MATCH PREVIEW: Ipswich Town (A)

Derby County will head to Suffolk for their Sky Bet Championship meeting with Ipswich Town on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

John Eustace’s side claimed their first point of the 2025/26 season when Carlton Morris’ third goal in as many games for the Rams saw them draw 1-1 with Bristol City at Pride Park Stadium last Friday.

Derby were also narrowly beaten in a 2-1 reverse in Round Two of the Carabao Cup in midweek by Premier League side Burnley, meaning their full focus now returns to the league this weekend.

Since Tuesday’s Carabao Cup exit, Derby have strengthened their ranks as they secured the services of midfielder Lewis Travis and Scottish international full-back Max Johnston.

The two will be hoping to make their debuts for the club when they head to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.

Ticket Information

Derby will be backed by a sold-out away end of over 2,000 supporters in Suffolk on Saturday.

Those fans without a ticket are advised not to make the trip to Portman Road, as they will be unable to gain access to the stadium.

Find out more by clicking here.

The Opposition

Since the turn of the Millennium, Ipswich Town had spent 16 consecutive years in the second tier of English football.

After such a prolonged period of stability as part of the furniture in the Championship's mid-table scene, things have become a lot more lively.

The Suffolk-based outfit have endured a rollercoaster ride in recent years.

The Tractor Boys’ long-standing second-tier status came to an end in 2018/19, when they were relegated, having won just five games under the guidance of managers Paul Hurst and then Paul Lambert.

Three tumultuous seasons in Sky Bet League One followed, with expectations placed on the “sleeping giant” club not met, as they registered 11th-place, ninth-place and then 11th-place finishes from 2019/20 through to 2021/22.

Paul Lambert oversaw their first season in the third tier before being dismissed and replaced by Paul Cook in the following campaign; neither could foster success at Portman Road.

After the experienced approach didn’t bear fruit, in December 2021, the club took on a new direction with Kieran McKenna appointed as Head Coach.

McKenna, who had garnered a wealth of coaching experience at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, was to take on his first role in the hot seat when he joined Ipswich.

The Northern Irishman got the Tractor Boys back to the Championship at the first time of asking in 2022/23, as they finished second and gained automatic promotion - winning 28 and drawing 14 of their 46 league games.

After returning to the Championship, the uplift just continued for McKenna’s men, with a remarkable double promotion, rising from League One to the Premier League.

Again, they finished in second place and entered the top-flight for the first time since 2002.

Despite a valiant showing in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, with four wins and 10 draws to their name, Ipswich finished in 19th as the level proved on step too far.

This season, expectations are once again abound at Portman Road, with McKenna remaining at the helm and high-value recruits, such as Kasey McAteer, Azor Matusiwa and Marcelino Núñez joining an already talented group.

The Tractor Boys are waiting on their first win of the new campaign, with two points to their name after consecutive 1-1 draws against Birmingham City and Southampton were followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Preston North End last Saturday.

Club Links

Derby’s recent signing Lewis Travis spent a period on loan with the Tractor Boys during their promotion-winning 2023/24 Championship season, where he made nine appearances in blue and white.

Kayden Jackson, who has made five appearances in all competitions for the Rams so far this season, came to Derby after departing Ipswich following their promotion to the top level in the summer of 2024.

Jackson was also joined by fellow team-mate Marcus Harness, when he joined on a season-long loan from Ipswich a year ago.

Harness was an instrumental fixture in the Rams’ mission to secure Championship status last season; he scored three goals and provided one assist across a vital run of games in March 2025 - including a last-minute winner away to Plymouth Argyle.

Liam Delap, who departed Ipswich for Chelsea in the summer, rose through the Rams’ Academy ranks before joining Manchester City in 2019. The striker impressed in the Premier League last season as he netted 12 goals in 37 games for the relegated side.

Pre-Match Thoughts

Head Coach John Eustace spoke to RamsTVahead of Saturday’s meeting with the Tractor Boys at Portman Road, where he played the final match of his playing career for Derby in January 2015.

Attacker Bobby Clark netted his first Derby goal in midweek against Burnley, and he caught up with RamsTV to reflect on the strike and look ahead to facing Ipswich.

Match Officials

Leigh Doughty will take charge of his seventh game of the 2025/26 campaign on Saturday. Last season, he oversaw 26 matches in total, handing out 10 yellow cards and no red cards.

Doughty has held the whistle in a Rams game on four previous occasions, officiating their early-season Carabao Cup Round One win over Chesterfield at Pride Park Stadium in August 2024.

Richard Woodward and Callum Gough will be the assistant referees, while David Rock will take on the fourth official role.

RamsTV Audio & Video Coverage

Live audio commentary for all of Derby County’s first team matches in the 2025/26 season - both league and cup fixtures - is available to RamsTV Audio subscribers based both in the UK and internationally.

Information about RamsTV's Video Live Streaming and other services for this season can be found here.