Ipswich Town vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
Portman RoadAttendance17,267.
Saturday 30 December 2017 19:51, UK
Promotion-chasing Derby extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 2-1 win at Ipswich.
Sam Winnall scored in the 13th and 49th minutes to secure the points, the latter a superb long-range strike. The home side replied through Joe Garner's header but could not slow Derby's impressive run of form.
Derby took the lead when Tom Lawrence's corner found the head of Winnall, whose glancing header beat Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowksi by his right-hand post.
A minute later a mix-up between Town defenders Luke Chambers and Adam Webster let in Matej Vydra but with just the 'keeper to beat, the striker blazed his shot over the bar.
Vydra's 19th-minute snap-shot stung the hands of the Ipswich 'keeper and seven minutes later, a shot from George Thorne from outside the penalty area just sailed over the bar following good build-up play between Lawrence and Vydra.
Ipswich threatened in the 30th minute when Martyn Waghorn swung in a corner and Callum Connolly's header was cleared off the line by Lawrence.
Six minutes later a crossfield pass from Johnny Russell found Vydra clear in the penalty area but at full stretch, he could only send a left-footed effort wide.
Jordan Spence cleared Russell's goalbound shot off the line and Ipswich could have equalised in the 40th minute. Bersant Celina bought the Town fans to their feet when he picked up the ball in his own half and made a mazy run towards goal but his shot from just outside the area went narrowly wide.
Four minutes into the second half Derby extended their lead when Winnall produced a stunning shot from 30 yards out into the top right corner of Bialkowski's goal.
Lawrence then saw a 35-yard effort fizz over the bar and moments later a fine cross from Ward beat the Derby defenders, with Kevin Bru arriving late on the scene to head narrowly past the left post.
Three successive corners provided success for Ipswich in the 66th minute when Garner rose to head home inside the six-yard box and reduce the deficit.
Ipswich pressed for an equaliser but the Derby defence held strong to run out worthy winners.
Mick McCarthy: "We were beaten by a better team, a considerably better team on the day. They have been very expensively assembled prior to Gary getting there and he is now getting the best out of them.
"He is a good manager as he proved at Birmingham and they were too much for us in the first half and they could have been out of sight. But to my team's eternal credit they've had them on the back foot and made it at least exciting and it made it look like we had a go. We never do anything other."
Gary Rowett: "It's a difficult place to come and they put you under a lot of pressure with the way that they play. They have got a real energetic side and I felt first half we blew them away with some really good attacking play. Our front four were unplayable at times and in my opinion we really should have been out of sight.
"But when you come in having played that well, having missed those opportunities and you are only 1-0 up you know what Ipswich are like under Mick [McCarthy] - they won't let the game go, they won't give up in any way, shape or form."
