Boss Joe Royle hailed strike partnership Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent and midfielder Tommy Miller after the Blues defeated Derby County 3-2 at Portman Road. Town now sit in third position of the Championship, level on points with Wigan who face leaders Sunderland on Tuesday.

Royle felt his side were slow out of the blocks: "We started so badly but by half-time we could have been 6-4 ahead.

"We took over in the second half and should have scored four, five or six. Then, as usual, we conceded a late goal and survived a nervous final eight minutes. Overall we thoroughly deserved our victory.

"Some of our play was excellent. Our passing was good and we had two off the woodwork, two off the line and missed a couple from three inches."

Tommy Miller has been praised by Royle on a number of occasions recently and again pleased his manager: "He is a more rounded player this year. He is timing his runs a little bit better and gave Derby problems."

Royle felt that frontmen Bent and Kuqi were back to their best: "They have been taking criticism in recent weeks but provided the greatest possible answer today.

"Nobody worked harder than our front pair and Derby always had problems when the ball was played in behind their defence."

Former Town manager George Burley said errors cost his current side the points: "We made mistakes which meant we were going to be punished, but we started brilliantly, scored a good goal and might have had two more.

"I cannot explain the second goal we conceded, it was incredible really. At the end of the day we gave away bad goals, but it was a cracking game which was a credit to the Championship.

"There were loads of chances at both ends but all credit to Ipswich, we had to work hard for our goals but made it easy for them.

"Our two young centre-halves struggled a bit against the pace of Ipswich, but we were without Mo Konjic and Michael Johnson, our regular central defenders.

"We are looking for four wins and two draws to guarantee a play-off place. Our fans have had five seasons of fighting against relegation and no one would have predicted our present position at the start of this campaign, when we were one of the favourites to go down."

Burley was pleased to receive a warm reception from his old fans and says he hopes the Blues make it into the Premiership, while his Derby team reach the play-offs: "I had 14 successful years as a player and seven-and-a-half as manager at Portman Road. I have massive respect for Ipswich and they have respect for me, which is great.

"Fingers crossed Ipswich gain automatic promotion and we reach the play-offs. We have a lot of quality in the side and I am hopeful."

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