” players then I truly believe we have the right manager and ITFC is on its way back.

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