A glorious Leif Davis header earned a precious victory over Derby County and moved Ipswich Town up to third, just four points adrift of the Championship's top two.

Davis brilliantly guided substitute Kasey McAteer's teasing cross into the far corner to get Town's promotion charge back on track and ensure their winless run did not extend to three games.

A bizarre Lewis Travis headed own goal had gifted the visitors a deserved first-half lead.

An under-par Derby looked to have salvaged a draw when Rhian Brewster blasted home an equaliser from the penalty spot against the run of play midway through the second half.

But Davis grabbed the winner to inflict a first defeat in five for the hosts, who ended the game still two points outside the play-offs in seventh and with 10 men following a second yellow card for Travis.

The Derby defence struggled to deal with Ipswich's clever movement and incisive attacking play - particularly down the left flank against the outstanding Jack Clarke.

Clarke, Anis Mehmeti and Ivan Azon all provided a regular threat, with the opening goal also coming from a corner kick on the left where Travis got his positioning all wrong to send a textbook downward header past Rams goalkeeper Josh Vickers.

Mehmeti had the best chance to double the lead before the break, racing on to a delightful ball from Clarke that Vickers did well to block as he came rushing out of his goal.

Clarke then almost forced the Rams - and Travis - into conceding a second own goal, the Town winger dancing down the left once again and sending in a teasing cross that could easily have deflected home.

Derby had a couple of promising moments, but Patrick Agyemang missed the ball at the near post when attempting a tricky back-heel flick, David Ozoh headed an effort off target, and Brewster shot well wide from a tricky angle.

But the hosts lacked creativity and their opportunities were half-chances, while the visitors continued to look much more likely to add to their lead on the resumption.

Jack Taylor shot wide, and a fiercely struck Wes Burns half-volley forced Vickers into an excellent save.

However, having been second best for most of the game, Bobby Clark's clever turn and the subsequent rash challenge by Azor Matusiwa enabled Brewster to blast home from the penalty spot to level the scores with 22 minutes remaining.

Both sides went close on a couple of occasions in the closing stages, the ever-involved Travis - who was dismissed in stoppage time for a second yellow card after a foul on Darnell Furlong - and Matt Clarke shooting over for the hosts, but Davis had the final say.

Derby County boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"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.

"Our football, at times, was really good. There are still lots of improvements to come, but we are playing against a top, top team with fantastic players. You can see the players they brought off the bench today and that's what we are competing against.

"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.

"I would have loved to have started a bit quicker. It's disappointing we couldn't get a second. We need to be better in the final third. But we are still learning."

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:

"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 when I didn't think they looked like scoring but [we] had to show a response and it was a brilliant response."

[On McAteer, who provided the winning assist] "He has been taking big strides in training. He has been doing really well, taking steps forward.

"We think there is a lot more to come from him, and, of course, 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."