Ward scored six times in January and February 2013, which took his tally to eleven goals, overtaking previous top scorer Theo Robinson on nine. However, Ward picked up a new hamstring injury on 1 March, during Derby's 1–0 loss to Crystal Palace. He was absent from the team until 16 March, when he played 63 minutes in Derby's 2–1 win at home to Leicester City. On 29 March he scored his 12th goal of the season in Derby's 3–0 over Bristol City. Ward also missed a penalty after 3 minutes of the match. He missed the next game, a 2–1 win against Leeds United, but played the final five games of the season, missing another penalty against Ipswich Town. Ward finished third in the voting for Derby County's player of the season despite missing significant portions of the season through injury and was also named the 87th best player in the 2012–13 Football League Championship by the Actim Index.