The pain of injury is temporary, but a victory lasts forever.

Ipswich Town’s players left the field as the walking wounded during and after Tuesday night’s battling 2-1 win at Fulham.

Defender Christophe Berra had his tooth knocked out for the second time in three weeks, midfielder Cole Skuse had to be substituted at half-time after badly breaking his nose, while striker Brett Pitman started and scored the winner just a day after having decidedly unpleasant root canal dental surgery.

It’s no less than manager Mick McCarthy – a former snarling centre-back himself – expects, of course.

“The gaffer loves it!” said Berra, sixth-placed Ipswich hosting third-placed Derby at Portman Road tomorrow afternoon.

“I’m sure I’ve hurt many a centre-forward as well. That’s part and parcel of football. You take knocks and you just have to get on with it. Brett hadn’t slept much for a couple of days, he hadn’t eaten much either, but he still starts and scores the winner. That sort of things happens at every club, people playing through the pain barrier, you just might not hear about it.

“I’ve had broken noses, banged lips, black eyes – you name it, I’ve done it! That’s the life as a centre-half. It can always be fixed.

“The tooth was first knocked out a couple of seasons ago against Reading when (Pavel) Pogrebnyak caught me flush in the face. It’s been fine up until recently but then it got knocked out again at Charlton a few weeks ago when their big boy (Simon Makienok) was throwing his elbows around. I got a temporary cap put in and that got knocked out the other night.

“I’m sure I’ve cost the club a bit of cash in dentists’ bills, and I’m going to wear a gum shield from now on, but it’s worth it with the three points we’ve been getting.”

Meanwhile, Berra, who has scored in three of Town’s last four games against Derby, hopes he can break his duck for the season against the Rams tomorrow.