Luke Varney’s second half strike for Ipswich Town proved to be vital as Derby County’s dominant display was left unrewarded on a hugely frustrating evening at the iPro Stadium.

After a first half that belonged to the Rams, Varney, a one-time Derby player, stepped off the substitutes bench to score the only goal of the game in Derbyshire.

This, though, proved to be far more frustrating for what unfolded at the other end of the pitch as Nigel Pearson’s side registered 23 shots on goal, with the visitors were left grateful to the form of their Bartosz Bialkowski, who denied Nick Blackman on his goalline deep into added time.

From the start of this game, an air of intent swept around the iPro Stadium and as they did on Saturday against Newcastle United, Derby County started strongly.

The visitors were certainly indebted to Bialkowski, Ipswich’s goalkeeper, for keeping the scores level on six minutes as he smartly got down to deny Matěj Vydra at his near post, before Mick McCarthy’s side desperately scrambled the loose ball away, before James Wilson could tap in from close range.

Willing runners, Wilson and Vydra were proving a handful early doors, but Ipswich weathered the early storm and the contest soon descended into a battle in the middle of the park for a 10-minute spell.

During this period, the visitors only registered half chances. Notably, Grant Ward, the former Tottenham Hotspur man, shot wide from 20-yards, but that effort aside, the first 45 minutes was dominated by Derby.

The Rams seized the initiative and laid siege on Bialkowski’s charmed goal. The Tractor Boys’ goalkeeper got down to deny Craig Bryson from the edge of the area, whilst the Scottish midfielder saw another effort fly just wide.

McCarthy’s side were penned firmly in the area and to their credit threw their bodies on the line to ensure Bialkowski’s goal remain unbreached going into the half time break.

Before that, however, Pearson’s men went close on a further two occasions. Jacob Butterfield, restored to the side in place of the injured Johnny Russell, bent a free kick just wide of the far post, whilst Wilson saw a drive from 30-yards saved.

McCarthy felt the need for change after such a dominant showing from the Rams and introduced Tom Lawrence, the Leicester City loanee, for his debut whilst former Derby forward, Varney, was also introduced in a bid to stop the Derby tide and more impetus to their own attack.

The early signs suggested that would not be the case as Bryson let fly with a wicked drive that flew agonisingly wide.

It had been one-way traffic, but Ipswich stunned the iPro Stadium on 53 minutes as Varney’s rifled effort from the edge of the area found its way into the back of the net despite Carson getting a strong hand to the effort.

Derby attempted to pick up where they left off, but were met by a military-drilled and workman-like Ipswich defence that were in no mood to surrender their goal advantage following the late 2-1 defeat to Reading.

With minutes remaining, the excellent Will Hughes crafted his own opening after showing neat foot work to turn away from his nearest challenger, but with his weaker right foot, he sent a shot just wide of Bialkowski’s far post.

Darren Bent, introduced as a substitute shortly after going behind, had an opportunity to nick a late draw after a loose ball fell into his path, but the 32-year-old forward, up against his former club, could only loop his effort over the crossbar.

It would get even more frustrating for the hosts as their best chance of the game came their way deep into added time.

Hit on the break, Hughes had the ball slipped into his path down the left and cutting inside his defender, he knocked a teasing ball into the six-yard box that Blackman, stretching, got his foot too, but Bialkowski got his body behind the effort on the line to deny the Rams a point that their performance so richly deserved.

Derby County: Carson, Christie, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson (Blackman, 88); Butterfield, Bryson, Hughes, Anya; Vydra, Wilson (Bent, 63)

Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Shackell, Ince, Baird, Johnson

Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Knudsen, Chambers (C), Berra, Skuse (Bishop, 72), Pitman, Webster, Bru (Varney, 46), Ward, Douglas, Grant (Lawrence, 46)

Substitutes not used: Gerken, Best, Emmanuel, Kenlock

Attendance: 26,425 (687 Ipswich supporters)