LAMPARD’S LED BULLET
Joe fires rocket to make Frank feel at home
Derby 2 Ipswich 0 SUDDENLY it all looks a whole lot sunnier for rookie Rams boss Frank Lampard.
Substitute Joe Ledley’s left-foot belter and Tom Lawrence’s goal from a freekick shunted Derby into the top half of the table.
Three welcome points gave Lamps his first home win of the season and the boost he needed after an anxious start to his managerial career.
Chants of ‘Super, super Frank’ rang around Pride Park, though his upturn in fortunes means nothing to Paul Hurst.
The Ipswich boss has yet to see his side win – and they crashed out of the Carabao Cup at League Two Exeter.
A sterile opening 45 minutes were instantly forgettable. But Derby stepped up a gear after the break and got their reward.
The second half cried out for something, anything to rouse the fans.
And it came after 59 minutes thanks to Ledley.
The Welsh international, introduced in the 26th minute for injured debutant George Evans, conjured up a cracker.
Former Cardiff man Ledley seized on the loose ball just outside the box when Mason Mount’s corner was only halfcleared and took the ball on the half-volley.
It looked in all the way and, though it clearly took a deflection which didn’t help Bartosz Bialkowski, it flew into the roof of the net.
Ipswich were down and virtually out after 68 minutes thanks to Lawrence.
The midfielder’s 20-yard free-kick brushed the side of the defensive wall and though Bialkowski got a hand to it, he could only help it into the net.
Ipswich offered way too little in the way of a threat with Scott Carson called into action only twice to save routine efforts from Grant Ward and Kayden Jackson.