Derby County 1-2 Ipswich Town: Leif Davis header seals win for Tractor Boys
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Ipswich Town at Pride Park on Saturday; Leif Davis' header seals win that boosts Tractor Boys promotion hopes.
Saturday 7 February 2026 16:23, UK
Leif Davis' superb late header gave Ipswich a 2-1 victory at Derby to strengthen their promotion challenge in the Championship.
The visitors had been given an early lead when Derby skipper Lewis Travis headed a corner into his own net but Derby hit back in the second half and drew level through Rhian Brewster's penalty.
But Davis had the final word to stall Derby's push for the play-offs, and the home side ended the match with 10 men after Travis was sent off in added time for a second yellow card.
Ipswich started on the front foot and went ahead in the eighth minute with more than a little help from Derby.
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Anis Mehmeti whipped in a corner that seemed to wrong foot Travis, who headed the ball past Josh Vickers.
The visitors were getting in behind Derby on the right and it needed alert defending from Matt Clarke and a fine save from Vickers to prevent the visitors from extending their lead.
It took Derby until the 22nd minute to threaten with a clever turn and cross from Ben Brereton Diaz just evading Patrick Agyemang at the near post.
That sparked a good spell from the home side who forced several corners but Ipswich defended well and regained a measure of control, although they had an alarm when Brewster turned and shot narrowly wide.
Ipswich should have done better when Jack Clarke broke away and set up Ivan Azon but the forward delayed shooting and was closed down.
Vickers kept Derby afloat in the 51st minute when a crossfield ball from Jack Clarke played in Wes Burns but the keeper made a great block with his right hand.
That was a significant moment as Derby drew level in the 68th minute from the penalty spot.
Bobby Clark had already caused problems in and around the Ipswich penalty area and when he turned Azor Matusiwa, the midfielder brought him down.
Brewster took the penalty and stuck it powerfully to the right of Christian Walton who could not keep it out.
Derby had their tails up but Ipswich provided the perfect response by regaining the lead in the 77th minute.
Kasey McAteer made an immediate impact from the bench by delivering a superb cross from the right which Davis met with a thumping header that flew into the top left corner.
Chuba Akpom had a chance on the break but his low shot was deflected just wide before a miserable afternoon for Travis ended when he was sent off for a second yellow card for a push on Darnell Furlong.
The managers
Derby's John Eustace:
"I thought it was a great game, two good teams going toe to toe. It was really exciting to watch and I was very proud of the efforts of the group.
"To come up against probably the best team in the league with the best squad of players and go toe to toe with them was really pleasing.
"We got a deserved equaliser and I felt we could maybe go on and win the game. They made a lot of positive changes then, you look at their bench, obviously that's why they are a top team and it certainly made a difference but the way we kept going was really pleasing.
"We got into some fantastic areas, our build-up play at times was good, our defensive shape was good, we got into some good transitional areas but we couldn't make the right decision or the final pass was just a bit loose but you can see the progression we're making."
Ipswich's Kieran McKenna:
"I definitely enjoyed it, maybe my favourite win of the season, they're all three points but I really enjoyed it for all the aspects really.
"We played really well at times, we started the game really well, played really good football and although the goal was not from that we could have been two or three up with some of the moves we put together early on.
"Then we had to handle the chaos sometimes of set-plays and a vociferous home crowd, balls in the air and balls bouncing around, we had to stand up to that well which we did.
"We didn't manage to get the second goal, which was probably the bit we needed to really take control of the game, but didn't look like conceding and then had the setback of giving away a really poor penalty.
"That would have been gutting for the team if that had cost us so the reaction in the way we got straight back to taking a foothold in the game, the subs having a big impact, a brilliant winning goal and really good team management to see the game out, so it was a really good win."
