Ipswich Town suffered a blow in their play-off hopes after they were beaten 1-0 by a Derby County side who showed just why they are now second in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Derby showed early promise, but it was Ipswich who had the first chance, with Freddie Sears causing Lee Grant trouble after a swift counter attack.
Bradley Johnson came close with a fierce curling effort, but Tom Ince continued his good run of form with a goal just before half time, capitalising on a lucky bounce after Johnny Russell had been dispossessed, before slotting home underneath the arms of Dean Gerken.
Ince was then lucky not to be sent off, after he caught Sears with a high boot, but escaped with just a yellow card, and Derby left Portman Road with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
The Rams moved up to second in the table, above Brighton and Hove Albion, who lost for the first time this season in the early kick-off. Ipswich meanwhile stay in sixth place, despite the loss.
FootballLeagueWorld writer Harry Smith identifies three things that we learned from this close battle...
1) Tom Ince continues to turn heads
The midfielder showed his class once more with a calm finish under pressure, after some good anticipation and trickery to pick up the ball and hold off his man.
He is showing game by game that he is ready for the Premier League.
When Ince plays well, so do Derby this season, and he could be integral to Paul Clement in the Rams' push for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
2) Ipswich lack firepower
Between Sears and Daryl Murphy, the Tractor Boys couldn't muster a single goal, and Murphy looks a different player to the one that top scored in this same division last year.
His gaping header flew way over the cross bar, and he must have felt that if it were last season, that would have flew into the top corner.
That somewhat epitomises his season so far.
3) Ipswich are still in with a chance
The play-offs are not too much of an ask for the Tractor Boys, as their side is full of quality players.
With Mick McCarthy at the reins, Ipswich fans will be hoping he can get the best out of their side, and if he continues to do this, they have a solid defensive foundation to build upon, with Gerken in fine form in the Ipswich goal.
Ipswich and Derby fans... what did you make of the game? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!