Well last night Derby threw everything they had at Ipswich. You couldn't fault the effort and endeavour of the Rams players on the pitch.

Mick McCarthy's Tractor Boys though were outstanding they threw themselves into every tackle, every block, every challenge as if their life depended upon it.

Yes they collected bookings, a shed load, they did their jobs perfectly and the travelling fans could not fail to admire the application.

We peppered the visitor’s goal especially in the first half, which had it been a boxing match, it would have been stopped and the points awarded to Derby.

It wasn't. They didn't.

Instead in the second half up popped former Ram Luke Vardy to hit a thirty yarder that Scott Carson seemed to have covered only for it to slip between his gloves.

Maybe it was the power of the shot, maybe a slight deflection.

Maybe.

It mattered not - we trailed one nil.

Alex Pearce who had been outstanding in the air seemed to tell our keeper what he thought. What did we feel? Disappointed is an understatement.

We tried, our heads heavy, we tried. I'll never criticise anybody who tries.

We nearly had the ball over the line at the death, some say we did.

Ultimately another defeat.

A better performance. Positives are there.

Can we build at Bristol?

We can only believe.

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