Magilton's free-kick laid on the first for Richard Naylor and an astute pass from Kuqi enabled Tommy Miller to add a second before the Finnish international scored Ipswich's third in the dying minutes.

Struggling Derby had surprised their hosts by shading the opening 45 minutes of an entertaining Cup clash but were unable to make any of their chances count.

Ipswich, flying high in Division One, found themselves on the back foot in the opening couple of minutes as the visitors won two free-kicks in quick succession.

Derby are in the bottom three of the Division One table, but they looked comfortable during the early stages.

However, Ipswich looked dangerous when they pressed forward with Ian Taylor having to clear a dangerous corner from Martijn Reuser and Chris Bart-Williams sending a 25-yard volley wide of the target.

But it was Derby who almost snatched the lead when Marcus Tudgay's shot from 20 yards was tipped around the post by Kelvin Davis after five minutes.

In an action-packed opening, play continued to switch from end to end with Ipswich's Darren Bent steering his effort wide from a promising position and Jermaine Wright then testing Lee Grant in the Derby goal from distance.

Davis was again called into action when Luciano Zavagno let fly from 20 yards, but he was equal to it, saving well after 12 minutes.

Derby missed another good chance midway through the first half when Lee Morris sent his left-foot shot wide of the target from close range.

Davis again kept his team on level terms after 25 minutes, tipping a well-struck shot from Morris around the post as Derby continued to look dangerous.

The home side brought on Kuqi in place of Darren Bent six minutes into the second half in an effort to get an edge and they got the breakthrough just three minutes later.

Fellow substitute Magilton's free-kick found Naylor whose firm header flew past Grant.

The goal gave Ipswich just the impetus they needed with Grant having to be on his toes to keep out a well-struck shot from Counago.

And they wrapped up victory after 69 minutes when Kuqi pulled the ball back to Miller who side-footed the ball past Grant from 10 yards to net his fifth goal of the season.

Derby almost cut the deficit 14 minutes from time, but their bad luck was summed up as Manuel Manel's header hit the woodwork.

Ipswich added a third when Grant spilled a free-kick from Reuser and Kuqi forced the ball home.

SportingLife.com