It was a day of high drama and relentless energy at Pride Park Stadium as Ipswich Town edged out Derby County 2-1 in a fiercely contested EFL Championship encounter on February 7, 2026. The match, which kicked off at 12:31 PM local time after a symbolic one-minute delay in support of the British Heart Foundation's "Every Minute Matters" campaign, delivered everything fans could ask for: goals, controversy, standout performances, and a late winner that keeps the promotion race wide open.
Coming into the clash, both teams had plenty at stake. Ipswich Town, having stumbled in their last two league outings after a run of five wins from six, were desperate to reignite their promotion charge. Derby County, meanwhile, were riding a four-match unbeaten streak and eyeing a playoff spot, sitting just two points adrift of the top six. The stakes were high, and the atmosphere inside Pride Park was electric from the first whistle.
Derby County manager John Eustace made three changes to the side that demolished Bristol City 5-0 the previous week. New signing Derry Murkin was handed a debut just five days after arriving from FC Utrecht, while Danny Batth returned to the heart of defense alongside Matt Clarke. With Jacob Widell Zetterström still sidelined by illness, Josh Vickers kept his place between the posts. On the bench, young talents Owen Eames, Rio Canoville, and Cruz Allen waited for their chance to make an impact.
For Ipswich, manager Kieran McKenna fielded a dynamic lineup featuring the in-form Jack Clarke, whose 12 goals and one assist this season have made him a constant threat on the left wing. The Tractor Boys lined up with Christian Walton in goal, a back four of Darnell Furlong, Dara O'Shea (captain), Cédric Kipré, and Leif Davis, with Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor anchoring midfield. The attacking quartet of Wes Burns, Anis Mehmeti, Jack Clarke, and Iván Azón promised pace and creativity.
The game burst into life early, and it was Ipswich who struck first—albeit in unusual fashion. In the eighth minute, a corner from Jack Taylor caused chaos in the Derby box, and captain Lewis Travis, under pressure, inadvertently headed the ball into his own net. The visitors celebrated, but Travis could only look on in disbelief as his error gifted Ipswich a dream start. As reported by multiple sources, "Own goal from ex-loanee Travis gives Town the lead at a corner (8)."
Derby tried to respond, but their attacking moves lacked the fluency and bite seen in previous weeks. Patrick Agyemang, Derby’s standout striker with nine goals and six assists this season, failed to convert a tricky back-heel flick at the near post, while David Ozoh’s header sailed harmlessly over. Rhian Brewster, who would later become central to the Derby narrative, sent a speculative effort wide.
At the other end, Ipswich looked dangerous every time they pushed forward, especially down the left. Jack Clarke’s pace and dribbling kept Derby’s defense on their toes, and his clever through ball set up Mehmeti for a golden opportunity, only for Josh Vickers to race off his line and block bravely with his chest. Clarke nearly forced another own goal with a wicked cross that had the Derby defense scrambling.
The first half ended with Ipswich ahead, but the sense inside Pride Park was that more drama was to come. The second half began with Derby pushing higher up the pitch, trying to claw their way back. But Ipswich continued to carve out chances—Wes Burns forced Vickers into an excellent save with a stinging half-volley, while Jack Taylor fired narrowly wide.
The turning point arrived midway through the second period. Derby’s Bobby Clark, celebrating his birthday, was brought down in the box by Azor Matusiwa. Referee Josh Smith pointed to the spot without hesitation. Rhian Brewster stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty, sending Christian Walton the wrong way and igniting the home crowd. As the live updates put it: "Brewster levels from spot after Matusiwa foul in box (68)."
With the scores level at 1-1, both managers turned to their benches. Kieran McKenna introduced Chuba Akpom, George Hirst, and Dan Neil to inject fresh legs, while Derby’s John Eustace brought on Jaydon Banel for Ben Brereton. The tactical tweaks set the stage for a frantic finale.
Just as Derby seemed to have momentum, Ipswich struck again. Substitute Kasey McAteer, who has been making strides in training according to McKenna, delivered a teasing cross from the right. Leif Davis, timing his run perfectly, soared above the defense and powered a header into the far corner. The Ipswich bench erupted in celebration, and McKenna later praised McAteer's impact: "He has been taking big strides in training... when you get an assist like that for a winning goal, that is a big boost for him that I think has been coming. Really happy with his impact, and the other subs as well."
Derby threw everything forward in the closing minutes, but their hopes were dashed in stoppage time. Lewis Travis, already on a yellow card, committed a late foul on Darnell Furlong and was shown a second yellow, reducing the hosts to ten men. It was a fiery finish, and Travis’s day went from bad to worse after his earlier own goal.
After the final whistle, both managers offered their thoughts. John Eustace, though disappointed, found positives: "I thought we were excellent today. It's frustrating to lose but I am very proud of the effort. I think you can see how we are growing and evolving as a team... I thought we went toe-to-toe with them and I don't think we deserved to lose the game. There are lots of positives to take from today."
For Ipswich, Kieran McKenna was delighted: "I really enjoyed that one, maybe more than many games this year, and we've had some really good wins. We played some really good football—the first goal was a bit lucky but we should have been two or three up. We gave away a poor penalty... but [we] had to show a response and it was a brilliant response."
The result sees Ipswich Town leapfrog into third place in the Championship, just four points behind the top two and firmly in the promotion hunt. Derby County, meanwhile, remain two points outside the playoff spots in seventh, with work to do if they are to realize their postseason ambitions.
As the Championship season enters its critical phase, this pulsating encounter at Pride Park will be remembered as a pivotal moment in both teams’ campaigns. With key fixtures looming and the table so tight, every point—and every mistake—carries added weight. For now, Ipswich Town can savor a hard-earned victory that puts them right back in the thick of the promotion race, while Derby County must regroup and prepare for the battles ahead.