Town and Norwich played out another scoreless draw at Carrow Road yesterday afternoon as both defences won the day. Town lined up with Wayne Brown replacing the suspended Mark Venus and Manu Thetis in for the absent John McGreal. James Scowcroft came in for Richard Naylor up front.
Possibly the most controversial incident of thr game occurred in the first minute with a horrendous studs high challenge from Matt Jackson on David Johnson leaving the striker needing treatment for several minutes. Red cards have been shown for an awful lot less (you ask Danny Sonner).
The pattern of the game emerged quickly; Town dominating possession with Norwich attempting to catch us in the break through strikers Adrian Forbes and Chris Llewellyn.
In the first half Town went closest with a Wayne Brown header from a corner. If it had gone anywhere but at Andy Marshall it would have ben a goal, however it picked out the 'keeper unerringly.
The second half saw the pattern much the same. Norwich brought on Anselin and Dalglish for the egregious Llewellyn and ineffective Marshall, but despite this geeing the Norfolk crowd up there was little change. Town continued to dictate the play without ever setting up clear-cut chances. Fabian Wilnis beat his defender umpteen times, but never got a truly penetrating cross in. Mickey Stockwell and Jim Magilton both had shots deflected wide and James Scowcroft lobbed over after a lovely through ball from Manu Thetis.
At the other end Norwich came closest to scoring when a Matt Jackson header hit the top of the bar from a free-kick.
The game petered out and another East Anglian derby came to a close. By no means a classic, but at least we got a point from the Budgies and now can look forward to emphasising our status as the Pride of Anglia at Portman Road in March.
R Wright 7 Nothing wrong, kicking much better than Marshall
Wilnis 6 Got behind defence, but crossing poor
Thetis 7 Excellent return and Anglia Man of the Match
Mowbray 7 Usual Mogga performance
Brown 7 Another solid game
Clapham 6 Not enough decent crosses
Holland 7 Typical Matty performance
Magilton 7 Ran the show in midfield but not enough penetration
Stockwell 6 Not his best afternoon, unlucky with shot
Johnson 6 Out of form, badly fouled early on
Scowcroft 6 Should have done better with lob
It is reported that after yesterday's game David Johnson said he thought he ought to be dropped given his recent form. An interesting admission from a man never afraid to give his view of things. Perhaps a run out in the reserves will do him good and a couple of first team starts will do Jonas Axeldal the world of good.