They would be damaging Derby County Football Club and it has nothing to do with Derby.”Meanwhile, poor old Tottenham gave the impression that they have already opted to gain a European place by way of winning one of the two cup competitions that they are still involved in.Despite having plenty of possession, Spurs lacked a meaningful cutting edge and their lacklustre performance was summed up by Teddy Sheringham missing his kick in the closing minutes with the goal gaping.Glenn Hoddle’s side have now won just once in their last eight league games, a dismal run that the Spurs manager attributed to tiredness and the comparative small size of the club’s squad. The defender Dean Richards also revealed that Spurs’ miserable afternoon might have been even more miserable, but for the intervention of referee Uriah Rennie.When the Sheffield referee blew his whistle for half-time, an incensed Richards tried to remonstrate with Gould, who had signalled that Morris’s shot had crossed the line. Rennie, however, blocked Richards’ path as he marched towards the linesman. “It looked to me as if it wasn’t over the line,” said Richards. “Rennie stood in my way and saved me from getting into serious trouble I was going to give the linesman a mouthful He is the one referee I wouldn’t argue with.

I wouldn’t argue with a kickboxer.”Goal: Morris (43) 1-0.Derby County (4-4-2): Oakes 7; Barton 7, Riggott 7, Higginbotham 7, Zavagno 6; Valakari 6 (O’Neil, 82), Powell 5, Ducrocq 7, Morris 8 (Boertien 5, 73); Christie 6, Ravanelli 6. Substitutes not used: Grant (gk), Burton, Kinkladze.Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2): Sullivan 4; Perry 5, Richards 5, King 5; Davies 4 (Anderton 5, 64), Poyet 5, Sherwood 5 (Rebrov, 80), Leonhardsen 5, Taricco 5 (Etherington 6, h-t); Sheringham 6; Iversen 5. Substitutes not used: Kelly (gk), Thelwell.Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield) 7.Bookings: Derby: Christie, Ravanelli, Powell. Tottenham: Sherwood, Taricco.Man of the match: Morris.Attendance: 27,721..

The 1,000th league victory of Ipswich’s history hardly ranked as one of the most handsome, but, in the context of their steady trundle away from relegation, it was as valuable as most. Rock bottom when the presents were being unwrapped, they have stormed up the table to 12th whilst some are still waiting to be exchanged for a different size or colour.Of eight Premiership games since Christmas, they have won seven It should have been eight; they were 2-0 up at Charlton. This latest victory gave them a particularly handy elevation, taking them above both Everton and those other resurrection experts, Southampton.In the dark days of December, George Burley maintained his belief that his team’s plight was not due to playing badly, but to individual mistakes. They have simply cut those out, particularly at the back, where Burley’s trio of John McGreal, Hermann Hreidarsson and Mark Venus were solidity itself at Goodison. If the 4-1 defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup had affected their burgeoning confidence, they disguised it well.A midfield anchored by that most reliable of players, Matt Holland, always had a better shape about it than Everton’s and, although it took two exceptional strikes to win the game, Ipswich were good value for all three points.On this showing, other sides struggling towards the bottom of the table should not rely on Ipswich coming to their rescue. They look much more like the side that over-achieved last season than the one that stuttered through the early stages of this. A solid mid-table finish beckons, although Burley is no doubt right to warn that their run-in is tougher than most.Everton’s performance, however, was one to give all the other relegation candidates hope.