Boss Jim Magilton blamed poor defending for his side failing to hold on to their 2-0 half-time lead at Norwich, however, the Town manager felt that the Canaries are a better side than their current bottom of the table position suggests.

Magilton said: "You have to give credit to Norwich. They threw all caution to the wind in the second half and threw everything at us, but if we'd defended properly we would have won the game.

"It's amazing what a new manager can do to a team. It's the same group of players which have been struggling all year and I'm sure Peter Grant is sitting at home amazed by that.

"We were a bit lucky to be 2-0 up at the break but it could have been any score, there were so many chances at either end.

"Hartson did very well. He came on and bullied our back four and he's a top, top player.

"Neil Alexander kept us in the game with some top saves. He's getting better and better and his confidence is getting better every week.

"It's another point that we can build on and it had everything. It was hugely entertaining but the quality wasn't the best.

"It's a derby and it's our little part of the world and we're very proud of it and that was evident today because I thought both sides gave absolutely everything to try and win the game."

New Norwich boss Glenn Roeder was impressed with Jamie Cureton's equalising goal: "I don't think you realise how hard that chance was. To lift the ball over the goalkeeper like that was a goal worthy of the very best. It was Premier League finishing."

Roeder felt his side did enough to win the game: "I really missed football over the last few months and it's very satisfying that the boys put in so much effort.

"But it wasn't satisfying that the effort didn't give us three points because I thought we were the better side throughout.

"We are in this situation and we have to accept that. This isn't the time for moaning and groaning and the crowd were tremendous.

"But we have to play with that level of intensity every match now. They've set the benchmark."

Roeder is yet to decide whether to take further action against Darren Huckerby for his studs high challenge on Jon Walters which led to his last minute red card: "It looked like both players raised their boots but if I feel that it was a bad tackle I'll speak to Darren about that."

Photo: Action Images

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