IPSWICH TOWN 2 DERBY COUNTY 1SHOWING all the qualities that former manager George Burley would have been proud off Ipswich Town fought their way to a well deserved three points.

IPSWICH TOWN 2 DERBY COUNTY 1

SHOWING all the qualities that former manager George Burley would have been proud off Ipswich Town fought their way to a well deserved three points.

Burley was given a great reception on his return to Portman Road as Derby manager and his young side made Ipswich fight all the way to the end.

Joe Royle's team began the game without two regular defenders and when Naylor went off after 25 minutes their back line had a very unusual look to it.

They did not always function 100 per cent but they did enough with John McGreal doing well after such a long absence and Chris Bart-Williams moving from midfield to be his partner and showing considerable endurance.

Up front Town were well served by lively front runners Bent and Kuqi and it was the former who gave the hosts the perfect start with a goal inside 30 seconds. It needed a soft own goal from Youl Mawene to give Ipswich their second in the 69th minute and with Alan Mahon and Matt Richard doing well down the Ipswich left a win at this stage looked a formality.

But Derby showed their resilience with a goal back from Marcus Toudgay in the 73rd minute. To their credit, Ipswich then held out with no great alarms and were the team that looked most likely to score again.

With just defeat now in 12 games Ipswich are looking good for a serious assault on a promotion place.