Jonas Knudsen netted a first-half injury time equaliser as the East Anglian derby between Town and Norwich City at Portman Road ended 1-1. After Jonathan Douglas had had an early goal wrongly ruled out for offside, Cameron Jerome gave the Canaries the lead against the run of play on 26 but Knudsen equalised. In the second half, Steven Whittaker came closest to winning it when he hit the post.

Kevin Bru replaced Teddy Bishop, who dropped to the bench, in an otherwise unchanged Town side again lining up 4-3-3.

Striker Brett Pitman returned to the bench having missed the last three games with a thigh injury. Norwich made one change, Youssouf Mulumbu taking over from Josh Murphy in midfield.

Town had the ball in the net in only the second minute but it was ruled out due to a wrongly raised linesman’s flag.

Bru’s freekick was headed into the air by Christophe Berra and Daryl Murphy nodded down to to Douglas who turned home from close range and briefly thought he’d put the Blues in front until the assistant’s flag was spotted.

Replays indicated the Irish midfielder was onside and that Town had had a perfectly good goal ruled out for the second successive game.

Despite the disappointment, the home side kept up the early momentum and in the fourth minute Daryl Murphy shot wide with his right foot after Jonas Knudsen had returned the ball to the edge of the box.

Town continued to press and following a corner, Berra headed skipper Luke Chambers’s cross wide at the far post with an unmarked Douglas frustrated that the ball hadn’t reached him beyond the Scotland international.

Adam Webster crowded out Cameron Jerome as the visitors made their first foray into the penalty area in 10th minute.

But the Blues were still on top and a minute later Murphy out-muscled Timm Klose and burst into the area before running into traffic and hitting the turf. Referee David Coote ignored penalty appeals from the crowd. A minute later, Berra blocked a Wes Hoolahan shot on the edge of the box.

Murphy wasn’t too far away from from an opener in the 18th minute when he flicked Chambers’s cross from the right over Canaries keeper Michael McGovern and onto the roof of the net.

On 23, the Irish international, who was giving the visitors’ backline significant problems, turned another header through to McGovern from another Chambers cross from the right.

Despite the Blues domination of the first quarter of the game, the Canaries went in front with their first shot of the game in the 26th minute.

Daniel Ivo Pinto rode a Freddie Sears tackle on the right and cut the ball across and following work from Hoolahan and Steven Naismith skipper Jonathan Howson laid it back to Cameron Jerome and he struck a low shot which caught the inside of Bartosz Bialkowski’s right post before hitting the net.

The goal settled the visitors down and they began to keep hold of the ball with greater composure. Town’s threat was limited to corners which the Canaries were able to deal with.

Naismith curled a shot over in the 37th minute, then soon after at the other end Sears’s cross just wouldn’t fall for Knudsen and Klose cleared.

As the game moved into injury time, the Blues got back on terms. The ball was played into Murphy’s feet on the right of the area and the striker turned it on to Sears, who fed Knudsen behind him. The Danish international cut in and hit a low right-foot shot into the corner of the net beyond McGovern to send Portman Road wild.

The Blues thoroughly deserved to go in level - at least - at the break after dominating the first 25 minutes and having been hugely unlucky to see another good goal chalked off, and in such a significant game.

Once in front via Jerome’s well-worked goal, the Canaries had been on top but Town had still looked a threat when in their half with Klose in particular not having been able to get to grips with Murphy.

The Irishman played a big role in the equaliser, as did Sears, who might have looked to find space to shoot himself rather than feeding Knudsen, who took his second Town goal with great confidence.

Norwich switched Pinto for Whittaker ahead of the start of the second half, which the Blues started on the front foot, winning an early corner which came to nothing.

Ward won another flag-kick on 53 and Berra powered a header against a defender. Claims it struck a hand from the crowd were ignored by referee Coote.

The Canaries immediately broke through Hoolahan and eventually Webster nodded a scuffed Whittaker shot, which had bounced up and over Bialkowski, off the line.

As the game moved to the hour mark Murphy was sent away beyond Klose, who he out-paced. The Swiss international slid in outside the area and caught the Town striker, who went down hurt as a result, but referee Coote rather surprisingly waved away Blues protests. Had he awarded the decision in the Blues’ favour then Klose’s difficult afternoon would have ended with a red card.

Alexander Tettey picked up the game’s first booking in the 64th minute after fouling Douglas but the caution looked more for his subsequent dissent. Bru hit the freekick into the wall.

Bishop replaced Bru in the 70th minute, then a minute later Norwich sub Jacob Murphy was sent away down the right but Knudsen blocked his cross.

A Sears shot almost fell to Bishop inside the Norwich box, then on 75 the Canaries came within a whisker of going back in front.

Jerome crossed from the right and Webster’s clearance only reached Whittaker, who hit a low shot which struck Bialkowski’s right post before being cleared by Skuse.

While that was the closest either side had come to a second-half goal, more of the game had been played in and around the visitors’ penalty area than Town’s. A minute later, another Sears shot was deflected away from goal.

Two minutes from time sub Bishop twice had the chance to win it. Following a corner, the ball fell for the 20-year-old but his shot struck a defender. Then seconds later, he caught a defender dallying with the ball and won it but McGovern was off his line to block. Moments afterwards Luke Varney took over from Sears.

As the match moved into three minutes of injury time Hoolahan hit a low shot which gave Bialkowski no trouble.

Deep in injury time Norwich’s Murphy broke into the area and hit the game’s last shot across the face of goal and wide.

The Town players were warmly applauded off by their fans after a derby which they had shaded, even if they were unable to claim a victory.

As has happened on a number of occasions in recent derbies - and also against Wolves earlier in the week - the Blues were the victims of poor refereeing with Douglas’s goal disallowed in the first half and what looked to be a foul on Murphy unpunished in the second.

The Blues were on top for the majority of the second half, however, the better of the chances fell to the visitors with Whittaker’s effort against the post the nearest either side came to a winner.

Despite not having won the game, most fans are likely to have gone home happy with their side’s performance against their greatest rivals with another home game next Saturday against Preston.

Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru (Bishop 70), Ward, Sears (Varney 89), Murphy. Unused: Gerken, T Smith, Kenlock, Dozzell, Pitman.

Norwich City: McGovern, Pinto (Whittaker 46), Bennett, Klose, Brady, Tettey, Mulumbu (Jacob Murphy 61), Howson (c), Naismith (Canos 80), Hoolahan, Jerome. Unused: Jones, Martin, Bassong, Lafferty. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 23,350 (Norwich: 1,992).

Photo: TWTD

battyblue added 16:29 - Aug 21 Plus point we didn't loose,minus points McCarthy was happy with a draw and at half time decided we would play for a draw,Norwich were very poor and there for the taking but no town were not capable or willing to push Norwich back and go for the win,this was cemented on when MM played a struggling Murphy for twenty five minutes when we had pitman on the bench who is more of a goal thret and Dozzel itching to make a mark in his first derby match unused whats the point of not letting him have game time he is capable of winning the match for us .Mick said he would use the youngsters but When. Finally exciting definitely not i would say more boring more of the same McCarthy shi-e,and Chambers sorry but he needs dropping caught out dreaming for their goal,beaten all ends up several times and when in possession aimlessly just hoofed it down the pitch to no one.

7

Surco72 added 16:41 - Aug 21 Must have been watching a different game through beered up eyes in Ibiza than some on here but a point us a point against a good side who will be challenging come end of season . We are all huff and puff and had two efforts on target the whole game ,with full backs constantly out of position , in effective midfielders , set pieces that rarely beat the first defender and we are happy not to get beat at home again by the scum . Will enjoy my holiday drinks tonight but we are far from playoff contention with these selections and style

9

yorksblue added 16:47 - Aug 21 Get Knudsen up front next week. Otherwise, where's the goals coming from?
3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:49 - Aug 21 Was silently dreading this game before the start and expecting the weekend to end in a bout of severe depression. But hey ho, we gave it a real go,we at least matched Naarwich, and certainly deserved at least a point. If the ref hadn't been wearing yellow, we'd have had three. Our team has limitations. We need a sharper strike force, and there is still too much hoofing the ball back to the opposition when a better option might be to get in on the ground and pass to a team mate - we actually look good when we do try to do this - but the spirit and effort was admirable. Felt good today in a way it hasn't for some time. As others on here have said, if we could only get 2-3 more players (say of the calibre of Grant Ward - what a find) then we could be up there and challenging for a play off place, no doubt. Well done today. Definitely a glass half full. COYB! PS: I'm not homosexual, but "Knussen," I love you!

6

StochesStotasBlewe added 16:54 - Aug 21 Draw a fair reflection of the game overall. Naaridge were no where near as good as I,d expected to be honest & had the linesman not fluffed his lines, we could have come away with the points. Grant Ward put in some good crosses & had a fine game, plenty of endeavour by the team, but lacking that bit of quality to win these tight encounters. Still expect them to around the promotion places come May, we will do well to scrape into the play off places unless we can get a few decent recruits in. Still, was fearing the worst at 11.59 & was fairly pleased with the outcome.

6

TractorBoy666 added 16:57 - Aug 21 A very encouraging performance today, I just keep loving the look of ward (no homo) he always looks to make something, and has been a very good singing thus far. The second half was a little like the last time we played them at home, sat very deep and tried hitting them on the counter which on another day we'd take some of the chances we created. Shame about Murphys ankle seeming to go when he was through, he looked on it today but should have been replaced at that moment by pitman. Here's hoping for more performances like today!

1

potter84 added 17:00 - Aug 21 Pleased with the game and it's a 1st to enjoy watching it on sky without losing!!! My visiting father inlaw even enjoyed it and said town were in his eyes the better team! I do however feel we need another forward to push Sears murph and pitman, still rather see another right back through the door before the window closes, who's out there that could improve our team in these positions?

3

poldark added 17:01 - Aug 21 Well said Humberblue totally agree
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Elizabeth added 17:23 - Aug 21 Whoever you are Poldark you obviously know nothing about football!!
0

HackneyBlue added 17:31 - Aug 21 grumpyoldman-yes your not far wrong,did not renew so this was possibly my first and last game this season,nothing has changed,chambers ,berra and new lad all hoofballing ,sears has no chance in that position and bru has not progressed,yes a point against them a good result all considering but it will not entice me back until proper football is played.
7

IpswichT62OldBoy added 18:24 - Aug 21 Before this game a lot of people predicted a spanking for Town and for us to feel embarrassed by the performance. Glad that hasn't come to fruition. There was more than enough shown to feel some optimism, we do need to beat Preston though.
1

brittaniaman added 18:28 - Aug 21 Well done lads to get a point,, BUT! a Murphy of two years ago would have had a hat trick this afternoon and I am sure a lot of people would agree with me ?? and that would have brought the win we badly needed against these for so many years ???
4

warktheline added 19:20 - Aug 21 Can't fault effort in draws against Wolves and Norwich, could possibly have had 6 pts ! Let's wait and see if we can replica against a stubborn Preston, because believe me, the boys will need too! Three pts really required, but don't be surprised if it's another point. Do we have enough quality, for me, no we don't....
2

thundercat600 added 19:37 - Aug 21 Good game and Town got robbed by a dodgy ref, one thing on here that does puzzle me, why do some who post on here call Norwich "scum", as we know "scum" always floats on top, we are mid table what does that make us then
1

vesuviusblue added 19:53 - Aug 21 Will take that! Enjoyed the game, good performance from Town. Thought Ward, Knudsen and Douglas were excellent. Almost lost my voice! Onwards and upwards! COYB.
1

Bert added 20:34 - Aug 21 A good all round performance and most definitely a moral victory. The unsung Douglas put his body on the line, created openings and deserves credit, not that he and MM will ever get that from some on here who obviously get some kick from being prophets of doom. Thankfully the vast majority of supporters who actually go to matches have a balanced approach to what they say and get behind the team. It's those I listen to. COYB.

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 20:52 - Aug 21 Bert, I gave Douglas and Mick a bit of praise (in sort) and as most on here know, I'm neither 'so biggest fan!
1

planetblue_2011 added 21:05 - Aug 21 Played well today & hope it continues. We were unlucky with certain discisions which went Norwich's way again. We don't seem to get any luck in derbies anymore. Douglas goal should of stood he was just on side, could of been a lot different if the goal was given. Happy we didn't loose couldn't take another defeat against them. Put in a good performance & played with passion which was good to see. Still think we need an attacking midfielder!! Get Jonny Williams back!! COYB👍🏻

1

coolcat added 22:32 - Aug 21 Agree with you ArnieM. Also read your pre-match comment about Norwich which I thought was very realistic. Went to the match today and was really impressed with Town. Thought we were the better team and it was as shame we didn't get all 3 pts. Some tosh here written about Chambers. His game has improved massively - coming forward more and making strong tackles..Although he may occasionally 'hoof'ball' - as do Berra and Webster - most of the time passes on the ground to and makes really good crosses to strikers and forwards which unfortunately don't materialise as goals.

0

bohslegend added 23:40 - Aug 21 Humberblue: the "canaries"???!!! Who the fcuk are the canaries???? Only a nodger would call them that. It's budgies at the very least, if not participants, if not sister botherers, if not Cousin cuddlers, but most likely Fcuking Scum. Never canaries pffff 😡
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Walk_the_Wark added 02:26 - Aug 22 OK-realistic post- Yes of course we lack quality. Yes of course McCarthy has to go, and Town need a new chapter with a new owner. But that aside, our average players gave Norwich a really good game today. We were good for the point!
4

Dissboyitfc added 07:49 - Aug 22 Bert..Douglas is not an unsung hero, he is now an average player past his best, but yesterday he did have a good game so credit where its due. Knudsen not a fan of him either, apart from his slip which led to their goal i thought he a very good game his best for town so far. All of that said i actually enjoyed the game, apart from a ten minute period after they scored a goal against the run of play i felt we were the better team, Norwich being very poor second 45 mins. As said i did enjoy the performance. And felt very pleased with the point, today however on reflection it truly reflects where we are , happy with a point at home to our greatest rivals, happy that we didnt get stuffed. Going back to yesterdays game, we did at times play some better football! Well done to MM and Tc and the players for yesterday. I hope for more of the same throughout the rest of the season. Remember, One swallow doesnt make a Summer!

2

BlueMachines added 09:41 - Aug 22 Again Bohslegend goes for personal attacks. No comment on the game. Sad really. I thought there might be some informed comment after this game. As I assumed this was one game they might have watched?
4

Rodrigo91 added 10:16 - Aug 22 We were the better side and should have win the game. Alex Neil saying they had the better chances but think he's forgotten we were the only team to have the ball in the net twice but thanks to the sh*t officials we lose out again. I keep seeing all these people on here moaning about chambers but what about Freddie Sears he came off 80 mins too late in my opinion he offers nothing on the wing and has been poor for a while, it was his fault for the scums goal as he got bullied off the ball too easy. Yes he may try hard but you can't just run for 90 mins and contribute nothing and play every week

2

BlueSmith94 added 10:51 - Aug 22 A good point agaisnt a good Norwich team, but I felt we could have won that! Great team effort all round! Knudsen was solida again and scored a good goal! Midfield battled hard. If we can play like that all the time we can do well! Dissapointed with the attendence, you support your team no matter what, especially against your rivals, but those that turned up made it a great atmosphere! Maybe now people will stop being so harsh on Knudsen and MM. COYB!

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