Second-half goals from sub Joe Ledley and ex-Blues loanee Tom Lawrence saw Derby County to a 2-0 home victory over Town, their first win against the Blues at Pride Park since November 2006. Ledley put the Rams in front on 59 and Lawrence sealed the three points with a freekick in the 68th minute with Town never looking likely to get back into the game.

Grant Ward returned to the Blues starting line-up for the suspended Tayo Edun on the left of midfield in an otherwise unchanged side.

For Derby, Martyn Waghorn dropped to the bench alongside Jack Marriott, while Lawrence started, as did Town nemesis David Nugent, who was looking to add to his 15 goals in 16 games against the Blues.

Craig Bryson hit the game’s first effort over in the second minute after Lawrence had been crowded out on the right of the box with the Rams starting brightly.

Town’s first shot came on eight after a Gwion Edwards cross from the right had reached Trevoh Chalobah on the edge of the box but the on-loan Chelsea man shot weakly wide.

There was a scare for the Blues on 15 when Chalobah’s poor pass allowed Mason Mount to break inside the Town half but Bryson’s cross was too far in front of Nugent at the back post.

Town broke from the subsequent corner and Bryson was shown the game’s first yellow card for a cynical foul on Ward in front of the Blues’ technical area, almost sending Blues boss Hurst crashing as well as the midfielder.

On 17 Nolan shot powerfully but wide following a Town freekick on the left, then with the game continuing to be a stop-start, scruffy affair Derby were forced into a change in the 27th minute when George Evans suffered a knock. Wales international Ledley took over.

Blues nemesis Nugent shot wide from the edge of the box in the 35th minute, then two minutes later Mount crossed from the right, Bartosz Bialkowski punched to the 18-yard line from where Bryson scuffed a shot into a Town player.

The Blues had spent most of the period in their own half albeit without Derby looking overly threatening for the most part but on 40 Ward twisted and turned in the box having seen his first shot blocked and his second effort took a deflection but fortunately flew straight to Scott Carson in the Rams goal.

Two minutes later Ellis Harrison caught one-time Town academy schoolboy and ballboy Richard Keogh in possession on halfway and the Ireland international hauled him down and was deservedly shown the yellow card by referee Scott Duncan.

Just prior to the fourth official holding up his board to indicate three additional minutes, a loose ball fell to Chalobah following a corner but the midfielder screwed his shot high and wide.

The scoreline remained 0-0 at the break which was a fair reflection of a not particularly enthralling first half of few chances at both ends.

Derby had had most of the ball but had been unable to force Bialkowski into a save with their rather ponderous approach.

Carson had also been relatively untroubled, Ward’s late effort aside, although the Rams hadn’t looked entirely comfortable defending Town corners.

Blues boss Paul Hurst is likely to have been the happier of the two managers walking off at the break.

Skuse picked up an early second-half booking for a foul on Ledley, then on 50 Mount shot wide having been found in space on the right of the box by the Welshman.

A minute later, Nolan worked himself some room on the edge of the area at the other end but scuffed wide.

On 55 Skuse was replaced by Flynn Downes, then moments later skipper Luke Chambers headed a Ward freekick from the right over.

A minute before the hour mark the Rams took the lead. A Mount corner from the right was headed out by Toto Nsiala to Ledley who struck a 25-yard effort through a crowd of players which deflected past Bialkowski to his left.

Town switched Harrison for Kayden Jackson in the 63rd minute as they looked for a way back into the game.

But in the 68th minute the Rams made it 2-0. Lawrence was fouled just outside the area by Nsiala, who was booked, and the one-time Blues loanee deftly struck a freekick which appeared to go through the Blues wall. Despite a deflection, Bialkowski got a strong left hand on it but couldn’t prevent the ball from falling just inside the post.

Derby swapped Mason Bennett for Florian Jozefzoon as Town prepared to restart the game.

On 70, Edwards sent a dangerous low ball across from the right but without a Blues player being able to get a touch. Five minutes later, the Welshman was replaced by Jordan Roberts, who joined Jackson up front.

Derby continued to dominate and on 76 Mount shot wide from 25 yards, then two minutes later ex-Blue Marriott took over from Nugent.

Chalobah blazed over on 79 with the Blues looking unlikely to get back into the match having failed to test Carson at any stage of the second half.

Jackson hit a low shot through to Carson in the penultimate minute of scheduled time but the Rams were comfortably saw the game out to end the Blues’ long unbeaten run at Pride Park.

Town can have few complaints about the result. Although there was little in the game until the first goal, the Blues made little impression in the second half.

During the first, while Derby had the lion’s share of the ball, Town had had spells but after the break they made little headway and Carson was largely a spectator.

The Rams hardly peppered Bialkowski’s goal, but Ledley made the most of a weak clearance and Lawrence reminded Town fans of his threat from freekicks, although the Blues keeper certainly felt his wall ought to have been more effective. Again both the goals came from set pieces either directly or indirectly, as have most of those Town have conceded this season.

The Blues go into Saturday’s away game at Sheffield Wednesday still without a win under new boss Hurst and in 20th position.

Derby: Carson, Forsyth, Bryson, Tomori, Keogh (c), Mount, Lawrence, Evans (Ledley 27), Bennett (Jozefzoon 69), Nugent (Marriott 78), Bogle. Unused: Roos, Wisdom, Waghorn, Lowe.

Town: Bialkowski, Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Chalobah, Skuse (Downes 55), Ward, Nolan, Edwards (Roberts 75), Harrison (Jackson 63). Unused: Gerken, Spence, Roberts, Sears, Kenlock. Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland). Att: 24,362.

Photo: TWTD

TraktorBoyz added 23:32 - Aug 21 If he played well tonight we better hope he doesn't have a bad game
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Palestine added 23:35 - Aug 21 Get in Tilt!
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Simmo79 added 23:41 - Aug 21 Work in progress I guess! I thought we were ok against villa , Saturday but we had nothing upfront, Harrison seems ok but he not going to get us 20 goals ! Have not seen enough off Jackson to comment but it's a worry we spent 1.6 m on him and he a sub ! Pretty much the same against derby , it did not seem we going to score . We seem a bit better with the ball and was impressed with Nsiala again! Hopefully we get a striker on loan, otherwise I think we might struggle.

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algarvefan added 23:55 - Aug 21 Let's be honest here, I watched the game, I think many on here didn't, thought in spells we played really well tonight and easily matched Derby in a close game. I don't think we are the long way off that some of you think, the problem is plain for all to see, the lack of creativity and finishing up front. I really feel for Harrison and Jackson, who have made a big step up and have been left isolated. Neither seem able to hold the ball, nor have the support to run at teams, they have quite frankly looked out of their depth, being asked to do too much. Do we have strikers at the club able to step up, sadly I do not believe we do, therefore getting in another centre half is the least of our worries, getting in an experienced goalscorer however is vital as the closure of the loan window looms. I watched the u.23 game last night and Paul could learn from the way they played and maybe slot a few of those players in. It will take time to settle a new team, I don't think Hurst has that team yet, but get it right in the final third and we can compete with anyone.

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aas1010 added 00:10 - Aug 22 All the signings by hurst are useless . Lower league players brought in = total relegation . Strikers showed no quality , midfielders brought showed no skill or passion , defence never turned up all these brought players are dragging our best players down !! Looking more like the Jewell and Keane days every match . Doomed already utter shambles.
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Zondervanromeo added 00:11 - Aug 22 Surely we will be seeing Morris sometime soon pls ph am sure he is the answer
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blues1 added 00:18 - Aug 22 Jas0999. How did i know ud use a defeat as a way to have a pop at evans? So predictable. How has he pocketed millions this summer. Weve brought in just over £9m amd already spent over £5m with possible loans to come in and the possibility of spending more in january. So somewhat premature of you to make such a statement. But then youll always criticise him at every opportunity you get.

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midastouch added 00:22 - Aug 22 Would like to see Danny Rowe get given a chance ahead of the likes of Ward, Sears and Edun. Ward and Sears have had so many chances to impress but both seem to be going backwards. Surely Rowe can't do any worse. Would be good to see Rowe and Edwards on opposite wings. I think the U23s showed more than enough Monday night to be given some first-team opportunities. Chalobah looked quality against West Ham but subsequently I'm not quite so impressed. I'd prefer Dozzell over Chalobah based on current form. Furthermore, Shane McLoughlin looked very assured Monday night. I wouldn't mind him getting some first team time, at least from the bench to see how he copes. I could also make strong arguments for the likes of Morris and Folami. If winning 8 nil doesn't get any of those players into serious contention for the first team whatever will?

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midastouch added 00:26 - Aug 22 Would love to see a closed-doors game between the crop of the 9 lower league players we've recently recruited against 9 of our best existing U23 players, I know who my money would be on!
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midastouch added 00:34 - Aug 22 Forgetting 2 of our 9 are actually Premier League youth recruits, but even so, you get the idea, the argument I'm making is that I think (certainly based on what I saw Monday night albeit I'm not sure how good a benchmark the Hull U23s are as they did look poor overall) the U23s are more than a match compared to what has been brought in to jump ahead of them in the queue from the lower leagues. 2 of 3 of the signings look up to scratch but some of them look well below what we already had in the U23s. I think a Burley would of looked to have promoted from within the U23s before amassing players from the lower leagues. I was all for getting the cream of the crop from the lower leagues, but wasn't expecting quite so many so fast. And I don't see how they have earned their right to jump the queue. Kenlock for example did well pre-season and looked to have worked hard bulking himself up and scoring in a friendly, yet seems to have vanished without a trace since. Knusden (who I have defended on several occasions) looks a bit off the pace to me, so I would of thought Kenlock was deserving of a start to see if he can stake a genuine claim to be a regular starter. Hurst talked Kenlock up a bit before the season started, yet now he seems to have been put out to pasture. The lad must feel frustrated as he's been in and out of the team so much but can't ever get a run going. It must knock his confidence to come in and out and feel like he's not ever been given the vote of confidence to get a run of at least 2 or 3 consecutive games. This is not knocking Hurst, the same happened to him under Mick. It doesn't seem to matter how well he plays or badly Knusden plays, he always seems to play second fiddle.

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shortmarine1969 added 01:16 - Aug 22 @Blues1 We brought in 11Mil & have 2.5 in add on,s to come (which we can exepect a portion of at least unless the owner is a total dullard a agreed to add,s on,s that we will never get..???) . so thats a surplus of 6 mil buy you buying total..so yes ME sold our strkers and left us short up front..he dithered over 150K extra for tilt and we will very likely have to pay that and then some in a loan fee / wages..The bloke (ME) has done one interview (scripted) in 10 years and has had a fair sum in sales brought in , he has done "nothing" to progress the club and with him we are going nowhere. I keep saying this one as well , the 6-7 mil is is reported to put "into" the club he adds to the debt to himself , if he really does not want or expect this money back , write it off..!! still well within FFP..or sell / give the club to a buyer that wants to progress a team and as he does not want the money back it won,t cost much as we owe nobody except him..or do i smell BS on this one..??..ME so i think it,s safe to say he had a motive...!!

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shakytown added 01:23 - Aug 22 I have said it before and I will say it again midfield is our real problem. No one is good enough to control the team and provide the final bit of class needed. Until this area is sorted out it would not even help to have Pele up front.
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clint_eastwood added 02:48 - Aug 22 Knudsen,...oh dear. How many times have I said this. Never rated him from day one. His defensive positional is awful and he's so friggin lightweight. Come on, PH....you have to see that.....Kenlock is so much better defensively than him.
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 03:03 - Aug 22 Wasn't there progress made during the close season, you know, getting rid of McCarthy's ass and moving on to something better ? Doesn't seem to be quite underway as yet. Yes Yes four games in etc etc, but you look at the bigger picture in that the pre-season scores were questionable, we don't have any reliable attackers or forwards that can regularly contribute, there appears other areas of the team that requires adjustment or significant focus. I look to the long term, not the present, and there doesn't seem much in the way of expectation ahead. Four games, two points, and then you look at the caliber of opposition played during that period. Like it or not, it's been poor, the club has not achieved or progressed as it should. Derby were maybe poor, we were no better. They finally got some payback of sorts after a succession of inability to beat us on home soil but seriously doubt either club on today's evidence can make a realistic charge for a promotion berth if they play much as they managed a few hours recent. Marcus Evans is the poison if you will that has held this club back for ten years. Only until the said individual departs or is forced elsewhere can the club realistically hope to regain anything like it's previous status.

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ashp19 added 06:53 - Aug 22 We won our first five games last season and finished in a rut! Things will turn around, just trust the management team to do that.
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wezley53 added 06:54 - Aug 22 Toothless up front is our main problem which has to be sorted, apart from that there is hope there that if we can consolidate this year the horizon is looking far better than under MM. Impressed with a lot of the new signings, we just need to get rid of our slow skipper and vunerable Knudson, also wouldnt be averse to resting Bart.
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cat added 07:14 - Aug 22 aas1010 - your a defeatist and your clearly lost your bottle. Reading your posts is like going down your local and listening to the pub drunk blabbing in his beer. Donacien, Nolan, Nsiala, Edward's Chalobah, and maybe Jackson look like good additions, hopefully get Huws, Bish and Dozza fit, then your got a nucleus of a decent team. Start throwing your dummy at a more appropriate time, we are still in August FFS.

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tractorboybig added 07:33 - Aug 22 Alarm bells should be ringing, there are no goals coming from this set up and there are no goal scorers who are any good coming on loan just has beens.
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Swn98 added 07:48 - Aug 22 They got what they wished for now they don't like it 4 games in and i shall be booing says one, as i said last season once the boo boys win we are in the immortal words of private Fraser Doomed i say Doomed!!! PS wheres Bluebore ive been waiting for his pearls of wisdom on the last 2 matches PH might need his advice after all he has coached to a fairly high standard.
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Cakeman added 08:07 - Aug 22 I think we will be fine as there are certainly a few poorer teams than us. I agree with many that we are very lightweight up front. Hopefully the two new lads Harrison and Jackson will settle in soon. Midfield we have plenty of options and should be ok once some can prove their fitness. Defence is a slight concern and we probably need the number five that Paul Hurst has been trying to get (Tilt or similar). Regarding our older heads, like others I believe they are not as good as they were. Bart has not looked as strong (maybe now in his comfort zone), Skuse is Skuse he tries but is getting even slower and looks lost in the system we now play. Knudsen now has an arrogant swagger probably since his World Cup duties but does not have the ability to back it up and Chambers gives his all but is well past his sell by date. Patience is indeed required but it is not going to be easy this season but it will be entertaining. It is vital us fans continue to back the club strongly though if not the wheels could come off big time.

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:10 - Aug 22 With one up front and no service we are doomed to fail. Been some decent football played but it is wasted with the present formation.As it is at the moment we could play without Harrison or Jackson and not miss them,they are totally ineffective.Hopefully the penny will drop sooner rather than later and Paul Hurst will realise and accept it needs a rethink,and not just dig his heals in. Was quite upbeat after Villa match, but very disappointed at last nights game.Thank goodness QPR at least are doing their best to keep us afloat. As has been said by a number of people,and many including myself for a long time,Marcus Evans is not up to Championship football,and is the crux of the matter.If he only invests Lge 1 level cash, we will end up playing Lge 1 football.

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Barty added 08:11 - Aug 22 Don't push the alarm bells quite yet but our lack of decent strikers is a massive worry. I don't think either Harrison or Jackson are championship quality. I know they need time but from what I have seen so far - one up front - not good.
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Michael101 added 08:15 - Aug 22 I said it before and i,'ll say it again,it will take 6months to sort out the mess dimwit mad Mick left the team in,weather or not hurst is on the right track remains to be seen,give it till Xmas then judge.
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Swn98 added 08:23 - Aug 22 Michael101 That dimwit left a fairly good squad of players.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 08:27 - Aug 22 Ok, I'm now worried. Sounds fairly inept... I'm still giving it time but god we need a win.
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