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

thebeat added 17:37 - Aug 23 The plain and simple facts are Gerken and all 4 midfielders who started today are simply not good enough if we want to be successful in this division. Gerkens rooted to his line and we lose the midfield battle every week. Its almost like playing with 8 defenders. 18 months we've all known this but nothing has been done. I have no problem with the defence and given better support and chances created Didz and Murph will do their job.

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RegencyBlue added 17:38 - Aug 23 Didn't think Norwich were that good but they didn't need to be to beat us, which is the most disappointing thing. We just don't have a midfield capable of holding onto the ball, or using it creatively, resulting in long hopeful balls lumped forward out of defence. The ball then comes straight back! There is no pace in the team and Chambers is not a right back! Its exactly the same problems we had last season and nothing has really changed other than the squad as a whole is arguably weaker! I'm at the point where I am fed up with the Evans regime and the way FFP is used to excuse the lack of investment in the club. OK throwing money at it doesn't necessarily work, as we know to our cost, but neither is starving the manager of funds. If there is a plan its clearly not working.

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BillBlue added 17:42 - Aug 23 Love it Bluetone, gave me my first real kaugh of today!
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bugledog123 added 17:45 - Aug 23 Where was the passion? Mings and McG aside we were gutless. Very upset today.
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HackneyBlue added 17:59 - Aug 23 The only bright moment for me today was when one norwch fan was showing me the aggregate score from the last 2 derbys and had enough fingers to do so!!
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jwitfc added 18:03 - Aug 23 Fans should be ashamed of themselves. Terrible support, bunch of moaners who can't even show some passion and get behind the team for a derby. Once the goal went in the place was like a library as always. Try getting behind the team and showing some passion for once
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nunny97 added 18:12 - Aug 23 In general defense fairly solid don't need to worry about that, midfield Anderson good enough, Hyam a proper defensive midfielder that will give everything, then the problems start Skuse just awful and you cant play two such defensively minded players in the same 11, Tabb also terrible, but sure cam stewart or hunt will take his place when they come back, so the problems clear, spend some money marcus evans and bring in a solid championship attacking midfielder, even a David Norris would do at the moment. Strikers fine, but if they have a better midfield to feed off they could get even more goals. PROBLEMS CLEAR!

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Alwaysablue added 18:22 - Aug 23 2 truly mediocre teams,1 gifted goal and a complete lack of edge for a derby match. McCarthy is getting rid of all out creative players and continuously playing poor toothless midfielders who are as creative as a brick wall. Our lump upfield tactic is figured put before the game starts and we have no other plans, tactically as a team we are appalling.
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htb added 18:22 - Aug 23 Extremely disappointed? How about uninspiring? Embarassing, shocking. I'm mainly angry because I just cannot see us going anywhere. How are we meant to compete when clubs like Norwich who get huge parachute payments etc. and a club like us who are the lowest spending team in the Championship. McCarthy has done well to recover us from the mess of Paul Jewell and Roy Keane but I can't see him doing any better than he has done. Everyone wants us to sign a Jonny Williams or a Danny Ings but the fact is, McCarthy would never get these players because they aren't his type. And to be honest I don't think they would want to join us. We need a ambitious young manager who isnt afraid to be a bit more attacking. I dont think Hyam had his best game but he did what he always does. I cant see us going anyplace until our club has a complete change. Look at Bournemouth, not a huge club but they are attacking, not afraid to play and they have done v.well in the last few seasons with Eddie Howe. If we are going to play long balls then it would be great if we could actually head a few! Last thing, its obvious McCarthy has his favourites, and he protects them, Taylor and Wordsworth always being shunned and people like Tabb and Gerken who some how still get a game! He needs to make changes

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tractorkent added 18:26 - Aug 23 i have a feeling that not everyone will agree with me but I thought at times Town looked neat and tidy. Neat and tidy is fine for our defensive central midfied partnersdhip but why can't MM see the problem? .....CREATIVITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK.Managers earn obscene money so why can't MM see the problem when 20.000. people can?. I only recall one good chance, a header in the second half. But rest asured though team that {M I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY M} knows what he's doing.I have to travel 190 mile round trip and for the first time i am asking myself Why?

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goat_man added 18:30 - Aug 23 Yet another miserable start to a season. Once again we find ourselves in the bottom half of the table after the first few games of the season and needing to play catch-up.
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sereneblue added 18:34 - Aug 23 Let us all pray that one day we WILL see football return to Portman Road.
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clint_eastwood added 18:54 - Aug 23 So many angry Ipswich fans today. Yes...I'm one of them. GET PAUL TAYLOR BACK YOU MUPPET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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karls_dad added 19:18 - Aug 23 I,m just getting fed up with it all now, the tactics, the players we have, MM,s judgement, its all getting so very boring, nil excitement in any game, hoofball, poor goal keeping, no investment, how can we expect to perform miracles with a team costing about 25 quid, just tediious! I was so looking forward to listening to the derby today, and ended up turning it down and doing some housework, bored! worst East Anglian Derby in living memory, the season is looking very poor for us now, and i never ever thought i would say this, but a change of manager is needed, new ideas, new investment, and a fresh start!

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essexboy added 19:26 - Aug 23 RegencyBlue,spot on post.everything you said was correct.I'm sorry to say this but we are going backwards from last season.Only one player was proud to wear a Town shirt today and that was Mings.What midfield,there is not a clue between them,sorry to say this but it's true.Must win at Derby next Saturday otherwise we are really in the s...
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mantreeblue added 19:34 - Aug 23 face facts mick mac is a poor manager with a bad mouth, and no plan B we need to get rid off we need someone like malky in . he needs a job we need a manager.
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Tonyitfc82 added 19:36 - Aug 23 Very dissapointing game. Apart from Mings and maybe Hyam everyone else was way below average. MM is working wonders in my opinion with the bunch of players he has available to him. He simply cant do anything till he can start and get players in on loan from PL. Jay Tab was absolutely useles. The worst player in town shirt. To short, to slow. If MM has the money available to spend then he will do it but unfortunately there isnt any. Thats not his fault. The team gave everything they had. Still very early days though. Only 4 points off playoffs and 6 points off

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Tonyitfc82 added 19:37 - Aug 23 Very dissapointing game. Apart from Mings and maybe Hyam everyone else was way below average. MM is working wonders in my opinion with the bunch of players he has available to him. He simply cant do anything till he can start and get players in on loan from PL. Jay Tab was absolutely useles. The worst player in town shirt. To short, to slow. If MM has the money available to spend then he will do it but unfortunately there isnt any. Thats not his fault. The team gave everything they had. Still very early days though. Only 4 points off playoffs and 6 points off

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Cakeman added 20:07 - Aug 23 An uninspiring derby that just drifted by as though it was a pre-season friendly. Very odd. It has been said by numerous others already but I too must say that you can have all the effort and desire in the world but if players are only of a division one standard how can it be expected that the will do well in the Championship? They weren't good enough last season so why would they be this season? Harsh on a few yes but that is how I see things. ME for reasons unknown does not want to part with funds even it would appear the proceeds of the Creswell sale. Listening to Mick McCarthy on Radio Suffolk after the match, he sounded quite down. I wonder if he thinks he can take this club further given the obvious stringent funding restraints he is working under. The hiding behind financial fair play rules is tedious. In the meantime we as a playing force are marking time and in a manner that will not draw the crowds. For the match today itself I do not like saying it but Naridge deserved their win.

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Steelmonkey added 20:11 - Aug 23 Thought we did very well today considering what MM has left to pick a team from. If he has loans lined up to come, and by god let's hope he has after today's performance, we may find ourselves watching a competent championship side who may make the playoffs. On the other hand if this is all that MM has to offer fans in the way of entertainment, attendences will continue to fall, results will go against us. As I said in a recent post if you don't score goals you can't win games, but to score you have to create chances and take them. If Murphy's header had found the top corner then we may have shared a point. There was very little in way of creative play today. I can only single out Mings today to praise. For how many seasons have fans been saying we need a better midfield, if we can see it why not do those at the club not see it. If you can't feed your strikers you can't create chances. A midfield devoid of skill and creativity is unfortunately what we have.

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TimmyH added 21:15 - Aug 23 Interesting how arguably Micks best spell at the club was soon after he started in November 2012 - from late on in that month to early January 2013 he had a record of: W5 D4 L2 - in that period he brought in loans to accommodate weak areas but largely with the foundation of Paul Jewell's team and relatively little if any transferred contracted faces during that spell. Compare in certain areas then to what is in now and make your own mind up what now in hindsight are the better players. 2012/13 2014/15 Henderson GK Gerken GK Stearman RB Chambers RB Cresswell LB Mings LB N'Daw CM Skuse CM Martin LM Tabb/Anderson LM Edwards RM Anderson/Hewitt RM Campbell FW McGoldrick/Murphy FW Undoubtedly with some of those players of a few years ago and with the existing players already contracted Mick had to work with far less defensive minded players including the likes of JET and Hyam who played in a less defensive midfield roll, other midfield players actually SCORED some goals - Edwards, JET, N'Daw although Martin didn't you got more out him effort wise and trying to create than Tabb of today. Campbell (on loan) scored for fun but wasn't a worker up front. So the question is why is MM so ridiculously over the top with regards to signing workhorse type players with lnot that much quality? - Those players he worked with back in 2012/13 weren't generally of that ilk.

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Blue041273 added 21:22 - Aug 23 Cakeman, while not disagreeing with the mainly valid comments in your post I do take issue with your view that "hiding behind the FFP rules is tedious". The fact is that we have signed up to them and have to comply with them. We do not have the option of ignoring them with impunity. We are still in a loss making situation. Without ME's continued financial support we would be heading for administration and all the consequences that would entail. Even without FFP rules investment in the squad would need ME to provide the required funds which, given the funds already mis-spent, would not necessarily be forthcoming. The fact is that the magic wand in the form of transfer funds is not available to most teams in the FL. What is becoming tedious is that the more desperate of us think that we can ignore the FFP rules, spend a shed load of cash on new players and all our problems will be solved in an instant.

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thebeat added 21:56 - Aug 23 I just dont buy this FFP stuff. Of course we have to abide by it but we've spent 100k in 2 years. Surely we can spend 1 - 2 million and still be within the laws? All the big earners are now off the wage bill so whats the problem?
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Lightningboy added 22:43 - Aug 23 Watched the game ( I delayed going on holiday by 3 hours to watch that garbage)..only just got online to add my opinion. Thought we were absolutely abysmal from beginning to end..it just shows how far we fell under Keane & Jewell to accept what McCarthy has done over the last 22 months as any sort of "improvement"..yes he's brought in some decent hard working players but by God we've totally forgotten how to play decent,attractive,attacking football in the process..we 're now going backwards again. The glorious days of George Burley's reign are well and truly gone aren't they?..Sir Bobby must be turning in his grave at what we've become & who's now wishing that we hadn't given Magilton the boot far too soon? If this is what McCarthy is happy with then he can go tomorrow as far as i'm concerned..we are becoming embarrassingly bad. Big bloody shake up needed - Again!

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Lightningboy added 22:44 - Aug 23 Watched the game ( I delayed going on holiday by 3 hours to watch that garbage)..only just got online to add my opinion. Thought we were absolutely abysmal from beginning to end..it just shows how far we fell under Keane & Jewell to accept what McCarthy has done over the last 22 months as any sort of "improvement"..yes he's brought in some decent hard working players but by God we've totally forgotten how to play decent,attractive,attacking football in the process..we 're now going backwards again. The glorious days of George Burley's reign are well and truly gone aren't they?..Sir Bobby must be turning in his grave at what we've become & who's now wishing that we hadn't given Magilton the boot far too soon? If this is what McCarthy is happy with then he can go tomorrow as far as i'm concerned..we are becoming embarrassingly bad. Big bloody shake up needed - Again!

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