Tractor-Boys.com

Ipswich Town v Derby County


Saturday 10th January 2015 – 12:15
Portman Road





Opening Thought – Jamma

As Ipswich Town fans, we have become all too familiar with our team being off the pace and having nothing to play for by this time of the season. In recent years, it has more often than not been a case of fighting to stay in the division as opposed to battling to leave it at the top end. It is refreshing, then, to have reached the second weekend of January and to still be in with a realistic chance of promotion, not to mention still have an interest in the FA Cup. As a clearly delighted Darren Ambrose said in the aftermath of last weekend’s clash at Southampton, we showed what we were all about, against a strong side who are challenging for a Champions League place. We may have had to soak up a lot of pressure in the second half but had also fully merited our lead on the back of some excellent passages of play of our own. Mick McCarthy joked that a draw – and subsequent replay – was the last thing we wanted but, in reality, the confidence gained from matching a Premier League team is likely to outweigh any potential negatives to come from fixture congestion.

The fact that the Blues were backed by the biggest away following that St. Mary’s has seen was not only an inevitable result of our upturn in fortunes, but also a reflection of the renewed sense of pride that supporters have in the team. That feeling of camaraderie between players and supporters is obviously mutual, from the respect that the squad has for the fans who travel in their numbers to the evident enjoyment by everyone of the by-now customary Chambo fist-pump. I don’t believe it is any coincidence that our home form has gone from strength to strength this season as the attendance has steadily grown. This may be affected this weekend by the fact that Sky will be back at the home of the Pride of East Anglia for the third time in 2014/15. A live televised fixture, between 2nd and 3rd, with the ominous return of Darren Bent thrown in for good measure: all the ingredients are in place for another Portman Road cracker…

The Opposition




Derby County F.C. was formed in 1884 as an offshoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club in an attempt to give players and supporters a winter interest as well as secure the cricket club extra revenue, playing their home matches at the cricket club’s Racecourse Ground.

Arguably the most important game in the club's history came in the 1886 FA Cup, when a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa, already an emerging force in English football, helped establish Derby County F.C. on the English football map, helping the club to attract and an invitation into the inaugural Football League. In 1895 the club moved to a new stadium, The Baseball Ground (so called because it was previously used for baseball), which became their home for the next 102 years and adopted their traditional colours of black and white.

Although Derby were inconsistent in the league, they were a strong force in the FA Cup, appearing in three finals in six years around the turn of the 20th Century but lost all three.

Between 1906 and 1925 Derby had some inconsistent years, with a number of relegations and promotions between the First and Second Divisions of the Football League. However, the appointment of George Jobey in 1925 kick-started a successful period for the Rams and, after promotion in 1926, the club became a formidable force, with high finishes from the late 1920s and all through the 1930s, including finishing runners up twice.

Derby were one of several clubs to close down during the Second World War but restarted in the early 1940s. Derby were one step ahead of the opposition when competitive football resumed with the 1946 FA Cup and won their first major trophy with a 4–1 victory over Charlton Athletic. The League restarted the following season after a break due to World War II and, under the management of Stuart McMillan, finished fourth and third in the 1948 and 1949 seasons respectively, before a steady decline set in and the club was relegated in 1953 after nearly 30 years in the top flight, and again in 1955 to drop to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.

In 1967, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor took over and led them to their greatest glory. Derby were promoted to the First Division in 1969, finished fourth in 1970, but got banned from competing in Europe due to financial irregularities in 1971 and won their first ever Football League Championship in 1972. Though Derby did not retain their title the following season, they did reach the semi-finals of the European Cup. They lost to Juventus in a controversial match which was subject to subsequent allegations that the Italian club had bribed the match officials, leading Clough, to call the Italians "cheating bastards". Clough's frequent outspoken comments against football's establishment eventually led to him falling out with the board of directors at the club, and Clough and Taylor left in 1973. Such was their impact on the club that, 37 years later, a 9'0 high bronze statue of the pair was erected outside the Pride Park Stadium in commemoration of their legacy.

Despite the departure of Clough and Taylor, Derby's League success was repeated in the 1974–75 season when they won the title. However, Derby's form declined towards the end of the 1970s and they went down to the Second Division in 1980. Though they challenged well in their first season, Derby's stay in the Second Division was not a happy one and they were relegated to the Third Division for only the second time in their history in 1984.

After the relegation, the club appointed Arthur Cox who turned the club around with successive promotions in the mid-1980s to get the club back into the old First Division in 1987.

The club was relegated back to the Second Division in 1991 due to lack of investment. At this time, local newspaper businessman Lionel Pickering became the majority shareholder of the club. In 1995 Jim Smith became the new manager and, although the new season started slowly, throwing his brief of 'a top-half finish' out of the window, Smith guided the Rams to a second-place finish and the Premier League, now the top flight of English football. After finishing an admirable 12th in their first season back into the top flight, the club left the Baseball Ground, its home of 102 years, to move into the new 33,597-seat Pride Park Stadium for the 1997–98 season.

The club settled well into its new home as it recorded back-to-back top 10 finishes for the first time since their 1970s peak, before a sudden decline at the turn of the millennium saw three years of struggle,before the Rams were relegated after a six-year stay in the top flight. in 2002. Former Ipswich Town boss George Burley was brought in as manager, but the club was put into receivership then sold in October 2003 for £3 to a group led by Jeremy Keith.

After finishing 20th in the 2003–04 season, a dramatic improvement in the 2004–05 season saw Derby finish 4th in the Football League Championship, qualifying for a promotion play-off spot, though they lost in the semi-finals to Preston North End. Soon afterwards, Burley resigned citing differences between himself and the board.

In April 2006 a consortium of local businessmen led by former vice-chairman Peter Gadsby bought the club, reducing its debt and returning Pride Park Stadium to the club's ownership in the process. In June 2006, former Preston North End boss Billy Davies was appointed Derby County's new permanent manager. In his first season, Davies took Derby to the Premier League via the playoffs. After a poor start to the season, manager Billy Davies left by mutual consent in November.

He was succeeded by Paul Jewell, who failed to save the club as Derby suffered the Premier League's earliest ever relegation, in March,and recorded the Premier League's lowest-ever points total.

Derby's match at home to Sheffield United on 13 September 2008 generated much media coverage as it was approaching a year since Derby's last league win, a run which saw the club break the English league record for most matches without a win.

Just four days short of the anniversary, Derby finally won earning Paul Jewell his first league win as Derby boss at his 27th attempt. Jewell resigned as manager in December 2008 after a run of just 2 wins in 11 matches. He was replaced by Nigel Clough, son of former manager Brian.

He led the club to 18th place and safety. After two disappointing seasons that saw the club finish in the bottom half of the table, Derby finished the two subsequent seasons in 12th and 10th place. Clough was sacked 9 games into the 2013–14 season, and was replaced by former Derby player and assistant manager Steve McClaren.

Under McClaren the club finished third in the Championship and reached the final of the play-offs, where they lost to Queens Park Rangers.





One To Watch – Lee Grant



We’re all aware of Derby’s talent in the attacking positions – a certain Darren Bent the latest addition until the end of the season – but, with the Superblues themselves having scored an average of three goals a game over the three-match Christmas schedule, a key figure could be goalkeeper Lee Grant.

The experienced Championship custodian seems to have been around for ages so it may come as something of a surprise that he will only turn 32 on 27 January. He actually signed for Derby as a trainee in 2000, going on to make his debut for the club in 2002/03. By the end of the campaign, Grant had made 30 appearances and his impressive performances saw him named the Rams’ Young Player of the Season. However, this promising start didn’t translate into a consistent run in the side and he was to feature only 79 times over 7 years, not helped by an unfortunate series of injuries. With opportunities limited at Pride Park, the former England U21 international signed for Sheffield Wednesday ahead of the 2007/08 season, in which he was a virtual ever-present to help the Owls retain their Championship status. Having established himself as the No.1 at Hillsborough, Grant, who by now had a reputation as a dependable ‘keeper, moved on to Burnley, where he enjoyed similar success. He made his last appearance for the Clarets against Ipswich, on the final day of the 2012/13 season, paving the way for a return to his first club Derby. Another successful campaign on a personal level was a Bobby Zamora extra-time winner away from being an even more memorable one for the team, as Grant played every minute of every game in 2013/14. He has form against Town, having previously turned in a man-of-the-match display, and will again have to be at his best if he is to keep out the likes of Murphy and McGoldrick on Saturday.



The Gaffer – Steve McClaren





As a player, McClaren was a midfielder who spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football. The bulk of his playing career was with Hull City, who he joined in 1979 at the age of 18 after leaving school, before leaving in 1985. He then played for Derby County between 1985 and 1988. During 1987 he joined Lincoln City (on loan) making only 8 appearances and in 1988, he moved to Bristol City. He joined his final club, Oxford United, in 1989.

He was Sir Alex Ferguson’s Assistant Manager at Manchester United between 1999 and 2001, a very successful period in the club’s history. Also between 2000 and 2006 he featured as a coach for the National side in two separate spells.

His managerial career began at Middlesbrough in the Premier League, who won the League Cup in 2004 and were runners up in the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

McClaren then served as manager of England from August 2006 to December 2007. He was sacked after England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

In 2008, McClaren became manager of FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season.

He then worked as manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011 but was sacked after poor League results.

After a short spell as manager of Nottingham Forest in 2011 where he resigned after a poor start to the season, he returned to Twente in January 2012.

His return to FC Twente was initially greeted with enthusiasm, but after a period of unsuccessful results, McClaren resigned his position on 26 February 2013.

On 2 July 2013, McClaren became part of Harry Redknapp's coaching staff at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship after agreeing a short-term three month deal.

In September 2013, less than three months after being appointed at QPR, McClaren returned to Derby County when he was appointed head coach to replace the sacked Nigel Clough, signing a two and a half year deal. After a strong December where Derby picked up 19 points from a possible 21, McClaren was awarded the Championship Manager of the month award, and he lead Derby to third place on last seasons Championship table.






Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev







Trev's Trivia

Players & Managers who have featured with both Clubs


Nathan Ellington Ipswich 2011-2013 & Derby 2008-2009 loan

Conor Sammon Ipswich 2014-2015 & loan from Derby 2012-present

Darren Bent ITFC 2001-2005 Derby 2015 – present on loan

Paul Jewell Ipswich Manager 2011-2012 & Derby Manager 2007-2008

George Burley Ipswich Manager 1994-2002 & Derby Manager 2003-2005

Media Watch - K L Blue


A fantastic little piece KLB found from the ‘Sudbury Mercury’

Bobby Robson signed just 18 senior players in 13 years at Portman Road, but which ones make Terry Hunt’s top 10?


Bobby Robson’s success at Ipswich Town was built on the phenomenal youth system combined with the occasional foray into the transfer market.

According to our reckoning, the great man only signed 18 players during his 13 years at Portman Road. Here’s the top ten according to Terry Hunt.
For the sake of completeness, we also list the other eight Robson signings.

For clarity, only those who arrived at Portman Road as senior players were considered.

Frank Clarke

Experienced striker Clarke - part of the footballing dynasty which included Allan Clarke - arrived from QPR in March 1970 as part of the rescue squad to save Town from relegation. He and Jimmy Robertson did the trick, Town stayed up, and the rest is history.

Paul Cooper

Cooper’s arrival from Birmingham for £23,000 in 1974 barely registered with Town fans, but he would become a Portman Road great. Cooper played 575 times for Town, including the FA Cup and UEFA Cup Finals. Gained a reputation for saving penalties.

Bryan Hamilton

After a slow start following his signing from Irish football, Hamilton blossomed into a goalscoring midfielder who was an important part of Robson’s first great side. Heartbreak in the 1975 FA Cup semi-final against West Ham, when referee Clive Thomas disallowed two Hamilton “goals.’’

Allan Hunter

The story is well documented: Robson thought he would be sacked after his team had been torn apart by George Best and Man Utd. Instead, chairman John Cobbold gave him the funds to buy Hunter. Within a year, Ipswich had gone from also-rans to a real force.

David Johnson

Eyebrows were raised when Robson swapped Rod Belfitt for an unknown 21-year-old striker from Everton. But David Johnson made a real mark, scoring 46 times in his time at Portman Road berfore returning to Merseyside - to join Liverpool. Also scored goals for England.

Paul Mariner

What more is there to say? After Johnson’s departure, Ipswich needed to replace him with a class striker. Robson won a three-way battle with West Ham and West Brom for Mariner’s signature in what was one of his most important signings.

Arnold Muhren

The first of Robson’s two iconic Dutch signings. Muhren’s passing with his left foot was utterly mesmeric. His arrival signalled a change in style for Ipswich - and it was so easy on the eye.

Kevin O’Callaghan

“Cally’’ was more often than not 12th man in the great side of the early 1980s. The stats bear it out - he started 89 games for Town, and came on as sub another 59 times.

Jimmy Robertson

The other half of the 1970 rescue squad. Robertson arrived from Arsenal early in 1970 with Town staring at relegation. A real class act, his performances - and goals - played a huge part in keeping Ipswich in the top flight.

Frans Thijssen

Talking of other halves, Thijssen was the second “Dutch Master’’ to arrive. What a player. The ball seemed to be stuck to his foot as he weaved his way through panic-stricken defences.

For the record, here are Robson’s other signings:

Terry Austin

David Barnes

Rod Belfitt

Ian Collard

Mick Hill

John Jackson

Tony Kinsella

Pat Sharkey

Stat Time


Head to Head


Ipswich Wins..................32.....42.11%
Derby Wins....................24.....31.58%
Draws..........................20.....26.32%


Ipswich Goals................113 (ave. 1.49 per match)
Derby Goals...................99 (ave. 1.30 per match)



Head to Head at Ipswich


Ipswich Wins..................21.....55.26%
Derby Wins....................10.....26.32%
Draws...........................7.....18.42..%


Ipswich Goals..................62 (ave. 1.63 per match)
Derby Goals....................42 (ave. 1.11 per match)





The Predicted Teams


Ipswich Town


33 Bialkowski
04 Chambers
05 Smith
06 Berra
02 Parr
08 Skuse
11 Anderson
18 Tabb
17 Bru
10 McGoldrick
09 Murphy



Derby County


01 Grant
02 Christie
06 Keogh
05 Buxton
03 Forsyth
08 Hendrick
14 Eustace
19 Hughes
11 Russell
09 Martin
44 Ibe


Marko’s Caption Competition


Hi y'all......, hope you all had a great Xmas and New Year and are back to rubbish work. We were in Sicily for a few weeks, and as with previous years, there usually isn't a great wifi connection. This year, the neighbour allowed us to tap into theirs. Was able to log on and post the usual drivel......, could've probably even done the caption contest, but couldn't be arsed. So glad the others COULD be arsed and the previews were great as usual.
No one really bothered with ref captions so it's as you were with the table:

TABLE

1. Frosty ......... 22
2. Herforder .... 21
3. Quasar ....... 20
4. Bluemike ....., 19
5. Blueblood....., 18
6. James.........., 16
7. Derick.........., 14
8. The Don ......, 12
9. Barmy Billy..., 8
10. Supershred. 6
10. Floors ....... 6
11. Andy M........, 5
12. Charnwood..., 4
12. Mr Punch......, 4
12. Jamma........., 4
13. Ashfordblue., 3
13. Morph........., 3
14. Number 9...., 2
14. Hallamblue,.., 2
14. LnP.............., 2
15. Nicscreamer.., 1

This week, let's have two pictures. You get points for BOTH pictures should you have a go at each. Potential for a maximum 8 points there for a decent comedian! Make up for my can't be arsedness during the holidays.

1.





2.





Match Referee – Kevin Wright






Final Thought - Frosty


Bloody hell, sometimes it’s hard to come up with ideas for the ‘Final Thoughts’, luckily bugger all people probably make it to this end of these Previews to even notice what I write.

This weeks fixture has some interesting connotations in so far as if we can get 3 points from the fixture we actually gain a ‘buffer’ over the 3rd place side on the table after this round, whether it be Derby or Boro. We actually have a chance of going top as Bournemouth have a tricky fixture in manager less Budgies who may pull their finger out now that Adams has gone west.

In other fixtures, Reading are at home to Boro, Watford make a trip to Yorkshire to meet Huddersfield and Brentford look to have an easier fixture as they host Rotherham in London.

Still beating Derby will be a big ask as they have come off a narrow win versus Southport and prior to that, two convincing wings against Leeds and Birmingham.

I assume Mick will put out a similar side to the one that spanked Charlton in the last League fixture with changes probably to be made again for the return fixture of Southampton next Wednesday.

Although an undefeated run cannot continue forever, hopefully at a minimum we can share the points on Saturday, as I wouldn’t be surprised to see a fairly entertaining match at PR with this being one of the fixtures of the season so far.

I see the Ipswich weather isn’t looking overly bright for Saturday so I hope it doesn’t detract from what should be a fantastic atmosphere. Have a great day. COYB.


IPSWICH TOWN 2 DERBY COUNTY 2

Anyone got any idea what Frosty wrote in his final thoughts section? Couldn't be arsed reading it!
Sorry, mate. Couldn't resist that. And that's been the best preview so far this season. Well done you guys, your efforts are very much appreciated. KL Blue, your section on Robsons signings was excellent. Thanks for that.

Can only apologise to you Ipswich based supporters for being excited that the game is on TV. I know some of you don't like that, but hopefully I'll be watching a Town win before watching a Hibs defeat!
Your 2-2 prediction would be an excellent game, Frosty. I'm going to predict a home win though and hope young Johnny Russell has an off day. A 2 or maybe 3-1 win, @ PR.
COYB's!

Ref caption:

"Look, I'm going to have to go with the crowd behind me on this. And according to Jimmy Campbell over there, that was a foul, ok."

Should be a cracking game this one. A win would be a fantastic and significant result!

Caption 1 You enjoyed that shexy dutch party too eh!

Caption 2 OMG theres a Rams horn breaking through the left side of my head...!

still watching FANZONE here in the Gambia and the result is Town 4 Derby 2 so ill go with that lol
caption 1 McClaren 4-1 after 30 minutets Mick your having a laugh
Caption 2 Keogh what do you mean !, you can see the join in me syrup

Pic1 - Steve McClaren pointing to Chinese Football Club Owner saying "Ah so, is velly Blig Opplotunity to Mlanage velly blig flooty team and i velly exclited"

Pic2 - Staring at the Derby County Logo on the Preview with a man ramming it !!!

Town to win 2-0.

Picture 1: "I'm not joking mate. Put that umpbrella away or I'll put it somewhere for you."

Picture 2: "Christ! I really do look like Robbie Williams and he's probably a better footballer than me."

Instinctively voted on a drawn game. Ipswich are unlikely to lose at home and the opposition are a fine side and one of the other promotion candidates so can see the Midlanders leaving with at least a point. If we win however, that will only encourage us to go on to greater things and put the players in much better spirits for the Southampton replay game. Damn well know, whatever occurs in this, Bournemouth will most likely win again to keep others off first place, but we'll see what occurs when the time is upon us.

Ipswich 1 Derby County 1

Ipswich 2 v 1 Derby

Picture 1: I told you 'Arry, QPR are going nowhere!

Picture 2: "Mr Keogh, how do you feel about defending Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick?"

Caption 1 ; McLaren points the finger at the Derby player he would most like to have sex with...........
Caption 2 ; Richard Keogh realises its him!!

Caption 1 : " hey, i know were getting stuffed 5-1 at PR but MAN im loving that brolly!"
Caption 2 : " i thought my agent said i was gonna be a ram, not get rammed,ohhhh it hurts to get stabbed in the back......."
ref caption: "to all derby players at half time, emergency exits are here, here and here"

Happy new year to all, a nice 2-0 win to get PR rockin.

1-1 for me

CAPTION COMPETITON

1) You love are getting rammed tonight, oh yeah!

2) Keogh's reaction to Steve McClaren ramming the locals

Caption:


1. 'Bang'



2. "I've almost mastered my Goldfish impersonation"

Much against what my heart is telling me I am going for us to lose this one. We have to lose sooner or later and the law of averages dictates it. Everything is set up here for us to really take control, a win would see us move 5 points ahead of them and that would be some achievement, our current form is fantastic, crowds are flocking back as is the belief that we really can go up. And all that is why I just know at some point we will have a fall. It certainly wont be terminal, it is how we bounce back from a reverse that counts and on that score I know we will be fine.

The game itself should be a cracker and if both teams are at their best it will be the best game we have seen at home. With Martin, Russell, Ibe, Bent and Bryson their attacking options are frightening, that said we went there and should have won it so it can be done. I so want to be wrong on this but for me it is a Derby win I am afraid to say.

Town 0-2 Derby.

I may be wrong but I can't see us losing this one as I think Mick gets the boys well prepared for the big games and "well up for it". I think the inevitable loss of an undefeated run will come agiainst some unsuspecting mid-table opposition that everyone expects us to win against.

Derby have lost two of their last three away games both 2-0 against Middlesbrough and Leeds United and I'm pretty sure Town are currently as good if not better than both these teams especially playing at home. Although I don't think it will come easy, a win by the same score line should be within our grasp, but if we're not at our best we may at worst drop a point but I hope this doesn't happen.

My only fear, and this maybe where Mike is coming from, is that the cup replay becomes a distraction and the players take their eye off the ball against a Derby side that will be looking to exploit any weakness displayed on the day.

Certainly a fascinating fixture that has the potential of going either way, I just hope it goes ours.

Town 2 -1 Derby (scored by you know who)

To be honest Charny I hadnt even given the cup replay much of a thought when predicting us to get beat, I just think it is our time, unfortunately. I will be the happiest poster on here Saturday evening if I am proven to be wrong.

bluemike wrote:To be honest Charny I hadnt even given the cup replay much of a thought when predicting us to get beat, I just think it is our time, unfortunately. I will be the happiest poster on here Saturday evening if I am proven to be wrong.

..... and so will the rest of us given the five point gap that could open up if we win.

Great preview ahead of a key match against a close rival; victory over whom will see us create a wee gap between us and them. So huge incentive to bring home the bacon, and ensure that DB leaves PR a disappointed bunny. Great to be in this position, and to be previewing from a top down, as opposed to bottom up, position!

Will be another toughie; but then we were nervous and perhaps fearing the worst when M'boro came to Town. Providing we start on the front foot, and our defence dominates their strikers, believe we can nick a win, in what will probably be a game of few chances. (Now wait to sit and watch a scintillating 4-3 encounter!)

Captions:

1. 'What makes you think I've been meeting with Mike Ashley, then?'

2. A classic case of buffer face, if ever I saw one!

3-1 Town no problem and go top after Bournemouth lose. Honestly I am a realist.

derby fans don't seem particularly confident about this one, i agree that we will lose sometime but who says it needs to be this season
a 2-0 win to take us top again!

Informative stuff once again guys.

Big game this. The early kick off has stitched me for attending so like some others will be watching it via TV. It's too close to call though. I'd like to think we can do this, but I'll plump for the point.

I'm gonna use both photos in a joint caption attempt. "Time for your prostate exam"

My attempts at the caption competition:

1. 'You really have been on the pies since your leaner days in front of goal, haven't you, Darren?'

2. 'Wow! Yes, he has, hasn't he, boss?'

A draw would be good enough for me. Will be interesting to see how the game starts, whether a draw away from home is enough for Steve McLaren also.......

Dubai Blue wrote:A draw would be good enough for me. Will be interesting to see how the game starts, whether a draw away from home is enough for Steve McLaren also.......

Really ? That was interesting to read for sure. You may be in a minority with that thinking.

Obviously the win is everything as County are a promotion rival and to take maximum points and deny them everything would seem imperative to many. I thought myself it will be a draw, but make no mistake, would want a damn victory (!)

CAPTION COMP:
1: That,s my boy Richard....Who,s the Daddy ?

2: F?ck No !....... No F*cking way do I look like you DO I ?????

Along with Bournemouth, Derby are our current biggest rivals for an automatic promotion place. They are likely to stay challenging all season as they are a good team with a good manager. This is a home game and therefore if we are serious about gaining automatic promotion its a must win game. A draw would be acceptable but does not put daylight between us and the playoff places. Derby will be thinking an away draw to keep in touch will be an acceptable result - a win an unexpected bonus. I predict they approach the game in that manner and rely on breaking at pace to carve us up and get their goals.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings, Hyam, Anderson, Tabb, Bishop, Murphy, McGoldrick. Subs: Gerken, Parr, Bru, S.Hunt, Ambrose, N.Hunt, Bajner.

Derby: Grant, Christie, Buxton, Keogh, Forsyth, Hendrick, Eustace, Hughes, Russell, Ibe, Martin. Subs: Roos, Bryson, Dawkins, Ward, Shotton, Mascarell, Bent.

live stream anyone?

Great link up play between Murphy & McGoldrick with Didsy's shot just curling over the bar on 13 mins after an earlier excellent effort by Tabb.

Town really look up for this. Hope we can make all this early pressure count.

Derby got themselves back into the game and ended the first half with 60% of the possession.

Happy to see the whistle blown for half time with McGoldrick needing to settle down after a poor booking decision following an incident with Eustace right in front of the referee who turned a blind eye to the Derby players heavy challenge which McGoldrick reacted to.

Not really at the races yet. Second half promises to be a cracker.