BOTH teams hit the post in the second half as in-form Derby County and Ipswich Town shared the points in a goalless draw.

Rams winger Ben Davies’ angled effort hit the foot of the post in the 65th minute, with the hosts piling on the pressure throughout a second half in which they forced 10 corners.

Town defended superbly though – centre-backs Tommy Smith and Damien Delaney in particular – with Arran Lee-Barrett well protected. And the visitors almost snatched it in the 71st minute when Jay Emmanuel-Thomas stroked the ball against the far post following good work from substitute Jason Scotland.

Town had piled on the pressure at times in the first half, but always looked vulnerable to the pace of Derby’s strike pairing of Theo Robinson and Jamie Ward.

After a quiet start to the match, a mistake by home defender Jake Buxton allowed Daryl Murphy to run away down the left. Michael Chopra spun and hit the low cut-back from 10 yards out, only for home keeper Frank Fielding to produce a fine diving save to his right.

The pace of Derby top-scorer Theo Robinson provided a threat throughout. And Town were fortunate that he delayed his shot in the 21st minute when there appeared space to run into.

The Blues stepped up a gear midway through the first half and created a series of half-chances. Andy Drury drilled a low shot just past the post, Fielding produced another acrobatic stop to keep out Lee Martin’s swerving 25-yard effort, while Derby scrambled a Daryl Murphy header away.

The Rams continued to looked dangerous when going direct though, with Robinson prodding a low Gareth Roberts cross into the side-netting and Town hacking a in-swinging corner away as half-time approached.

Derby started the second half on the front foot, setting a pattern of play for much of the second half.

Robinson sent an overhead kick just wide from one corner and powered a header narrowly past the post from another flag kick.

Both sides then hit the post within a six minute period, with Cresswell hacking another Derby corner away in the 85th minute and Scotland seeing a deflected shot go just wide at the death.

– Reaction to follow.

DERBY COUNTY (4-4-2): Fielding; Naylor, Shackell (cpt), Buxton, Roberts; Green, Bryson, Hendrick, B Davies; Robinson, Ward (Tyson 78).

Subs: Severn, Bailey, Carroll, Bennett.

Booked: Shackell (87)

IPSWICH TOWN (4-2-3-1): Lee-Barrett; Edwards (cpt), Smith, Delaney, Cresswell; Drury, Leadbitter; Emmanuel-Thomas (Bowyer 82), Martin (Scotland 69), Murphy; Chopra (Stevenson 84).

Subs: Wright; Sonko.