Ipswich Town claimed a hard‑earned 2–1 win at Pride Park, taking the lead through an early Lewis Travis own goal before Derby levelled from the spot. Leif Davis struck the decisive goal 13 minutes from time to secure a valuable away victory for Town.
Ipswich began brightly and were ahead inside eight minutes. After good pressure down the left, Town won a corner which Anis Mehmeti delivered with pace into the six‑yard box. Ex‑Blue Lewis Travis, attempting to clear, diverted the ball into his own net to hand Ipswich the perfect start.
The goal settled Town, who continued to dictate the tempo with Matusiwa controlling midfield. Clarke and Davis pushed Derby back, while Azón’s hold‑up play kept Ipswich high up the pitch. Walton had little to do as the Blues managed the half confidently.
Derby came out after the break like a side who’d been embarrassed by the first half, suddenly snapping into everything and trying to turn the match into a scrap. Ipswich had a shaky five minutes where the ball just wouldn’t stick, the crowd woke up, and every loose touch felt like it carried a bit too much risk.
The moment came on 68 minutes when Bobby Clark burst into the box and tangled with Azor Matusiwa as both stretched for a bouncing ball. The referee didn’t think twice, pointed straight to the spot, and Ryan Brewster took the penalty that was drilled low past Walton with the kind of roar that tells you the home fans needed it.
For a spell, Town were rattled. Passes went safe, clearances went long, and Derby suddenly looked like they believed they could flip the whole night. But O’Shea and Kipré dug in, winning the ugly duels, the ones you don’t replay but absolutely rely on away from home.
It wasn’t calm, but it stopped Derby from running away with the moment.
Ipswich didn’t fold. They steadied themselves, pushed up the pitch again, and waited for the next opening. It arrived in the 77th minute when McAteer, fresh off the bench, worked half a yard on the right and whipped in a brilliant cross.
Davis had timed his run perfectly, arriving late and thundering a header into the top corner, a full‑back finishing like a centre‑forward.
From there, Town played like a side who’d learned from the wobble. Neil and Akpom brought calm, Hirst chased everything as it mattered, and Walton claimed crosses with the sort of authority that shuts down late drama. Derby pushed, but they never really looked like breaking Ipswich again.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest, tough, and full of the moments that make you trust this team. They took the hit, stayed standing, and finished the job, exactly what you want from a side with ambition.
Christian Walton — 7 , Leif Davis — 8, Cédric Kipré — 7, Dara O’Shea — 7.5 , Darnell Furlong — 6.5 , Azor Matusiwa — 7.5, Jack Taylor — 6 , Jack Clarke — 7.5 , Anis Mehmeti — 7 , Wes Burns — 7, Iván Azón — 7.5 SUBS : Kasey McAteer — 7 , Dan Neil — 6.5, Chuba Akpom — 6.5 , George Hirst — 6.5
