Derby County have secured a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town to move up to second in the Championship, despite finishing the match at Portman Road with 10 men.
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Jay Tabb pressed forward early on as he tried to give the home side the lead, but Lee Grant was ready to deny him, while Daryl Murphy missed the target with the rebound.
Ipswich continued to have the better of the chances in the opening 15 minutes, with Murphy and David McGoldrick trying to apply the pressure, but the latter curled the ball just wide.
Derby started to see more of the ball as the first half progressed, with Jordan Ibe setting up their first real chance with a through-ball to Jeff Hendrick, whose finish was blocked.
Johnny Russell came close to opening the scoring for Derby when the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the box, but he could not quite squeeze the ball into the top corner.
The hosts wanted a penalty early in the second half when a Tabb cross appeared to hit the arm of Richard Keogh, but the referee ruled against a spot kick for Ipswich.
The visitors took the lead five minutes later as Tommy Smith tried to head the ball back to the keeper, but he did not get enough power on the ball, leaving Chris Martin to sprint back and tap it in.
Ipswich came close to an equaliser just a few moments later when a cross met Murphy just a few yards out, but the Championship's top scorer left Grant with an easy save.
Bartosz Bialkowski came under pressure at the back as Derby tried to double their advantage, but the Ipswich keeper denied efforts from Will Hughes and Russell to keep the home side in contention.
Ipswich's chances of finding a late equaliser were given a boost when John Eustace picked up a second booking at the start of a six-minute spell of stoppage time.
Noel Hunt had a chance to force a draw in the final moments of the match, but he could not jump high enough to nod in the cross.
The result leaves Derby level on points with league leaders Bournemouth, while Ipswich drop to third.
Sian Cowper
