Jonathan Walters heads in for Ipswich at Derby

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Derby County 0 Ipswich Town 1

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…

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Two goals and a point each for Derby and Preston

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Derby 2 Preston 2

With Ipswich stunting their progress in the Championship at the weekend, Derby were keen to get back on track with their successful campaign.

Rob Hulse was first on the score sheet after smashing in a belter to give Derby the lead.

Preston were quick to respond though when Callum Davidson converted a penalty after Emanuel Villa took Ross Wallace down in the box.

Preston managed to get another past Carroll when Neil Mellor struck from 18 yards but Derby’s Jordan Stewart went one up on him with a huge long-distance volley, taking the scores level.

After the break, Derby seemed to be the stronger side for the first 25 minutes with plenty of opportunities being thrown at Andy Lonergan but struggled to break the deadlock.

End result - two goals and a point each.

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Commons first home goal helps thrash Sheffield Wednesday

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Derby County 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0

Still on a high from the fantastic result against Leeds in the Carling Cup earlier in the week, Derby were full of enthusiasm and motivation to concentrate on their Championship campaign with their clash against Sheffield Wednesday. Both teams are hovering around mid-table so were keen to outplay the other.

Kris Commons started the ball rolling with his first home goal since the transfer from F*rest at the start of the season. Commons has been assisting shedloads of goals this season and unfortunately missed the target early on in the game when a header went wide. But, the opportunity came when Commons struck from 12 yards, beating Owls’ goalkeeper and ex-Ram Lee Grant, netting his first goal for Derby on home turf.

The goals didn’ stop there neither.

After the break, another ex-Ram Marcus Tudgay couldn’t beat Derby’s Roy Carroll with a lame heading effort but Commons assisted yet again, this time allowing Miles Addison to head home a second for a dominating Derby.

It was Jordan Stewart who wrapped things up for Derby with a clinical left foot strike in the 67th minute, ensuring Derby all three points from three fine goals.

Derby are travelling across the country to face the Tractor Boys next Saturday so here’s hoping to another storming result from our Rams.

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Emanuel Villa scores at both ends against Forest

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Derby 1 Nottingham Forest 1

Since the start of the season, this was one of the biggest fixtures on Derby’s schedule - facing up against arch rivals Nottingham Forest, both joining the Championship this season from either end of the Football League.

The nerves were obviously taking over at the start of the game as neither team were able to break the deadlock with uninspiring performances from both sides and a 0-0 scoreline to show for it.

It was in the second half when the drama unfolded.

Emanuel Villa clumsily knocked in an own goal for Forest after Stephen Bywater managed to save a shot from Luke Chambers.

Villa was quick to restore himself though as he connected with a free kick from Jordan Stewart to take the scores level.

The referee and linesmen had the last laugh though as Forest’s Lewis McGugan was sent off after a nasty tackle, eight players were booked, a penalty was rewarded and missed by Nacer Barazite and a last second goal by Miles Addison was disallowed.

Many will say Derby were robbed of three points this time round. The harsh reality is we were unable to beat Forest on home turf so have to step up the gear for the return leg on 21st Feburary.

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Paul Green heads in League Cup winner at Preston

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Preston 0 - Derby County 1

While our league results are seriously lacking, Derby County are on a winning streak with the Carling Cup this season.

Not content with knocking out Lincoln City in the first round, a confident Derby team travelled up to Preston last night and actually looked like a winning team.

Early on in the game, Przemyslaw Kazmierczak came close to scoring when he hit the bar with his pounding effort.

It was in the 40th minute when Paul Green connected with a cross from Jordan Stewart to score the only goal of the game, giving Derby a morale boosting win before our second visit up North this week to Barnsley.

Read the full match report on BBC Sport.

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