Ipswich Town 0 Derby County 3: The Rams move into the play-off places after Tom Ince inspired his side to victory at Portman Road
Steve McClaren's men prove to be too good as they squeeze into sixth spot thanks to goals from Ince, Darren Bent and Craig Bryson
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TOM INCE inspired Derby to a win that took them into the play-off places.
Ince claimed his 11th goal of the season in a one-sided contest that was virtually over soon after kick-off.
An early Ram raid saw off feeble Ipswich as two goals in the space of three minutes put the visitors in the driving seat.
Midfielder Ince, 25, provided for Craig Bryson then scored an absolute screamer as Steve McClaren’s men seized control.
Ex-Ipswich favourite Darren Bent was also on target in front of Portman Road’s lowest league gate since December 1999.
Derby’s promotion challenge had stuttered after successive away defeats but there was never any chance of them making it three in a row.
The Tractor Boys were outclassed in every department and a plucky second-half display was too little, too late.
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Mick McCarthy’s men were up against it from the ninth minute when Bryson opened the scoring.
Ince rolled the ball across the 18-yard line for the Scot to coolly side-foot past Bartosz Bialkowski for his first league goal of the season.
It was quickly 2-0 thanks to a fabulous solo effort from Ince who cut in from the right and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot shot. Bialkowski was left rooted to the spot as the ball flew past him.
Ipswich tried to find a way back through top scorer Tom Lawrence but the Leicester loanee’s low drive flew straight at Scott Carson.
The on-fire Ince started and finished a move on the half-hour but his final shot was well held by the keeper.
Any hope of Ipswich salvaging something disappeared in first-half stoppage time.
Bryson’s long-range effort was pushed on to the bar by Bialkowski but Jacob Butterfield swept in a cross to the far post and Bent had a ridiculous amount of time and space to simply nod in.
Soon after the break Bent set up Ince for what should have been the visitors’ fourth.
But Ince for once got it wrong when he clipped the ball on to the outside of a post and wide.
Derby were denied again when Bialkowski dived full-length to prevent Bent’s snap shot from squeezing at the near post.
Ipswich’s night was summed up when sub Grant Ward was blocked by Alex Pearce and referee Andrew Madley ignored the home side’s pleas for a penalty.