Keith Hackett weighs in on red card controversy from Derby’s defeat to Ipswich after reviewing footage

Derby County could have reason to question referee Joshua Smith’s display during their 2–1 defeat to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

John Eustace’s men remain firmly in the hunt for a Championship play-off place, and the Rams put in a determined effort against the promotion-chasing Tractor Boys. However, the match was overshadowed by controversy surrounding the dismissal of Derby captain Lewis Travis late on.

Eustace’s appointment last February, following his departure from Blackburn Rovers, has proven to be a positive move, with Derby now well positioned heading into the business end of the season. That made the narrow loss to Ipswich feel even more costly.

Travis endured a difficult afternoon. He turned the ball into his own net inside eight minutes and was booked shortly after in the 13th minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, he received a second yellow card as Derby pushed for an equaliser, with the referee judging his attempt to retrieve the ball as an infringement.

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett shared his view on the incident when speaking to Football Insider, and his stance is unlikely to satisfy Rams supporters.

Hackett explained: “If a player who is already on a yellow card makes another challenge on an opponent, as happened here, the referee is left with a decision. There is no appeal process for yellow cards, so a suspension will follow.”

Derby will feel the red card came at the worst possible moment. The numbers from the second half highlight how competitive they were:

The stats suggest Derby had control after the break, while Ipswich focused on protecting their lead. Travis’ sending-off appeared to halt the Rams’ momentum just as they were building pressure.

On a different day, Derby might have salvaged a point. Instead, they now head into their next fixture against Swansea City without their captain, adding another challenge to their play-off push.