A flash in the pan? Not on this evidence. Ipswich last night picked up where they left off last season, comprehensively outclassing Derby with the sort of flowing football that took the Premiership by surprise not long ago.
It is expected of Ipswich now and their impact this season in the league and UEFA Cup can only be enhanced by the summer arrival of George Finidi, whose late third goal from a stooping header capped a man-of-the-match performance.
Fabrizio Ravanelli scored a late consolation as Ipswich's defence went to sleep but Derby struggled from the start. They were 1-0 down after 14 minutes and one man down by the half-hour.
Derby did not help themselves and struggled to break up the passing movements which swept the home side towards Mart Poom's goal time and again. They paid the price just before the quarter-hour when Ipswich took the lead. Richard Naylor's clever reverse ball found Matt Holland just outside the area and he in turn found Finidi unmarked on the right. The Nigerian coolly nutmegged Poom and Ipswich were deservedly ahead.
Derby's hopes were further battered on 32 minutes when the winger Brian O'Neil was sent off. His second yellow card arrived for a rash challenge on Martijn Reuser; his first had been for a cynical trip off the ball on Jamie Clapham.
Ipswich, dominant before, were even more so now. The irrepressible Finidi went close three times, producing a great save from Poom in the process, and Reuser saw his goal-bound shot hit the unsuspecting head of Chris Riggott.
Ipswich have spent £9 million sterling on new players this summer, and the manager George Burley still has cash in his pocket. But it is hard to imagine a better signing than Finidi, the former Sampdoria winger bought for £3.5 million from Real Mallorca.
His tricks, pace and passing were too much for Derby who, despite winning their opening game against Blackburn, looked like the side that spent most of last season battling relegation.
The sight of Darryl Powell sloping off moodily to the dressing-room after being substituted and the half-hearted attitude of too many players made one wonder if all is well in Jim Smith's camp. By the time of his departure Derby were 2-0 down.
Ipswich came out for the second half with appetite undimmed; a minute in Danny Higginbotham somehow managed to clear Reuser's close-range volley off the line. A minute later Matt Holland curled a ball in which Naylor squeezed past Poom at the post despite Higginbotham's challenge.
IPSWICH: Sereni, Makin, Clapham (Wilnis 62), Hreidarsson, Bramble, Holland, Wright, George, Reuser, Naylor (Armstrong 79), Stewart (Counago 65). Subs Not Used: Branagan, Brown. Goals: George 14, Naylor 48, George 76.
DERBY: Poom, Daino (Murray 77), Higginbotham, Riggott, Boertien, O'Neil, Powell (Burton 54), Burley, Johnson, Ravanelli, Christie. Subs Not Used: Oakes, Kinkladze, Morris. Sent Off: O'Neil (32). Booked: Powell, Higginbotham, Boertien. Goals: Ravanelli 84.
Referee: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).
