Derby County 2 Ipswich 1

The last time Ipswich Town recorded an away league victory was also the last time they managed to secure consecutive league victories. That milestone was back in early November, when Town defeated Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to push themselves back into the top six of the Championship.
In the interim, Town managed to win just one of the ten league matches played, falling to eight defeats, a run which earnt Paul Jewell a return to management at the expense of Roy Keane. This result, more than anything, can perhaps be seen as a marker of a return to those better fortunes.
Ironically enough, Towns opponents immediately after that Sheffield United match were Derby County, in fine form at the time, but also having suffered a similar slump, recording nine defeats in their previous eleven.
Speaking after the match, Paul Jewell certainly felt that the value of the result was in improving confidence, as his return to Pride Park proved victorious. “I don’t really want us to be hanging on, but that’s the way we are at the moment. However, winning games will breed confidence.
“I thought we should have killed the game off at times, but we gave the ball away and made errors. But that will go the more we win games”.
Fresh from the defeat at the Emirates, Jewells changes were a result of a change in emphasis from the “park the bus” approach taken against Arsenal. Mark Kennedy retained his position, but dropped to his more familiar left-back role. The move provided a gap for Lee Martin to return to the starting line-up.
But by far the change of most interest was in central midfield, where Colin Healy was, perhaps unfortunately, asked to make way for new loan signing, Jimmy Bullard. Re-united with his former manager, Bullards transfer window move has given the former £5m-man an opportunity to finally return to match action, after a frustrating and injury-interrupted time at Hull City.
Town got off to a less than auspicious start, with their offside trap being breached within seven minutes to allow Alberto Bueno to tap home from Gareth Roberts simple pass. But, as against Doncaster, the Blues remained undaunted, quickly retaining composure in possession and maintaining a foothold in the match.
Just before the half-hour mark, it was perhaps inevitable that Bullard would make his impact, and in some style. As a Derby headed clearance fell to the edge of the area, Bullard caught the ball on the volley from 30-yards out, the ball dipping just in front of Bywater before bouncing into the corner of the net. In a season where Town fans would struggle to pick out a goal of the season contender, it perhaps spoke volumes for Bullards quality that within thirty minutes of his debut, he had already seemingly won the competition.
Town reached the break having remained comfortable throughout the match and, despite Derby creating most of the chances, never looked particularly threatened.
It was a pattern that continued throughout the second half, with Derby creating the bulk of the opportunities but Fulop remaining untroubled. One aspect which had particularly characterised Towns performance was the continued presence of David Norris in the attacking third of the pitch, afforded freedom in the centre by Bullard and Leadbitter behind him. Eventually, it brought rewards for the captain as he played a neat one-two with Tamas Priskin, before shooting left-footed low inside Bywaters near post to give Town a lead which they never relinquished.
The Town captain, likely to remain with the side until the end of the season at least, despite the imminent expiration of his contract, became the clubs top scorer and is pleased to be adding that aspect to his game "I enjoy that part of the game and the goals have gone in for me this season. I've chipped in with twos and threes and the odd six in the past, but this is the best tally of my career.
"It's something I needed to add to my game and hopefully I can knock in a few more between now and the end of the season.”
Town continue to show positives across the pitch, as a clear structure is developing within the side under Jewell. The midfield unit steadily evolves, already having more width and attacking threat than under the previous regime. Lee Martin provided another reminder that his Town career is far from over, whilst Bullard provided a quality on the ball which has been sorely missing.
Up front, Tamas Priskin continues to look at ease playing as a lone forward, particularly with the support being provided from midfield, whilst the defence appears to have benefitted from the attacking threat posed by a rejuvenated Carlos Edwards.
Having recorded back to back wins, a third straight win on Saturday would give a very firm indication that Town are back on track. It is perhaps no coincidence that Saturdays opponents are struggling Sheffield United, the last side Town beat before the season collapsed so dramatically in November.