How times have changed. Derby County and Ipswich Town were playoff rivals in their last meeting at Portman Road, but now they meet at Pride Park with both in dire need of a turnaround.
Town were 6th in the Championship before they took on Derby in November 2010, but little did the Blues know that it was to prove the moment at which the wheels would fall off their campaign. Kris Commons’ double combined with an untimely injury for Gareth McAuley condemned Ipswich to a 2-0 loss on the night; the first of a run of six straight defeats that destroyed Town’s promotion hopes and ultimately cost then manager Roy Keane his job. Now just 4 points off the relegation places in 19th, Town go looking for revenge at Pride Park under new boss Paul Jewell – whose last game in a miserable managerial spell at Derby just happened to be a 1-0 defeat in this very same fixture two seasons ago.
However, anything Town can do, Derby can do a month later. The Rams were the form team in the Championship when they claimed victory at Portman Road in November, but they too have suffered a catastrophic downturn since then. Within three weeks of beating Town, Derby then went on a run of 5 straight losses themselves, including a 5-2 thrashing by their local rivals Nottingham Forest. When Billy Davies’ side then beat them again last week, Derby slumped to 15th with 7 defeats and just 7 points from their last 10 matches – incredibly, exactly the same record as Ipswich. Worst of all for Nigel Clough, he now faces the rematch against the Blues without the man that won him the points last time, Commons having joined Celtic on transfer deadline day.
Both teams therefore head into Tuesday evening desperate to use this meeting as a turning point for their failing campaigns. With just three points between the two, Ipswich could overtake Derby with victory – and if they do, Clough might be left hoping that his club do not continue to follow Town’s lead…!
Vital Quotes:
Town’s newest arrivals have both been having their say ahead of Tuesday’s match at Derby. Firstly Jimmy Bullard, who could feature at Pride Park, has expressed high hopes that his loan move to Ipswich might be the spark to reignite his career after a long time without regular football due to injury problems.
‘It’s a new beginning for me and I’m looking forward to getting some football under my belt,’ Bullard told the Ipswich Town Official Website. ‘I could never really get going at Hull. The injuries stopped me getting a run going. I have not played in the last few games and the people there said it would be best for me to go and get some football.
‘It suited all parties for me to come here. I just want to get back playing and enjoying my football again and hopefully I’ll do that here.’
Fans will also be hoping that Bullard avoids any further fitness concerns with Town – the Blues are thought to be paying a sizeable portion of Bullard’s wages during his time at Portman Road and with only two signings this month, it is important that Ipswich get their money’s worth.
The other signing in question – midfielder Andy Drury – was not able to complete his deadline day deal in time to play against Derby, but the man from Luton has said that he wants to make an impression having finally been given a chance in the Football League.
‘I’m obviously delighted to be here,’ Drury told the Club’s Official Website; ‘It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and show what I can do at a top football club.’
‘I know the fans and the players won’t know much about me but it’s up to me to show that I can make an impact here. That’s the target for me, to get into the team and help Ipswich progress.’
As Town’s only permanent signing this January, let’s hope Drury proves to be a bargain!
Derby County Team News:
Derby boss Nigel Clough has no new injury concerns in his squad, but he has lost his top scorer to the January transfer merry-go-round. Kris Commons was one of a number of departures from Pride Park this month along with left-sided player Dean Moxey who left on transfer deadline day, whilst the club have held off on the loan signing of Daniel Ayala from Liverpool due to injury. Clough will also be without Russell Anderson and Ryan Connolly who remain sidelined, whilst defender Jake Buxton is a doubt and Dean Leacock is suspended having received 10 bookings this season.
Player to watch: Tomasz Cywka
With Kris Commons gone and Nigel Clough unable to sign a striker before the transfer deadline, goalscoring responsibilities at Pride Park may now fall to Tomasz Cywka. The attack-minded Polish player has netted 4 times since signing from Wigan Athletic in the summer, having previously made his Derby debut on loan in last season’s meeting with Ipswich at Pride Park. Utilised primarily as an attacking midfielder, the 22-year-old could be played further forward if he is to extend his tally and fill the goalscoring void. Cywka hasn’t scored since Derby’s 3-2 win over Scunthorpe in November; the last game before the Rams’ season took a downward turn. Perhaps a goal for him on Tuesday could spark a turn in the opposite direction?
Ipswich Town Team News:
Ipswich may hand a debut to on-loan Hull City midfielder Jimmy Bullard, who is expected to be fit for the trip to Pride Park. Fellow new arrival Andy Drury will have to wait for his first Town appearance however, the former Luton man not having completed his move until after the midday threshold on transfer deadline day. Lee Martin is available again having been cup-tied for the trip to Arsenal, though Brian Murphy and Shane O’Connor remain sidelined with long-term injuries whilst Alan Quinn is still yet to make his return to the first team.
Player to watch: Jimmy Bullard
Better than Steve Gerrard and thinner than Frank Lampard… or at least that’s what the chant says. Jimmy Bullard looks likely to make his Ipswich Town debut at Derby on Tuesday night having signed on loan from Hull City last week. Bullard previously excelled under Paul Jewell at Wigan Athletic, and both player and manager will be hoping for similar success in this spell. The 32-year-old has suffered from major injury problems since his days with the Latics, but he is still undoubtedly a major talent, particularly at Championship level. Despite fitness problems restricting him to just 24 appearances in 2 years with the Tigers, Bullard has scored 6 goals in that time, including two this campaign. The former Fulham midfielder is desperate to get back into some regular first team football, so here’s hoping that Tuesday’s game marks the start of a beautiful friendship for Bullard and the Blues.
Last Meeting
FLC – (6th) Ipswich 0-2 Derby (4th)
09 November 2010
(Click here for Match Report)
Goalscorers
Derby: Commons 58, 76
Teams:
Ipswich: Fulop, McAuley (Peters 68), Delaney, Smith, Eastman, Leadbitter, Edwards (Townsend 68), Livermore (Scotland 60), Colback, Wickham, Priskin
Derby: Fielding, Brayford, Barker, Moxey, Green, Savage, Bailey, Pringle (O’Brien 88), Cywka, Kuqi (Addison 73), Commons (Pearson 77)
Match Prediction:
Ipswich have enjoyed a good recent record at Derby since the Rams were relegated back to the Championship. I had the good fortune of attending our last two games at Pride Park to see us win both times, but I am a little less confident this time. Sure, Derby are a very different team (quite literally) to that which we played in November, but their home record has still been impressive this season and I think this could be much tougher than previous years. Even so, there is perhaps more of a feeling amongst the Town camp that the club is slowly starting to head in the right direction, and with the Rams not exactly having a great time of it just lately – both on and off the pitch – it could be a good time for Jewell to make his comeback. Perhaps a point at least, if not all three.
(At least I hope so, because I’m going again!)
Prediction: Two teams struggling for form… these two don’t often draw, but this might be the time. Derby 1-1 Ipswich.
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Next Fixtures:
05/02 FLC Sheffield United (H)
12/02 FLC Barnsley (A)
15/02 FLC Doncaster (A)
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