Derby County's five match unbeaten ran came to an end with a 3-1 defeat at home to Ipswich Town this afternoon.

Gareth McAuley's fourth minute strike set the visitors on their way and after surviving long spells of Derby pressure Carlos Edwards doubled Ipswich's lead late on.

Substitute Rob Hulse pulled a late goal back for the Rams, but Ipswich secured the win in stoppage time through Connor Wickham.

Derby had manager Nigel Clough and midfielder Stephen Pearson both sent off in the closing minutes.

Dean Leacock failed to shake off the knee injury he sustained in the first half of Saturday's victory at Coventry so Nicky Hunt was handed a recall to the Derby line-up, as was Steven Davies in place of Rob Hulse.

The visitors were quick out of the traps and had the first effort on goal after two minutes through promising youngster Wickham but Stephen Bywater stood tall to turn away the striker's powerful half-volley from twelve yards out.

Two minutes later Bywater was powerless to stop the visitors taking the lead.

A corner wasn't dealt with inside the Derby box and Gareth McAuley fired the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

After that early body-blow Derby sought a response and almost pulled themselves back on to level terms in the thirteenth minute when Davies turned neatly in the area to fire a low effort that Murphy saved.

Derby enjoyed long spells of possession and found themselves in some useful attacking positions, but weren't able to create a great deal to work Murphy in the Ipswich goal.

The Rams did survive a scare just after the hour when Ipswich looked destined to double their lead, but Green and Bywater both performed heroic blocks to keep Norris and Murphy inside the six-yard box amidst a goalmouth scramble.

Wickham flashed an effort inches wide from a narrow angle ten minutes before the break as Ipswich enjoyed another spell of pressure on the Derby goal and Leadbitter crashed a shot off the outside of the woodwork from long range in the closing minutes of the half.

Shaun Barker has been in fine form at both ends of the field for the Rams in recent weeks and he was denied yet another goal just before the break when Murphy produced a wonderful save to claw his goalbound header away in a strong end to the half from Nigel Clough's side.

Like in the first half, Ipswich created the first opening the second period and Bywater pulled off a good reaction save to turn away Walters' shot from outside the box.

Derby's first chance of the second half came when Barker - up from the back - beat Murphy to the ball in the air but his effort drifted just wide.

That was the start of a strong spell of Derby possession and pressure, and leading goalscorer Hulse was introduced into the action in place of Hunt with Paul Green moving to right-back to bolster Derby's attack.

Stephen Pearson thought he had the equaliser Derby had been chasing on the hour but his header from Davies' fine cross from the left was straight at Murphy, as was a shot from Porter moments later as Derby continued to pour forwards.

Gilles Sunu replaced Davies just after the hour, slotting in on the left-hand side of the new-look Derby midfield.

Derby had Ipswich camped back by this stage, but the final ball always seemed to be cleared by a blue Ipswich shirt with the Rams agonisingly close to getting back onto level terms.

Again on the break, Ipswich almost moved further ahead with twenty minutes left but Bywater again produced a fine save diving to his left to turn Colback's shot away from the edge of the box.

Hulse glanced a header over with fifteen remaining with a good opportunity for Derby as another spell of pressure began on the Ipswich goal.

But Ipswich again hit Derby on the break and with ten minutes left Carlos Edwards crashed the ball into the net from close range to seemingly wrap up the victory for Roy Keane's side.

The visitors were made to sweat for their victory though when Hulse headed a goal back for Derby within a few minutes to set up a grandstand finish.

Clough was banished to the stands late on after an exchange of words with Referee Mr Moss, and before the game could even get underway the official was in the limelight again by sending off midfielder Stephen Pearson - presumably for choice words to the official.

The atmosphere was tense and lively in the closing minutes with Derby going all out for an equaliser.

Tomasz Cwyka - on for Tonge - fizzed a late shot over the bar but with Derby pouring forwards Wickham exposed a gap at the back to secure the win for Ipswich by bursting clear on goal and calmly slotting home in the third minute of injury time.

Derby County: Bywater, Hunt (Hulse 53), McEveley, Barker, Anderson, Tonge, Pearson, Green, Savage, Davies (Sunu 63), Porter
Subs: Deeney, Pringle, Martin, Cywka, Teale
Booked: Hunt
Sent Off: Pearson
Goals: Hulse (83)

Ipswich Town: B Murphy, Delaney, McAuley, Leadbitter, Norris, Peters (Wright 46), Colback, Walters, D Murphy (Edwards 46), O'Connor (Smith 75), Wickham
Subs: Lee-Barrett, Martin, Healy, Eastman
Booked: Colback, McAuley, B Murphy
Goals: McAuley (4), Edwards (81)

Referee: Mr J Moss

Attendance: 28,137 (1,036 Ipswich Town fans)