Pre-match preamble
I have to start with the excitement engendered this week by several new signings, now coming along like proverbial buses.
The club announced the signing of defender Darnell Furlong from West Bromwich Albion. Darnell, 29, joins on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract which runs to summer 2028. A West Brom friend thought we should call ourselves Albion B now, this being our fourth signing from the Baggies since 2024.
Town were also delighted to confirm the signing of 22-year-old Spanish striker Iván Azón. Iván joins on loan from Italian club Como, with the deal running to the end of the 2025/26 campaign. Whispers of hope for a new Pablo Counago have been heard – wouldn't that be just wonderful?
The biggest disturbance of the week was caused by the announcement that Marcelino Nunez was joining us…from Carrow Road! Our first Chilean international.
The Norwich fans have been roaring. As far as they're concerned, he may as well have taken a trip down the Thames to Traitors' Gate, there to be cast into the Tower of London, metaphorically speaking. I'm tempted to say "it's only a game," but I think I've mentioned before the famous quote from Bill Shankly –
"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."
Marcelino joins Town on a permanent deal, having signed a four-year contract to summer 2029.
New signing Kasey McAteer joined us a couple of weeks ago from Leicester – this will be his first home game and a chance for the fans to see all the new faces on the pitch at some point, hopefully (but not literally).
Congratulations to Dara O'Shea, Sam Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jack Taylor and Kasey McAteer, who have all been called up by manager Heimir Hallgrímsson for the Irish national squad.
A brief word about Derby
The club was founded in 1884 by William Morley as an offshoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. The team's nickname, The Rams, is linked with the 1st Regiment of Derby Militia, whose mascot is a ram. Their imaginatively named 'Rammie' was the first full-time mascot in British football, and you can even buy a DVD depicting him reading Aesop's Fables in the Derbyshire countryside from Amazon. Perhaps we should do similar with our beautiful Suffolk Punch?
I chatted to Dennis on the train and on the walk up to the ground – we were both feeling more optimistic about today's game. He predicted a 3-0 scoreline, and I thought he could well be right.
Settled in my seat, having arrived earlier than normal, I exchanged thoughts and expectations for today with my friend Dennis (a different one), who sits in front of me, and with Peter and his young son Theo. There was a buzz in the air, I think because of all our new team members.
First half
Key moments: Just three minutes in, we had a scare from a free kick given just outside the penalty area, when Greaves was adjudged to have fouled Bobby Clark. This was effectively blocked by a wall of defenders.
The town kept pressing and had the edge in this half, with the better chances, but failed to capitalise, shooting wide or high on several occasions.
On 27 minutes Chaplin headed over from a corner, but this was quickly followed by another corner from Young, which saw a Greaves header open the scoring in the 33rd minute for Town.
The ball went from end to end for the rest of the half, with Ashley Young shooting just wide, Dara O'Shea hitting the upright, and Travis for Derby shooting wide as the only significant goal attempts from either team.
Half-time score: Ipswich 1 – 0 Derby
Second half
Key moments: On balance, I think we were expecting more goals from Town in this half, but it was Derby who were awarded a penalty three minutes in, from a handball by Leif Davis. Carlton Morris stepped up to the spot and, with a stuttering run-up, sent it into the left corner, sending Palmer the wrong way.
There was a contentious moment, or ten, on 52 minutes when Hirst played into the box before being brought down by Derby defender Matt Clarke. The referee decided against awarding a penalty, instead booking Hirst for 'simulation', despite clear contact (though not with the ball). Bizarre.
Chaos reigned.
On 70 minutes, Derby broke clear and Brewster ran on to the ball with plenty of space to place it in the right-hand corner of the net with only Palmer to beat.
Town kept pushing, and Akpom was unlucky not to score in the last minute of normal time with a stinging shot that barely grazed over the bar.
But all was not lost as a foul on Taylor in the box was awarded a penalty on the 106th minute (yes, really), and with Derby players trying to put him off and delay the spot kick, Jack Clarke stepped up and calmly, confidently and competently sent a perfect ball strong and high into the right-hand side of the net. Phew!
Full-time score: Town 2 – 2 Derby County
Men of the match
Town players: Palmer, Young, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis (Azón 86'), Cajuste (Taylor 78'), Matusiwa, McAteer (Clarke 68'), Chaplin (Szmodics 68'), Philogene, Hirst (Akpom 68').
Jens Cajuste and Jacob Greaves played their part well today. Jack Clarke was a standout for me when he came on as a sub – I think we could have done with his and Sammie Szmodics' energy a little sooner. Akpom made his mark, too.
I was nervous about our penalty (as we always are, I guess), because I thought the Derby goalie had played well, but I was so proud of Jack – under pressure, that shot was so cool.
Man of the match: Ashley Young, without a doubt. (He was looking good as a commentator on Sky Sports last Sunday, too.)
Post-match pondering
What to say? It was a messy, uncomfortable game, exacerbated by a referee who had lost all credibility with the players and the crowd.
On the way out, Chris said to me, "Derby didn't come to Portman Road to win; they came to stop us from doing so." I'm inclined to agree. They certainly relied heavily on the 'falling down easily' quotient, and the time wasting had us howling. They even brought a sub on (slowly) at 96 minutes! All to no avail as the amount of time they had wasted was actually, and rather surprisingly, added on by the referee – an amazing 17 minutes.
Once ahead, the Rams put up a defensive blockade that was almost impossible to penetrate, though I still think we fell into the old trap of passing and passing and passing the ball to try and get it into a perfect shooting position instead of just blasting one from further out or curling it in from the sides. I'm thinking wistfully of Morsy's cannon shots and Burns' goal of the month. And Sarmiento's 'toe-poke'!
If you're losing and there are only a few minutes to go, it seems logical to me to just try for a goal any which way – there is always the chance of a ricochet or an own goal or an in off the post? A few more like Chuba Akpom's late blast would be nice to see.
It sometimes feels as if they are afraid to shoot, and when they do, it doesn't have the power of conviction or accurate placement.
That may sound harsh, but I will temper it by saying their set plays were definitely much better today.
Discussed all these points on the train with Sam and his friend. I also had fun talking to Dave and Matt, discovering that Dave used to live where I live now. Small, funny old world.
P.S. With regard to penalties: I always thought that penalty taking had to be a straightforward run and kick the ball, but often now they pretend to run; run and stop; run and kind of stutter in front of the ball, etc, if you get my drift – what's that all about? When did it change, or have I misremembered?
I do think the team will get stronger as the season progresses – the potential is there, it just needs knitting together and ironing out. We haven't yet seen fully what all our new guys have to offer.
As Jimmy Greaves always said: "It's a funny old game" (apologies if you're too young to remember).
This one certainly was.
