KEANE TASTES VICTORY AT LAST

ROY KEANE finally won his first league game as Ipswich boss - at the 15th attempt.

And a mightily-relieved Keane confessed: "We huffed and puffed a lot but won an ugly game.

"It's what you have to do sometimes in football - it's allowed. I've not enjoyed my Sunday morning breakfast in three or four months so that will be a nice change."

The three points came courtesy of David Wright's 66th-minute bullet header and it eased the pressure on boss Keane after the Tractor Boys' dismal start to the season.

The hosts were a touch lucky to collect maximum points against injury-ravaged Derby but the Ipswich faithful could not have cared less as they raised the roof at the final whistle.

As the tannoy pumped out the pop anthem 'Alive and Kicking', the home fans breathed a huge sigh of relief before giving their team a standing ovation.

You would have thought from the party atmosphere that the Suffolk side had won the league - but the truth is they still prop up the table.

In fairness, Ipswich could be forgiven their response to the victory after the woes they have endured since losing to Coventry in their opening game of the campaign.

Countless times they have blown promising positions and the anxiety was palpable as fellow-strugglers Derby desperately probed for a leveller.

Indeed, deep inside injury time Bryan Hughes was presented with a golden opportunity to save the Rams but he blasted inches over the top from 11 yards.

Fate had decreed that this was finally Ipswich's - and Keane's - day.

Keane added: "I was concerned when the ball fell to Hughes as, technically, he is a very good player.

"When I saw it drop, I thought 'oh no, not him.' If we had conceded again in injury time it would have been very hard to take.

"Winning is a lot better than losing but it's ironic as I don't think we played particularly well today

"I've been saying for the last four or five weeks how well we've played without getting our reward.

"But we will be back in work on Monday and if people think we're going to relax after one victory in 15 games they don't know me very well."

Derby's search for a first away win of the season goes on. They've picked up just two points on their travels but they were not helped in Suffolk by the absence of 16 players.

So badly were the Rams hit by injury and illness that manager Nigel Clough admitted the possibility of trying to get the game postponed had crossed his mind.

He said: "We were looking into that but if we can get a team out there, that's what we do. If possible the authorities want you to play the game and we've done that.

"We don't like calling games off and had faith in the players to put a performance on and they did just that."

Derby should have taken at least a point but could not find a way past Ipswich keeper Asmir Begovic, who is on loan from Portsmouth.

Clough added: "We thought we deserved something out of the game. It's bitterly disappointing to come in with a defeat after that effort.

"But I'm encouraged with the spirit we've shown. There was just one ball that we failed to defend and it cost us."

Either side of half-time Rams' keeper Stephen Bywater pulled off flying saves to keep out headers from Alex Bruce.

But there was nothing Bywater could do to prevent Wright from notching his first goal since February.

Liam Rosenior, on loan from Fulham, supplied a teasing cross from the right wing and the left-back rose between defenders to send a firm header flying into the net.

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