Derby dent Ipswich hopes

Riggott and Stewart were both forced out of the game

Derby 1- 1 Ipswich

Ipswich's dreams of Champions League football proved to be just that, but in the end their result at Pride Park did not matter.

Victories for both Liverpool and Leeds kept Ipswich in fifth place and leaves them to contest the Uefa Cup next season, which in itself would have appeared a dream at the start of the campaign.

Instead the result left the stage clear for Stefano Eranio to receive a rousing send off from the Derby fans as his four years with the club came to an end.

And as Derby's players went on a lap of honour, Ipswich players threw shirts and boots to their fans who have witnessed a memorable season.

Wright was replaced as Ipswich boosted their attack

But neither side could end their programme with a victory as Richard Naylor's strike straight after the interval cancelled out Malcolm Christie's first half effort.

Both sides had made a bright opening to the game with plenty of good passing and space available, but little cutting edge from either side.

Ipswich with the greater reward available to them opted for a change of personnel and formation as early as the 25th minute.

George Burley introduced James Scowcroft in place of Jermaine Wright as he opted for a third striker but it only opened up extra space in the middle of the pitch and Derby exploited it.

It's been a fairytale - a phenomenal achievement

  George Burley

Giorgi Kinkladze picked up John McGreal's header, advanced unchallenged for 25 yards and then played the ball into the path of Christie.

The England under-21 striker perfectly rounded Richard Wright and side-footed the ball home to dent Ipswich's third place hopes.

And George Burley's men received a further set-back soon after following Danny Higginbotham's crude challenge through the back of Marcus Stewart.

After lengthy treatment the Ipswich top scorer resumed but his return was shortlived as he hobbled off to be replaced by Naylor.

Alun Armstrong and Chris Makin both saw deflected efforts threaten Mart Poom's goal but Kinkladze and Christie were offering a greater threat at the other end.

Richard Naylor celebrates his equaliser

A shin injury forced Chris Riggott out of the action at the interval and the lack of their Player of the Year saw Derby pegged back within a minute of the break.

Ipswich seemed to gain an added belief by the news that both Liverpool and Leeds were drawing at this point and Naylor netted as his scrambled shot took a slight deflection off Horacio Carbonari.

Suddenly Derby were struggling to get the ball out of their own half and Poom was forced into outstanding fingertip saves from a Scowcroft header and a Reuser strike from 25 yards.

Eventually Jim Smith's side managed to resurrect their first half performance and Gudjonsson was very close to restoring their lead as his toe-poked effort drifted just past of the far post.

Everybody says I'm retiring but I'm enjoying it and I'm looking forward to next season

  Jim Smith

But by now news of Liverpool's free-scoring exploits at Charlton had reached the mass ranks of Tractor Boys.

While Ipswich went close again through another Scowcroft header the best chance was presented to Christie in stoppage time, but he saw his effort well parried by Wright.

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Derby: Poom, Riggott, Carbonari, Mawene, Delap, Eranio, Kinkladze, Higginbotham, Boertien, Christie, Gudjonsson. Subs: Jackson, Evatt, Bolder, Grant, Hunt.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Makin, McGreal, Bramble, Hreidarsson, Jermaine Wright, Magilton, Holland, Reuser, Stewart, Armstrong. Subs: Salmon, Clapham, Wilnis, Scowcroft, Naylor.

Referee: G Poll (Tring)