Derby’s performance in December has been quite ropey having only beaten Watford 1-0 at home but losing most our away games so a game on home turf was in much need, hopefully giving the Rams some much needed Pride Park support against Ipswich.

Unfortunately, the game didn’t start too well.

Within 9 minutes, Nathan Ellington went off with an injury to his leg forcing Paul Jewell to replace him with Luke Varney.

Things went from bad to worse just seven minutes later when Ipswich’s Jonathan Walters managed to head in a goal for the Tractor Boys giving Ipswich the only goal of the game.

There were many long range attempts from Derby with Miles Addison, Jordan Stewart and Kris Commons all taking shots at Richard Wright but none were good enough to meet the back of the net.

This was Paul Jewell‘s 50th league game as manager at Derby and probably not what he was hoping for at such a milestone. Speculation of Jewell leaving the club will really hit Derby hard with such big games coming up in the Carling Cup and FA Cup and while we’re sitting so low in the Championship table. Any manager who gives up at this stage is just not up to the job.

Here’s hoping it’s just rumours…

After thrashing Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 last week, Derby were adamant to continue their impressive form on their second trip across the country top Ipswich.

Pablo Counago knocked in a low shot for Ipswich in the 27th minute, putting the home side in the lead for the first half, with both sides trying hard but failing to hit the back of the net for the first hour.

Przemyslaw Kazmierczak nearly equalised for Derby with a fine header but Ipswich keeper Richard Wright managed to tip it over the bar.

It was Jonathan Walters who finished the game off with his second goal of the season, giving Ipswich all three points while closing the gap on the top six.

Let’s hope for a better result in the week against Preston.