Horacio Carbonari sent Ipswich plunging to 21st place in the First Division with a close-range winner on the stroke of half-time.

Goalscoring chances had been few and far between before the Argentine defender marked his first appearance of the season by turning in Rob Lee's left-wing cross.

Ipswich enjoyed plenty of possession but created little of note.

And manager George Burley must be increasingly concerned by a run of form that has seen his side fail to win in the league since the middle of August.

Derby boss John Gregory made three changes in response to his side's poor showing in last weekend's 2-0 home defeat to Preston.

Carbonari came into a five-man defence while 17-year-old striker Izale McLeod was handed his senior debut.

The Rams started brightly and could have gone ahead after just 50 seconds when Ipswich goalkeeper Andy Marshall was forced to turn Adam Bolder's 20-yard effort round the post.

But the home side soon got their passing game going, Matt Holland's long-range effort well saved by Mart Poom after Warren Barton only half-cleared.

Holland shook off a knee injury to extend his run of never missing a league game for Ipswich since joining the club in August 199.

And his energy in getting from box to box was a key feature of the first half.

Jim Magilton forced Poom into another sharp save in the 16th minute, but Ipswich were dealt a blow soon after when defender Fabian Wilnis was forced off through injury.

The Rams then struck with virtually the last kick of the half.

Derby's Paul Boertien saw his goalbound effort blocked by John McGreal three minutes after the interval.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead in the 51st minute when McLeod, who continued playing despite having stitches in his calf, converted Christie's low cross.

He already had his top off in front of the visiting fans when he realised the referee's assistant had flagged for offside.

Burley introduced winger Finidi George in place of defender Hreidarsson in an attempt to give his side some fresh impetus - and Darren Bent should have done better when drilling Jermaine Wright's centre over the crossbar.

The home side became increasingly desperate in their search for an equaliser, throwing more and more men forward.

But Derby defended resolutely, Poom saving well from McGreal and George in quick succession.

Chris Riggott was superb at the heart of the visitors' defence, throwing himself in front of Holland's late strike and denying Pablo Counago even a sniff of a goal all afternoon.

Ipswich: Marshall, Wilnis, McGreal, Brown, Hreidarsson, Ambrose, Holland, Magilton, Clapham, Counago, Darren Bent. Subs: Pullen, Armstrong, Marcus Bent, Wright, George.

Derby: Poom, Barton, Higginbotham, Riggott, Carbonari, Boertien, Bolder, Lee, Murray, Christie, McLeod. Subs: Morris, Grant, O'Neil, Kinkladze, Evatt.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).