Lewis Grabban’s first-half goal saw Norwich City to a 1-0 victory over the Blues in the East Anglian derby at Portman Road. The Canaries striker flicked home a header in the 24th minute after Town keeper Dean Gerken and midfielder Cole Skuse appeared to leave the ball for one another.

David McGoldrick’s expected return to the starting line-up was the only change from the team which drew at Birmingham in midweek with Conor Sammon dropping to the bench.

Norwich included former Town academy schoolboy Ryan Bennett at the centre of their defence.

The Blues were first to threaten after Tyrone Mings was fouled on the left. Jay Tabb sent in the freekick and, after Paul Anderson had been unable to direct a header goalwards, Skuse scraped a shot wide.

There was an early outing for Town’s stretcher tractor in the fifth minute after Canaries’ defender Bennett suffered what looked to be a foot injury in a challenge with Daryl Murphy. Javier Garrido replaced the former Blues schoolboy with skipper Russell Martin moving to the centre of the defence.

On 10 Murphy sent McGoldrick away on the left, the Blues number 10 cutting in and sending over a deep cross which Anderson nodded across to Tabb, who headed on to Murphy, the Irishman looping a shot well over.

Right-back Steven Whittaker struck the Canaries’ first effort in the 18th minute but his cross-shot failed to trouble Gerken. At the other end, Hyam played Mings into space down the left but his low ball found John Ruddy’s arms.

Town had had the better of the first quarter of the game with the Norwich backline having failed to clear their lines on several occasions.

Canaries striker Grabban hit a low 20-yard strike which Gerken saved well down to his right on 23 but a minute later the visitors went in front.

A corner from the right was cleared to Alexander Tettey on the edge of the box from where he nodded the ball back towards the edge of the six-yard area. As Skuse and Gerken left the ball for one another Grabban flicked a header into the net. The grounded Christophe Berra appeared to be playing the goalscorer onside, however, video evidence showed this not to be the case.

Despite the offside controversy, it was another goal every bit as poor as those conceded at Reading and Birmingham. Grabban should never have been allowed to get to what should have been an easily defended nod back into the area.

Town quickly went about getting back on terms. McGoldrick shot just past the post after a cleverly-worked freekick was played to him just outside the box. Soon after Skuse was booked for a foul on Lafferty.

The Canaries were presenting the greater threat as the game moved towards the half hour, Tetty seeing a shot blocked, then Lafferty hitting his rebound well wide. The Northern Irishman was booked shortly afterwards for a foul on Tabb.

Tabb laid the ball back to Murphy in the 37th minute but his shot was straight at Ruddy, then moments later McGoldrick brought the ball in from the left but his well-struck effort flew over.

On 43 Tabb’s drilled corner was missed by Anderson when he had a free header, the ball eventually falling to Skuse, who looped over from the edge of the box. A minute later, Lafferty flicked a header wide from a freekick on the left.

In seven minutes of injury time, largely as a result of Bennett’s early injury, McGoldrick sent in a dangerous cross which was put behind just ahead of Tabb. From the corner, the ball fell to Anderson 25 yards out but the winger lashed high and wide.

Moments before the half-time whistle McGoldrick failed to make contact as he tried an overhead kick after Berra had nodded down Tabb’s freekick from deep.

Town had huffed and puffed but had never really looked that close to grabbing an equaliser after Grabban’s very preventable goal.

Despite Norwich not looking entirely comfortable at the back at times, Ruddy had never really been tested, while Nathan Redmond and Grabban were a threat when the Canaries were on the counter-attack.

Town carved out an early second half opportunity, McGoldrick’s cross from the right falling to Murphy, who was in two minds whether to shoot on the turn or lay back to Anderson. Eventually the ball was moved on to Hyam and then Skuse, whose shot was deflected wide of goal.

The Blues should have been on terms in the 50th minute after a long spell of possession in the Norwich half. Tabb chipped a cross to the far post from where Murphy headed back past Ruddy’s right post when he should have scored.

There was a big scare for Town in the 53rd minute when the Blues played themselves into trouble midway inside their half. With Berra out of position, Garrido played Grabban through on goal but the ex-Bournemouth striker chipped over Gerken but also the bar when he should have made it 2-0.

Norwich were continuing to have their fragile moments at the back, McGoldrick escaping down the left in the 58th minute and forcing Ruddy to save at his near post from a tight angle.

Within a minute Gerken had made an even better save after Grabban seized on hesitation on the edge of the Town box and hit a powerful strike, which the keeper pushed away right-handed.

The lively Canaries striker was thwarted again as the game moved towards the hour mark having been played in one on one with Gerken towards the right of the area. The keeper forced him wide and Smith cleared his weak attempt at goal off the line.

Anderson scuffed a weak shot to Ruddy after being found in a dangerous position by Skuse on 65 but Norwich were continuing to have more of the ball with gaps increasingly appearing in Town’s defences.

With 18 minutes remaining Mick McCarthy made a triple substitution, Kevin Bru, Alex Henshall and Conor Sammon replacing Hyam, Anderson and Tabb.

A minute later Smith blocked from Bradley Johnson, then on 76 Bru’s edge of the area shot was deflected away following two Town corners.

Town were having more of the ball in dangerous areas but Norwich remained a bigger threat on the counter-attack, Gerken saving Garrido’s shot from the left as the match moved into its final 10 minutes. On 83 Mings was booked for a foul on Tettey as Norwich broke forward.

As the game moved into injury time, Berra nodded down Mings’s freekick from deep but Murphy just couldn’t get to it ahead of Ruddy.

Gerken saved Redmond’s low shot from the edge of the box and without the Blues threatening again referee Keith Stroud’s whistle confirmed the visitors’ victory.

Town had been better after the break and should have been on terms via Murphy’s header but largely they continued to huff and puff, showing too little quality on the ball.

The Canaries, having got their noses in front in the first half, continued to look the more threatening side on the break with Grabban failing to take one gilt-edged opportunity, while they created a number of other opportunities to increase their lead.

While by no means the hammering of three years ago - a result along those lines never looked on the cards - the Blues once again fell short when up against their greatest rivals, who they now haven't beaten in more than five years.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Hyam (Bru 72), Anderson (Sammon 72), Tabb (Henshall 82), McGoldrick, Murphy. Unused: Bialkowski, Parr, Hewitt, Bajner.

Norwich: Ruddy, Martin (c), R Bennett (Garrido 5), Turner, Whittaker, Tettey, Johnson, Hoolahan (O’Neil 83), Redmond, Lafferty (E Bennett 53), Grabban. Unused: Rudd, Cuellar, Jerome, Murphy. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 25,245 (Norwich 2,064).

Photo: Action Images

truckerblue added 14:50 - Aug 23 Sorry redDust hit the wrong button. Couldn't agree more with you.
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truckerblue added 14:50 - Aug 23 Sorry redDust hit the wrong button. Couldn't agree more with you.
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jollyroger added 14:50 - Aug 23 Trucker blue I couldn't agree with you more we need a midfield overhaul
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pazelle added 14:51 - Aug 23 Start Bialkowski and Henshall next match, stick Sammon in the U21s game Monday he looked totally out of sync. The goal changed the game, and it was offside. Norwich had nothing before that.
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htb added 14:52 - Aug 23 I guess this has to be better than under Keane and Jewell where we were mainly a team of big time charlies and mercenaries who would give up as soon as things went bad which led to the tonkings we had to endure. At least this lot work hard, but lack any quality and offer little entertainment. I feel so frustrated at having had to put up with so much dross in the last 10 years. I have previously had four season tickets but two of my kids no longer wish to go. I cannot blame them! Today we only created one real chance, and what is the point of Mccarthy if we now appear to not be solid in defence. The goal today was pathetic. We have spent less than any club in the Championship in the last two years. Our manager seems determined to get rid of any players who have any flair, and we can expect no entertainment just boring attritional football that will lead to another mid table season of boredom. To think when Norwich went down and the Marcus Evans money had arrived we all thought the natural dominance over our East Anglian rivals would continue. How wrong we were.

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Bluetone added 14:53 - Aug 23 McCarthy's Favourites 0 Budgies 1
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runaround added 14:54 - Aug 23 As much as I've tried to convince myself all week we were going to lose, as much as I knew they have a much better side than us, as much as since the 5-0 they have seemed to have the Indian sign over us, as much as I tried to prepare myself for the worst, that result hurts like hell! What makes it worse is Norwich didn't have to get out of 1st gear today. Ruddy didn't have a save to make & we could have played all night & wouldn't have scored. For all the effort the likes of Hyam & Mings put in today, we are not good enough. Worryingly we seem to have lost the habit we had last season of being strong in both boxes from set pieces which gained us a lot of our points last season.& we are gifting poor goals away. We created one real good chance which Murph missed when he had to hit the target. I don't see what Excuse gives us in midfield & we are 2 or 3 players short of challenging, players in midfield with quality who can pass & move forward with the ball. I know Mick has little money to work with but really hope he works miracles in next few weeks otherwise we have no chance of top 6. The effort cannot be questioned but the attacking quality just isn't there

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stoofer added 14:55 - Aug 23 We shop at poundland they shop at sainsburys !!!! Oh and they want the ball on the floor more than us !!!
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Elizabeth added 14:55 - Aug 23 Tyrone Mings and David Mc Goldrick were the positives for us today. I feel sorry for Luke Chambers who is not playing in his preferred position and seemed to struggle. We desperately need a mid fielder with flair and skill to help create chances for our forwards . Skuse is certainly not the answer but for some reason Mick chooses to persevere with him. How much longer I wonder? I would like to see our new keeper and Bru start our next game. Didn't think Norwich played that well, but they scored the goal albeit a fortuitous one!

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bluefeast added 14:56 - Aug 23 5 games , failed to score in 3. Standard of football the worst imaginable. New signings have all weakened the squad. Drop chambers and skuse who view a football as something you must not be composed with.
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haircut101 added 14:56 - Aug 23 when will McCARTHY get a few basic facts into his stubborn head 1) jay tabb is a waste of space 2) Higham is too slow 3) Chambers will never be a left back 4) Gerken is a wimpish flapper in the box 5)skuse is far too negative 6) letting Woody go was a big mistake
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 14:56 - Aug 23 Gone are the days of a passing fluent ITFC, at times it was more like rugby, kick and run. Midfield let us down again; Tabb, Hyam, Skuse, Anderson all not good enough. No creativity, guile, strength, pace, height, vision and poor passing ability. Murph and McGoldrick both ok and the back 4 were and are good enough and Gerks kept the score down. Mings MOM. Poor.

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NoelTheDub added 14:56 - Aug 23 That was DREADFUL I dont think there is a team in any league 1 or 2 that plays that way sometimes it works but to see our defence been tore apart and our forwards so starved of supply it was hard to watch.1 chance in 90min at any derby at home is shocking.No width,no creativity, midfield giving so many passes backwards, and to finish Conor Salmon crossing in a ball beggers belief.Yes before I get my moan minus, its only a few games in and yes MM steadied our ship but we are taking on water faster than a few MM lovers think.This is going on since last season and we are going backwards fast yes we will stay in this league but stop this bull where we have come from we are as bad as ever and been bored out of our pants to add salt to our wounds.Get a grip MM even your hardest followers are asking questions of you and rightly so. Cant wait to hear your tripe that we made 1 mistake we were MURDERED it could have been 4 or 5...

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cleggo added 14:58 - Aug 23 midfield simply don't look comfortable on the ball. Unless we can start playing with the ball and not just working hard without it then we will have another 14 years in this division unfortunately.
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richardpaul added 15:01 - Aug 23 Once again expectations were high but reality soon reasserted itself Ipswich are just not good enough Flattering results so far against Fulham a lucky draw against Birminham and two losses before today Something has got to change because as things are looking without any notable additions this close season we are destined for a mid/lower table finish
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MonterreyBlue added 15:01 - Aug 23 The worst local derby i can remember. To make it even worse, had to get up at 5am to watch it (am in Mexico) Completely agree with NoCanariesAllowed, although up until the goal, i thought we were more committed, closed down really well and looked the better and most likely of two VERY poor teams. Why didnt Gerken come out for a floated header onto his 6 yard line and take everyone out with him and the ball?? We lack any ideas, creativity and never really looked like scoring.... if we had, it would of been a bundled home "Wimbledon style" goal as i dont think we have any quality within the team (apart from Mcgoldrick) to play decent football. While much as i like MM, his straight talking and has most definitely steadied the ship in difficult times, i 1: dont like the brand of football, its boring, lacks thought and creativity and isnt much more than hoof-ball 2: I dont think we will get promoted any time soon playing like that. 3: it most certainly isnt the Ipswich way and i think i would prefer us get the ball down and play. 4: Surely MM is having a laugh with Bru, ok, give the lad a chance to settle but to me, looks way, way out of his depth. Thought Mings was outstanding, Hyam in the 1st half also, Skuse awful but is MMs best bud. My dad sent me a text halfway thru the game "oh how i miss Stockwell and Taricco" lol have to agree. Conclusión: Top half finish, un-entertaining football, an average Championship squad, reality check as to where we are actually going as a Club. Sorry its a negative post, incredibly im not even that devastated by the result, more the bigger picture of where we are and where we are going as a Club. COYB.

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Bluetone added 15:02 - Aug 23 I know it sounds ridiculous but I do begin to wonder if McCarthy's "working his ticket" and just trying to get a payout and his contract terminated. Yes I know he has signed a contract extension but that would only boost a payout.
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BondiBlue added 15:03 - Aug 23 Rubbish. If we're going to lose to those c@@ts at least break a few legs. Pathetic.
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muccletonjoe added 15:04 - Aug 23 If you really want ti see how bad we can be. Then get rid of Mccarthy I guarantee all of you here and now we would then finally disappear down the plug hole.
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brittaniaman added 15:06 - Aug 23 We just cannot make strides from last season when we are playing the same TEAM AS LAST SEASON ????? ESPECIALLY THE MIDFIELD !!!!!!!!!
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Jimmy86 added 15:06 - Aug 23 Disappointing to say the least. But workmanlike players will only get you sao far and I think that was proved today in a big way. We need to sign some players who are comfortable on the ball, even in tight situations, norwich took care of the ball, we treated it like a hot potatoe!! The goal was really poor and far too easy. Thought the ref was poor as the amount of times their defenders climbed or wrestled murphy was unreal, but playing ling ball was playing into their hands. Gutted to be honest, work to be donefor sure

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Ipswichlove added 15:10 - Aug 23 There was no flare! We didn't want it! Hyam was the only person up for it and don't even ask me why he was taken off.. We didn't have the quality that we needed... It was all long ball which dosent work.. I though gerken was very poor and couldn't kick or his life even to say though he made a few good saves... I thought mings and chambers were isolated but I thought mings was poor... Skuse looker good first half but weak second half.. We have waited 3 years for this and I think we deserved a better performance than that.. I don't want to sound down but there was little quality from that game... Anyway we move on.. That loss hurt but we have to move on.. Over to derby COYB

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BillBlue added 15:11 - Aug 23 Jimmy, you and others are saying "We need to sign some players who are comfortable on the ball," but cannot you see Mick has got rid of all the players who showed any finesse and stacked the team out with hoofers, that is his conception of football? If he signed a genius he would put him out on loan, there is only one way forward for us now and that is to get McC out.

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suffolkref added 15:12 - Aug 23 What I liked about Mick when he came is was "round pegs in round holes", i.e. he got in a right sided defender and pushed Carlos Edwards forward from right back. Now we have four centre halves, two playing as left and right defence! So if it was "round pegs in round holes" before why not know? In front of them four workmanlike midfielders and yet again dour and depressing football. We need proper defenders in each position and a creative midfielder and a creative winger.....then we may look a threat going forward rather than hoof it football in the land of the giants

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StochesStotasBlewe added 15:13 - Aug 23 Dreadful route one football. Norwich didn,t look that great but had the better chances & deserved to win end of. We will go nowhere playing this way. Awful in midfield, no attacking threat, defence looks disorganised & was split wide open on numerous occasions. If any Town fan can honestly say we are going places any time soon, then today was a stark reality check to them. Mid table Mick will achieve exactly that.

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