Derby County v Ipswich Town preview and matchday thread

[Mr.Punch]

I see Celtic are doing well.

Messi hat trick, can you imagine how well we'd defend against him!

I'm getting worried how we'll defend against Newcastle!

[lucy]

I don't like being 1-0 up near the end of a game. I always get nervous and feel sick.

[Charnwood]

Newcastle 5 up against QPR

& Murphy not even made the subs bench!

[lucy]

Is he injured again?

I can't see how Derby have kept Ince on the bench, he's their best player.

[Mr.Punch]

I don't like being 1-0 up near the end of a game. I always get nervous and feel sick.

Hang in there Town!

[lucy]

How long to be added on i wonder.

[Charnwood]

Derby 21 shots to our 5....

Can we hang on?

[Quasar]

Sqeeeeeeky bum time

[Quasar]

3 min added

[lucy]

3 mins added on

[lucy]

Can't stand this it's nerve wracking. 1 minute to go.

[Quasar]

Yes. A good win

[lucy]

OH MY DAYS THEY NEARLY SCORED

[Mr.Punch]

That's the bit of luck we needed, well done Bart!

Lovely stuff.

[lucy]

Derby oh so nearly scored my heart was in my mouth.

[Charnwood]

Is a fourth 0-1 really possible ?

How good would that be especially against the run of play.

Yes we can, how fuckin good is that!

[lucy]

Can't wait for Saturday against Villa now.

[Charnwood]

Up to 9th, that'll cheer up Bluemike.

[Steve and Jo]

What a strange ole game this football lark is hey... Thoroughly deserved at least a point on Saturday but lost (Thanks Ref) though tonight seemingly we got stuffed yet... Won !!!

So 3 points from two tricky away games not bad and better than two draws.. Like i say... strange

[lucy]

Derby had 61% possession, 23 shots and 4 corners to our 0 and we win

[lucy]

https://twitter.com/IpswichAwayDays/sta ... 9172947969

That was close!

[Charnwood]

It looks like Knusden redeemed himself for the two points he gave away on Friday at Reading.

Two points given away Friday, two gained tonight.

Funny how luck sometimes evens out.

[hallamblue]

http://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/385388/vide ... w-link./#7

get in there!

[Charnwood]

Getting even better - Town now up to 8th after Sheff Wednesdays late winner v Bristol City.

[lucy]

Bristol City must be kicking themselves they were 0-2 up.

[arana peligrosa]

Bottom line, that was a very important win. Derby had their chances, created greater opportunity, but they couldn't put it to better effect : it's their loss, our gain.

Seems similar to the end game from last season if correct when we took a one goal victory from their venue and were rightly fortunate to claim all three points, but the players can take heart from today and we go into the Aston Villa fixture with heads up and something to build on. (Bialkowski for match honors, he played a pivotal role in our win so take this opportunity to applaud his performance)

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

That wasn't free of stress. Had a heart in my throat in the last few seconds of the match. How on earth that ball stayed out of Bialkowski's goal in the final second I don't know.

We didn't find anything new about the team tonight. There was a mix of good and bad aspects and I wouldn't say we deserved 3 points but who cares?

The first half was somewhat a copy of first half at Reading. Annoying to be honest as it seemed as if Mick was reluctant to change our approach. Largely a drab hoofball from us. No element of surprise from us, no imaginatons. This is exactly what Derby expected from us.
Knudsen was particularly infuriating for me. I don't know if he's banned from running with the ball but even when he doesn't need to hoof it he just still does it. Just for the sake for it ! Totally pointless and brainless !
In general we looked unable to create anything. Loads of hoofing from Berra and Webster. That was miserable. Moreover Pitman was completely bereft. Isolated from the rest of the team and due to that we were toothless.
Bru tried to organise couple of quick counter attacks but slowed them down as he had no idea how to unlock their defence by some proper pass.

When it came to defending though Bialkowski and back four were solid Webster in particular. Our goalie when called upon was very reliable and had himself three saves to do in the first half. Derby certainly could count themselves unlucky as they had been pressing us for the most of first 45 minutes. Between 30 and 40 min we struggled to get out of our half. Half time couldn't have come quick enough.

Very frustrating first half. Displeasure among Town fans however hardly surprising. Pitman being lonely upfront doesn't work however Mick seemed reluctant to change our approach after the Reading game. He probably hoped that we could get a random goal from set-piece or something.

Then came the moment which turned out to be a key. Mick changing the system from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2. Varney sent on to help Pitman and Lawrence making his Town debut.
Varney's goal came out the blue and poor goalkeeping from Carson distincly helped as he could have parried it anywhere.

And yes we subsequently switched our attention to try to hold on but it wasn't deep defending all the time. Derby made numeruous albeit inept attempts to break down our back four. Rock solid back four and that includes Knudsen as his last minute block was class.

As expected any threat from us would begin from Ward and his runs as he was a nuisance for them.

When Derby players were about to shoot our players were putting their bodies on the line. That was so pleasing for our eyes. Total teamwork and commitment which was most encouraging aspect for us tonight.
Douglas..... Dear me ! People who constantly have been slagging him off need to stop it as he certainly wins over his doubters. Couple of his blocks today + good in general so far this season.

Not only didn't Derby know to trouble us their confidence seemed shot too. Perhaps that's why our back four dealt with them without big problems. Inept attempts to unlock our defence and a few quick counter attacks from us that is how it looked for the vast majority of 2nd half after the goal.

Last seconds of the game were very scary as Bialkowski somehow didn't let the ball cross the line. For the second or two we thought that was a goal due to uproar coming from home ends. Honestly don't know how Bart stopped that ball.

Final whistle was met with a joy in our end. The luck was with us today.

MOTM? The whole team was amazing in terms of commitment but Webster has my vote. Very assured and really looked like experienced defender. The way he carries out the ball out of defence was amazing too as he did it twice in the first half. Both Smith and Berra will never ever do anything like that. One somewhat negative thing from him was hoofing. He did it a few times today too when he didn't really need to do so. However still outstanding and Mick faces a problem whether to drop him for the Villa game.

Lawrence has had a decent debut. Somewhat though he looked like a stranger in this team but this was his first game with us. He didn't even hoof it once and I really liked his tendency to run with the ball at his foot and keep the ball on the deck. Not afraid to make tough tackle too.

Mick himself has to realise that Pitman will never be Murphy. Not the same physical presence, not the same prowess. He always needs a support so that he can be productive.

It will take a time for Mick to dampen his stubborness but at least something dawned on him at half time and we got our rewards.

Night everyone !

[phily bon bon]

Great read Mach thanks for the feedback. Pretty much the same as the radio comments, hope Mick can make us more of a threat in the final third whilst keeping us tight at the back.
Three points are three points however.

[herforder]

Great report from Mach - great determined, committed and resilient performance from the boys last night. Derby 62% of possession - Town 100% of the goals, and 3 points in our back pocket. MM's post match comments gave a further insight into how he thinks and operates - nothing we didn't already know, and have to deal with. Hard for some to take, but it worked last night.

Good to see Webster, Lawrence and Grant getting some game time, and yet another commanding performance by Bart - PL scouts must be taking note.

Sets us up nicely for Saturday. Well done.

[Bluemike]

MM out.