Town's reserve team went down 2-1 to local rivals Norwich City at Portman Road on Monday night. Pablo Couñago scored the Town goal in the 83rd minute.

In a dull first-half, Norwich took the lead through Danny Crow on 25 minutes. Jerrome Sobers was caught out after a long clearance and Crow finished past Shane Supple from 12 yards.

Ian Westlake's shot was the only effort on target for Town in the first-half; a shot that went straight into the arms of Norwich goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.

Norwich almost scored within the first few seconds of the restart, after a mix-up between Shane Supple and Jerrome Sobers, but Supple managed to pounce on the ball in his six-yard area.

On 47 minutes, Norwich did score. Jim Brennan crossed the ball in from an acute angle, and Sobers diverted it into his own net with Jarvis in attention.

On 50 minutes Town made a substitution by replacing Jerrome Sobers with Michael Synnott.

Two minutes later, Darryl Knights had a header clawed away by Gallacher after a good cross from Daniel Flack. Three minutes later, Knights again rose unchallenged in the area, but this time his header was straight at Gallacher.

On 58 minutes, Pablo Couñago missed a decent opportunity for Town. The ball was crossed in by Chris Hogg and Counago was at the back-post with an open goal, but he couldn't stretch far enough to make contact with the ball.

Five minutes later, and Shane Supple had to make a good save from Phil Mulryne's driven free-kick.

On 65 minutes, Town made a double substitution by replacing Ian Westlake with Owen Garvan and taking off Daniel Flack and replacing him with Adem Atay.

The game died down then, and the only noticeable happening was a substitution for Norwich City on 81 minutes. Lee Howlett replaced Lee Blackburn.

On 83 minutes, Pablo Couñago scored for Town. He cut in from the right after beating Jason Shackell, and hit the ball home from six yards past Paul Gallacher.

Town then pressed for an equaliser, but it was not to be, and Town lost out in this East Anglian derby.

There was a plus and a minus after the match concerning injuries. The absent Gerard Nash's knee is not thought to be too bad after the weekend's Academy win at Arsenal but Town will know more during the course of this week. The down side is that young Irish right-back Michael Synnott had a very big support around his right foot after the game.

Town: Shane Supple, Chris Hogg, Liam Craig, Scott Mitchell (c), Jerrome Sobers (Michael Synnott 50), Aidan Collins, Daniel Flack (Adem Atay 65), Antonio Murray, Pablo Couñago, Darryl Knights and Ian Westlake (Owen Garvan 65). Unused subs: Lubomir Guentchev and Blair Hammond.

Norwich: Paul Gallacher, Andrew Cave-Brown, Jim Brennan, Phil Mulryne, Jason Shackell (c), Matt Halliday, Lee Blackburn (Lee Howlett 81), Danny Crow, Mathias Svensson, Ryan Jarvis and Adam Smith. Unused subs: Shane Herbert, Robert Eagle, Nicky Howell and Andrew Fisk. Att: 1,314.

Photo: Action Images

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