Sunday 11 January 2015 18:02, UK
Steve McClaren praised his side's "mature display" after Derby leapfrogged Ipswich into second place in the Sky Bet Championship following a 1-0 win at Portman Road.
Chris Martin's 18th of the season - and 100th career goal - proved the difference, although Ipswich will look at their own role in the decider after the striker latched onto a poor back header by Tommy Smith.
Despite enduring a nervy ending after midfielder John Eustace was sent off late on, McClaren was delighted with his side.
He said: "That was as good an away performance as we have had for a long time. This is a tough place to come but we put in a really mature display.
"You need to have that maturity to win games and sometimes we have been a little naive and not got the results. But today we stood up to their challenge when we had to, defended well and played it around.
"The game wasn't pretty at times but this performance, and the belief and confidence it will give us, is something we can build on."
Ipswich started both halves in the ascendancy and twice almost drew level in stoppage time after Eustace was sent off late on following two yellow cards.
The hosts could have been ahead within three minutes when Derby keeper Lee Grant saved from Jay Tabb and his right-back Cyrus Christie blocked Daryl Murphy's goalbound effort.
An even contest saw Ipswich players call for an early second-half penalty after Tabb's cross appeared to hit the arm of Derby defender Richard Keogh.
But the breakthrough came on 57 minutes through Martin after he took advantage of a poor back header by Smith to nip in and score.
Town only livened up after Eustace's late dismissal with substitutes Kevin Bru and Noel Hunt both going close to forcing an equaliser.
After seeing his side lose for only the second time in 22 games, Town boss Mick McCarthy questioned the performance of referee Kevin Wright.
When asked about the penalty appeal and also whether Eustace should have been sent off earlier after appearing to foul David McGoldrick, McCarthy said: "The ball has hit his arm and I think it was a penalty.
"As for Eustace, I asked the referee at half-time and he said he thought it was an accidental collision. But McGoldrick was barged from the side. I found that very strange - it could have changed the game."
Summing up the match, McCarthy added: "Derby are a good side but it was a nothing game and certainly no spectacle.
"It probably should have ended 0-0 but we made a mistake (through Smith) and it cost us. Tommy has come in at the end and apologised but no apology was needed, we all make mistakes."
