Matt Richards headed his first goal of the season to give the Blues a 3-3 draw at Derby County. Earlier, Richard Naylor had celebrated his new contract with the opener, before Dexter Blackstock and Marcus Tudgay put the Rams ahead prior to Jim Magilton curling in a freekick and Blackstock's second.

Dean McDonald came in for a rare start in a three-man attack alongside Sam Parkin and Dean Bowditch. Darren Currie dropped out as skipper Jim Magilton returned alongside Jimmy Juan and Matt Richards in midfield. In defence, Fabian Wilnis continued at left-back.

Jimmy Juan struck the first shot of the game but without the power to trouble veteran Derby keeper Kevin Poole.

The Rams' first chance came in the fifth minute, Dexter Blackstock turning Richard Naylor on the edge of the area but being forced away from goal by Jason De Vos when he looked odds on to at least get in a shot at Price.

The striker, on loan from Southampton, headed a Marc Edworthy cross over the bar on seven with Town short of numbers in the box as Derby broke quickly. On nine Juan's header from Magilton's freekick on the right was headed off the line by Seth Johnson.

A minute later, the Blues went in front, Richard Naylor flicking Jim Magilton's freekick from the right beyond Poole and into the net for his third goal of the season.

Town were playing some nice stuff and deserved their lead, although the attacking formation was leaving them somewhat short at the back on occasion. Richards shot weakly to Poole, then Bowditch sent a low ball across the box but failed to find a Town toe.

On 22 there was a big scare for the Blues when a ball from the Derby left was missed by Fabian Wilnis and found Morten Bisgaard unmarked on the right, Dean McDonald having failed to track back. The Dane looked certain to score as he advanced on Price but the keeper stood up well and blocked his shot.

However, the Danish winger, brought to Pride Park by former boss George Burley, was becoming increasingly influential. In the 24th minute his cross was headed back by Blackstock and Michael Johnson nodded over from close range.

On 27 Emerson Thome got his name in referee Colin Webster's book for a foul on Dean McDonald, the Town youngster clearly feeling the effects of the less than well timed challenge and requiring treatment.

Seven minutes later the Rams were on terms. Inigo Idiakez sent in a freekick from the left after Magilton had been rather harshly adjudged to have fouled Johnnie Jackson, Thome headed back across goal and Blackstock bundled the ball in off Richard Naylor from inches out.

As so often this season, an opposition goal signalled a period of Town collapse and the home side scored their second only three minutes later. Bisgaard sent in a deep cross from the right towards Tudgay who got ahead of Sito to head home at the far post.

The Blues hit back themselves only three minutes after Derby's second goal. Thome fouled Sam Parkin just outside the area and Jim Magilton precisely curled a freekick over the wall and out of Poole's reach for his first goal of the season.

Town finished the half the stronger of the two sides, Bowditch playing in a dangerous low ball which Thome scrambled out at the near post. However, it was the Rams who would come closest to another goal before the break, Tudgay seizing on McDonald's error and unleashing a 35-yard screamer which cannoned off the outside of Price's left post.

It had been a very open half with both teams showing why they rarely keep clean sheets. Town's early 4-3-3, which had switched to 4-4-2 by the end of the period, gave them more of an attacking edge than in recent games but left them vulnerable on the break.

McDonald and Bowditch had made some strong runs down the flanks, although the former Arsenal trainee appeared to be less effective after Thome's bad tackle.

Early in the second half Juan came close to putting the ball in the net, his header from Magilton's freekick flying narrowly wide, although referee Webster awarded a freekick for a push.

Town were even closer to going ahead in the 56th minute. Sito sent in a fine cross from the right towards Parkin who netted from six yards, only for the linesman to flag offside.

Immediately Derby went up the other end and scored. Fabian Wilnis slipped and, as he recovered, hit the ball off Bisgaard perfectly into the Dane's path, the winger laying it across to Blackstock who netted his second of the game from the edge of the area.

Boss Joe Royle was clearly unimpressed with Wilnis's less than effective shackling of Bisgaard and replaced him with Jay McEveley in the 59th minute. Two minutes later Darren Currie took over from McDonald, less involved in the second half, perhaps due to the injury sustained ahead of the break.

Town went looking for an equaliser and good work from Richards and then Parkin teed up Juan but his shot deflected harmlessly to Poole. Blackstock should have had his hat-trick in the 77th minute but hammered Whittingham's cross against the bar from point blank range.

Parkin picked up a yellow card for a push which only the linesman appeared to see in the 79th minute, before Adam Proudlock replaced Bowditch.

Four minutes later, the Blues were back on terms. Parkin headed a ball out of defence wide to Currie, the midfielder taking a couple of touches before crossing to the edge of the box where Matt Richards headed powerfully to the left of the keeper and into the net.

Town pushed for the winner and came very close in the 85th minute. McEveley and Currie combined on the left before the ex-Brighton player sent in a cross which Parkin headed goalwards only for Poole to tip over. From the resultant corner Parkin appeared to be dragged over but referee Webster mysteriously awarded a freekick to the home side.

As time ran out Juan hit a weak shot to Poole, before McEveley picked up a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Tudgay.

The Blues continued the improvement seen in the second half at Brighton but again showed their soft underbelly and tendency to fall apart after conceding goals. However, they retained the ball far better than they have done in most matches this season and deserved at least a point, if not all three, although both sides will claim they had the chances to win the match.

Everything for the home side came through Morten Bisgaard and it was little surprise when Fabian Wilnis was replaced. Richard Naylor was again amongst the Blues' most impressive performers, while Sito and Juan also did well.

Matt Richards scored a terrific, almost John Wark-esque, header and looks far more comfortable in midfield. Subs Darren Currie and Adam Proudlock both caused problems for the Derby defence when introduced.

Town: Price, Sito, Wilnis (McEveley 59), Naylor, De Vos, Magilton, Juan, Richards, McDonald (Currie 61), Parkin, Bowditch (Proudlock 79). Unused: Supple, Peters. Att: 21,598.

Photo: Action Images

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