Wes Burns netted in the 67th minute to see the Blues to a 1-0 victory over Derby County, their first home victory over the Rams since March 2014. Burns smashed into the net after Kayden Jackson, who later saw a penalty saved, had hit the post having seized upon an under-hit Curtis Davies back pass to see Town to a rare victory in front of the Sky cameras.

Town boss Kieran McKenna made two changed from the team which was beaten 1-0 by Lincoln last Saturday.

Tyreece John-Jules replaced Freddie Ladapo, who was on the bench, as the lone central striker with Jackson in for Conor Chaplin, who was also a sub, as the left-sided number 10 with Marcus Harness to his right.

Former Derby skipper Richard Keogh was among the subs, along with youngster Cameron Humphreys.

The Rams made one change to the team which won 3-0 at Accrington last week with Korey Smith replacing the injured Jason Knight.

Former Blues David McGoldrick, Conor Hourihane, Richard Stearman and Scott Loach were all on the bench.

Town were wearing their blackout third kit for the first time, while Derby were in their maroon third strip.

The Rams started the stronger with the game starting at a frenetic pace and created an opportunity in the opening minute, Jordan Sibley cutting back from the right to Eiran Cashin, who scuffed the ball into his own hand and the ball was cleared.

After finding themselves on the back foot in the opening couple of minutes, the Blues began to find their feet and in the sixth minute they went close to a goal.

A corner on the right was played to Lee Evans on the corner of the box from where he clipped the ball into the six-yard box towards Burns, who just failed to get his head to it and Rams keeper Joe Wildsmith indecisively bundled the ball behind.

Town continued to dominate and win corners and from a ninth-minute flag-kick John-Jules ought to have put the Blues in front when the on-loan Arsenal man was allowed a free header, however, the ball scuffed off his head and well wide. John-Jules appeared to claim he’d been pulled back but instead referee Lee Swabey awarded a corner, which it clearly wasn’t.

Blues skipper Sam Morsy was shown his fifth League One yellow card of the season a minute later for body-checking Lewis Dobbin, meaning the midfielder will miss the trip to his former club Port Vale on Tuesday.

John-Jules appealed for a penalty in the 15th minute when he cut inside Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the left and was brought down, however, video evidence showed the Derby wideman had got the merest of touches to the ball, vindicating referee Swabey’s decision.

In the 21st minute, Harness beat Cashin a third of the way into the Derby half but overhit his pass through for Jackson to chase. Two minutes later, James Chester joined Morsy in the book for a foul on John-Jules on halfway.

With the game still being played at a high tempo, Evans sent Burns away on the right in the 25th minute, the wing-back crossed low and Cashin’s mishit clearance flashed across the face of his own goal and wide.

Derby had been little real threat but on 29 Luke Woolfenden and Leif Davis both failed to win tackles, however, Mendez-Laing’s low cross from the right was turned behind by one-time Rams loanee George Edmundson.

After a short spell with the Rams in the ascendency, the Blues got back on top. In the 37th minute, Burns crossed from the right, Davis headed back across goal from the far post and the ball was turned behind for a corner. Following the flag-kick, a Morsy shot was deflected up into the air and behind for yet another corner.

Evans hit a 25-yard free-kick into the Derby wall in the 42nd minute, then in the aftermath Harness’s low cross was cut out.

In the final scheduled minute of the half, Tom Barkhuizen played himself into trouble on the byline on the Town right and presented Burns with a shooting chance but fortunately for the former Preston man one of his teammates blocked.

Evans shot well over from distance and the Blues won their eighth corner of the half before referee Swabey ended the period.

Town had been the side on top for all bar a few short spells but without really creating too an out and out chance - Evans’s early cross towards Burns was the nearest the Blues had come to a goal - with a few too many passes in the final third having gone astray or cut out.

Derby had presented the occasional threat on the counter-attack but otherwise had been happy to frustrate Town, looking to break up the play and slow the game down where they were able.

Town began the second half positively, moving the ball around swiftly in and around the Derby box but with the Rams defending determinedly.

However, five minutes after the restart, Davis played himself into trouble on the Town left and the ball was moved across into the box but Janoi Donacien crowded out Dobbin.

A minute later, Smith was booked for pulling back Harness midway inside the Derby half on the right. Evans’s free-kick was headed into the air, Edmundson nodded down to Harness but his shot was blocked by Cashin’s shin.

On the hour, the Rams introduced former Blues forward McGoldrick to a warm ovation from his old fans.

Jackson curled well over from distance with Town’s early second half pressure having waned, as had been the case in some other recent home games.

On 64 ex-Town reserves midfielder Hourihane took over from William Osula for the visitors, then moments later a low Burns cross deflected to Wildsmith at his near post. But three minutes later, the Welshman gave the Blues the lead.

Cashin cut out a pass down the right and turned it inside to Rams skipper Curtis Davies, who played a back pass towards Wildsmith. However, Jackson used his pace to get onto the ball ahead of the keeper, took it to the former Sheffield Wednesday man’s right. His shot hit the post but the ball fell to Burns, who showed great composure to shoot past the defender on the line to send most of the 28,415 crowd into raptures.

Town went looking for a second, Jackson taking down a swiftly-taken Evans free-kick with his chest and shooting into the side-netting under pressure from the right of the box. On 67 Town swapped John-Jules for Ladapo, who was released by Derby boss Paul Warne at Rotherham in the summer.

Nine minutes later, Blues midfielder Evans was forced off having been caught on the knee in an earlier incident and Dominic Ball took over.

In the 78th minute, Morsy just overhit a pass into the path of Ladapo after Town had interchanged neatly during a quick break forward. As the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Derby replaced Barkhuizen with veteran Craig Forsyth and Smith with Liam Thompson.

The Blues weren’t far away from a second soon afterwards when the ball was cleared against Jackson, off a defender and behind as Ladapo tried to find himself space in the area.

And from the resultant corner Town won a penalty. Burns flicked a header goalwards and Wildsmith saved. The ball fell loose and McGoldrick tripped the Wales international as he sought to get onto it. The assistant on the right-hand side waved his flag and referee Swabey pointed to the spot.

With usual penalty taker Chaplin still on the bench and Evans substituted, Jackson took the kick but hit a weak effort to Wildsmith’s left and the keeper saved, the Blues’ second penalty miss in three this season and their third in their last six back to the start of 2021/22.

McGoldrick hit a low shot from 20 yards which Christian Walton palmed wide, his first real save of the game, although it appeared the ball might have been going wide in any case.

Derby, with skipper Davies up front having suffered an injury with all three of their breaks for substitutions wide, were taking the game to Town but with the Blues dealing with their attacks comfortably, however, the fourth official’s board indicating seven additional minutes wasn’t popular with the home support.

Derby continued to push but unconvincingly with their balls into the box unthreatening. The Blues, however, made little headway when breaking forward themselves.

In the final minute of the seven, ex-Ram Keogh took over from Donacien, who appeared to have picked up a knock.

Luke Woolfenden was shown a late yellow card for a foul but Town defended the free-kick and saw out the final moments to seal the three points and a rare Sky win, only their second in 23 matches.

Town deserved the win despite chances having been at a premium throughout. Jackson showed awareness to spot the opportunity to get onto the back pass, while Burns did well to clinically finish after the former Accrington man had hit the post.

The penalty ought to have sealed the win but in the end the latter stages Derby threatened little despite seeing a fair bit of the ball.

The victory moved the Blues a point away from leaders Plymouth and now four in front of Sheffield Wednesday in third.

Town: Walton, Donacien (Keogh 90), Woolfenden, Edmundson, Burns, Evans (Ball 76), Morsy (c), Davis, John-Jules (Ladapo 67), Harness, Jackson. Unused: Hladky, Humphreys, Edwards, Chaplin.

Derby: Wildsmith, Chester, Cashin, Barkhuizen (Forsyth 80), Bird, Mendez-Laing, Smith (Thompson 80), Sibley, Dobbin (McGoldrick 60), Osula (Hourihane 63), Davies (c). Unused: Loach, Roberts, Stearman. Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon). Att: 28,415 (Derby: 1,777).

Photo: Matchday Images

Bazza8564 added 23:03 - Oct 21 Three points, sky curse lifted and we can enjoy the weekend. It wasnt pretty at times tonight and I have to say the comments tonight are spot on, we do need a more capable 9, maybe Gashan when fit will give us more. Yes the final balls were sloppy but that's a product of how tired we were and how hard Derby worked us. On penalties id like to see Davis given the role, he is trusted with set plays and strikers dont always make good penalty takers, especially when on a lean scoring run. I much prefer Jackson on the right, but tactically I know 3/4 of bu**er all in comparison to KM, so ill say well done, whatever you had in mind worked and we move on. Morsy will be missing Tuesday, lets hope Evans' injury doesnt keep him out too....

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BlueRuin69 added 23:03 - Oct 21 Massive win, but what was going on with Ladapo!
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Bazza8564 added 23:04 - Oct 21 Oh, and sorry I dont like the Black kit at home either, seemed strange.....
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ThaiBlue added 23:05 - Oct 21 Glad thats over,poor game and both teams looked poor.very sloppy from us at times with passes gave simple balls away easily.donacien best player for town but big room for improvement from alot of town players tonight.3pts so thats the main thing.
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Help added 23:07 - Oct 21 Walton solid as always. Leif I have a man crush on this guy. Such an intelligent footballer Edmundson, some good moments, some bad moments. Woolfy, look right, other than Donacien. Donacien, more often very good, sometimes not so good. Morsy, 5th yellow was inevitable, but works so hard driving the team onwards Evans some poor passes, corners, free kicks, sometimes very sloppy casual passes, needs to be more precise Burns looks tired, but at least he can score Jackson worked hard, poor shot and even worse penalty. John-jules, did okay, what was wrong with his studs Harness - did he pass to one Ipswich player? Okay some are a bit harsh but can anyone tell me why Ladapo was picked or even came on tonight. He walked and sulked for 15 minutes. He was bad against Lincoln, even worse today. Dont think he has won a single header since he has been at the club. I dont think the man can run. I am not sure he wants to be here. Get rid in January and get another striker in. Other than that I am a very happy Town fan, a win, whilst on the telly, and 3 more points in the bag, from not the best performance.

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blueboy1981 added 23:08 - Oct 21 Plenty of good work down the flanks, but passing woeful at times - nothing at all up front of any threat, which negates the work down the flanks. Who's idea was it for Jackson to take the Penalty ? - Burns had to be the obvious choice surely, that could have been crucial. Many are, and will be euphoric as usual - but if you know the game you watch, then you will know that there is MUCH TO DO on recent and tonights showing ! However, a Win we just about managed against a team that proved little threat in real terms. Don't be surprised if Warne comes in for Ladapo, he knows how to play him and get the best from him. Derby will be a serious threat as the season progresses under Warne - he knows his stuff !!

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blueboy1981 added 23:12 - Oct 21 Some of the Supporters don't deserve Ladapo at the Club - I genuinely hope Paul Warne comes in for him, and proves what a player he is. Egg on Face maybe come May 23 … !!!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 23:17 - Oct 21 Was always going to be a difficult game, but we deserved the win without ever looking a class above. Glad to see we were more direct, especially at the back - not too much aimless passing around tonight. Great team effort, but we do seem to need that killer striker to round off all the good work. I'm afraid, much as I think Jackson a nice guy, I'm one of the ones that "knew" we would miss the penalty. To his credit, Jackson did put in a good shift otherwise. Main take from tonight: WE WON! COYB!

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positivity added 23:18 - Oct 21 great result, even if we should've won more comfortably. top scorers in the league, but people still moaning that we haven't got a striker... goals count equally whether it's ladapo/jj/kj scoring or evans/harness/burns benefiting from the space they've created!
1

Gforce added 23:19 - Oct 21 Jackson did work hard to be fair,but the bottom line is he has no end product, has a poor first touch,not a great passer of the ball and can't finish to save his life and never will do.How he got MOTM I don't know,was clearly either Edmonson or Morsy,who we will definitely miss on Tuesday.
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DavefromWatford added 23:31 - Oct 21 I thought keepers were suppose to stand on the line until the ball is kicked, he was a yard off his line before KJ kicked it. pointless having a linesman in line with goal line. It will be interesting to see who takes Morsy`s place on Tuesday. Ball, Camara or Humphreys.
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Flamencaman added 23:43 - Oct 21 So goalkeeper off his line not given where's the Lino ? What's he watching, forgive Kayden put a shift in as they all did defended better tonight happy weekend
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tractordamage added 23:48 - Oct 21 "...I don't like the Black kit at home either, seemed strange..." Football psychology. To fix a curse, and a mindset, even small things can make a difference. 'Always bet on Black'.
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RobsonWark added 23:50 - Oct 21 Knightsy anyone should have taken the penalty rather than Jackson. I wasn't getting excited when he put the ball on the spot. I knew he wouldn't score.
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RobsonWark added 00:07 - Oct 22 The self confessed "I'm a professional footballer" missed an open goal tonight and then took a really terrible penalty. No power in the shot, perfect height for keeper and right by keepers side. Why was he allowed to take such an important penalty? All he does on the pitch is chase after balls - he has no end product. When he gets the ball in a forward position he crosses the ball into the box without looking to see if anyone is in the box - let alone try and cross it to one of our players. The rest of the players in our team have to play even better when he is in the team to make up for his lack of quality.

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Bert added 00:19 - Oct 22 Not at our best tonight but against a good side we have taken 3 deserved points. Derby broke play up and didn't give us time on the ball hence some sloppy passing. Would have liked Burns or Davis to have taken the penalty but I'm certainly not going to knock Jackson who worked his socks off and was our most intelligent player. Loved the black kit which I hold responsible for lifting the Sky curse.

2

budgieplucker added 00:56 - Oct 22 If anybody had said we will have a hard fought battle and win in a scruffy 1-0 affair tonight I would have said I will definitely take that. I appreciate like most fans what a great coach we have with Kieron McKenna and don't want to appear negative in anyway towards a hard earned victory. However, my frustration is we do make it hard for ourselves at times and I am developing a phobia about our corners, we don't look remotely threatening!!!! I don't think the scruffiness can much be attributed to Derby trying to stifle the game, in fact they tried to play football, it seemed to me that our passes were sloppy at times, way too frequently over hit or put behind players forcing them to check back and play a ball back to deep lying defenders and killing tempo and momentum. I will take a good economical display with few precision purpose moves but with a more regular end product, rather than the plentiful speculative balls across the box which look wasteful. My concern is we may be squeezed out of the top 2 by having insufficient firepower.? I am afraid JJ doesn't do it for, and Jackson can't always forever live off the hard off the ball work he clearly puts in, assists and goals

3

suffolkblueeye added 05:36 - Oct 22 Need a striker badly
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suffolkblueeye added 05:41 - Oct 22 Jackson puts the effort in, but ladapo doesn't have anything, JJ wasn't good either, we could of had cosgrove from Birmingham, what happened to Hirst?
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joyousblue added 07:27 - Oct 22 As usual so much common sense on here I honestly think in terms of brain cells we are far more intelligent than that sickly Green n yellow up the road , but I have to take issue with the moaners , how quickly we forget what we were under Evans , we all have opinions agree totally , but McKenna knows what he is doing , Jackson gets pillared , yet I trust McKenna if he thinks he contributes and I think he does , this prolific goal scorer is more a mirage , Harris named again , we have a style of play that allows contributions to many , don't you think if there was a player out there , that McKenna thought would be prolific , don't you think he would have signed him , why can't we just be happy we're winning , I can't see us losing automatic first or second , then it's championship where we will need a few additions to up the quality , but on the whole this squad is ready to take that step , I'm ecstatic another win , we are a different animal now , we are hard to beat I'd rather that , than have a goal scorer who doesn't contribute all areas of the pitch , lladpo is poss just short of confidence , don't worry be happy coyb

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KMcBlue added 08:21 - Oct 22 It's there for all to see we need better strikers. All the work rate in the world doesn't make up for this. Look at Haaland- barely touches the ball but always scores- that's the role of a striker!!
2

Dissboyitfc added 08:21 - Oct 22 great 3 points, need to get rid of Ladapo, he is so lazy, doesn't appear interested at all, certainly has the physical attributes but doesn't deliver! Whilst there is much to do, McKenna states this in his post match interview, its pleasing to see the progress being made on and off the pitch! And going back to Ladapo, he won't be joining Paul Warne as they don't get on! Now hoping for a plymouth loss and a Norwich loss, great weekend so far!

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 08:43 - Oct 22 Agree with almost all the comments on here. Not impressed at all by Ladapo in particular. TJJ has bags of potential but needs to show consistency. I think Jackson's value to the team has always been to wear down and cause jitters among defenders. But should never have taken that penalty. I too was certain he wouldn't score before he took it. But I think we need to see what Ahadme can do before we despair of our strikers and demand a new one in January. We seem to have forgotten we signed him.

4

Steelmonkey added 08:48 - Oct 22 Great result but we do make it difficult for ourselves, when the opportunities arise we need to take them. Excellent work rate from Jackson but he has yet to convince me that he is a striker,missed what looked like an open goal and such a poor penalty even if the keeper was off his line, I agree with a previous comment no end product. Was somewhat disappointed with Ladapo too, not up to his usual self and he has really impressed me so far this season, would have thought he would have taken the chance to impress his old manager. Crowd was great PR was really buzzing. Hope Evans and Donacions injuries aren't too serious.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:25 - Oct 22 I agree positivity, goals count the same from whoever and possibly more important to score from all over the pitch, but an out an out striker capable of scoring would the icing on the cake, we will need every piece of the jigsaw! Ladapo has been and continues to be a disappointment! Lets hope that Gassan is soon fit and firing on all cylinders The table makes very good reading at the moment, still early but building a massive gap ahead of the chasing teams!

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