Callum does trick for Mick
CALLUM Connolly’s first Ipswich goal meant Derby proved a happy hunting ground for Mick McCarthy once again.
The on-loan Everton defender headed home a fifth-minute corner to stun play-off-chasing Derby as Ipswich boss McCarthy extended a remarkable run to 11 unbeaten visits, his last defeat as far back as the days of the old Baseball Ground.
On the balance of the opening exchanges, McCarthy’s side were good value for their early advantage, which was gained when Martyn Waghorn whipped in a corner from the right and Connolly escaped his marker to send a near-post header past Scott Carson.
Derby looked out of sorts for much of the first period and it was half an hour into the contest when Tom Lawrence, who spent last season on loan at Ipswich, sent over cross from which Andreas Weimann
DERBY IPSWICH
should have done better with a volley.
Lawrence was in the thick of the action as the first half drew to a close, earning a booking for what referee Scott Duncan deemed to be a dive in the box. The winger then sent over a corner to give Curtis Davies a glorious chance to equalise, but he wasted it.
Ipswich were forced to hang on at times after the break as they defended their advantage and Bartosz Bialkowski pulled off an excellent reflex save to keep out a Tom Huddlestone shot that took a wicked deflection off Connolly.
There was further frustration for the hosts when striker Matej Vydra sent a free-kick flashing wide of the post, while substitute Chris Martin was off-target with an ambitious attempt from long range.