A goal in either half from Bradley Johnson and Lewis Grabban gave Norwich City a 2-0 victory over Town in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road. Johnson opened the scoring on 24 with a strike off the underside of the bar with Grabban adding the second in the 62nd minute.

Town boss Mick McCarthy handed Richard Chaplow his full Blues debut at the most advanced point of a midfield diamond ahead of Cole Skuse with Kevin Bru on the right and Jay Tabb on the left.

Paul Anderson and Jonny Parr dropped to the bench, while Teddy Bishop missed out with the ankle injury he suffered in training.

David McGoldrick (thigh), Darren Ambrose, Stephen Hunt (both hamstring), Noel Hunt and Luke Hyam (knee) had all previously been ruled out. Former Northgate High School pupil Hyam watched the game fro the away end.

Chris Wood, who signed on loan from Leicester on Friday, was on the bench alongside 17-year-old first-year scholar Kundai Benyu, who was in the matchday 18 for the first time.

The game started in a swirling wind with the home side threatening first in the third minute when Lewis Grabban was found on the right of the area, but Tyrone Mings got across to muscle him off the ball.

Norwich felt they ought to have been awarded a penalty in the seventh minute when Grabban was tackled by Tommy Smith. Referee Paul Tierney awarded a corner but replays suggested the Canaries might have had a case. From the second of two flag-kicks the ball was cleared to Jonny Howson, who volleyed well wide.

There was a scare for the Blues on 13 when Chaplow allowed Howson to send over a cross from the left after a corner from the right had been sent too deep. Norwich Johnson flicked a header which Berra blocked, then Murphy cleared the loose ball.

Skuse picked up the game’s first booking in the 16th minute for catching Johnson with a high boot as the home side broke on halfway.

The majority of the first 20 minutes had been played in the Norwich half but without the Blues having been able to create a chance. When in decent areas all too often a pass had been lacking at the crucial moment.

Much the same was the case in the 23rd minute when Chaplow won the ball on the right and broke into the area but failed to find Murphy with his cross.

A minute later the home side went in front. Wes Hoolahan fed Grabban on the right and the striker’s low cross caught Berra’s heel and found Johnson rushing into the area on the left, from where he smashed a shot into the net off the underside of the bar.

The Blues looked to hit straight back but Murphy failed to get anything on a shot from the edge of the box and Norwich keeper Ruddy claimed comfortably.

Town weren’t far away from an equaliser in the 31st minute when Bru won the ball midway inside the Blues’ half and sent Murphy away down the left. The Irishman crossed low to Sears, who touched the ball past his defender before shooting. However, the touch had allowed Ruddy time to come off his line and the keeper blocked.

Sears hit a 20-yard strike from the left which Ruddy saved to his left on 35, then three minutes later Hoolahan hit a looping effort from further out which Bartosz Bialkowski claimed.

Neither side threatened again before referee Tierney’s whistle signalled the half-time break.

Having gone in front the home side had largely been on top without particularly threatening to add to their lead. The well-worked goal was the one time they had cut through the Blues during the first half.

But Town were far form out of it, having continued to battle away in their usual manner and they might well have been on terms but for Ruddy’s impressive save from Sears.

Aside from that and Sears’s effort from distance soon after, Town hadn’t managed to test the home keeper on too many more occasions in a derby of few chances at either end.

Luke Varney replaced Chaplow at start of the second half and the Blues went close soon after the restart when Johnson inadvertently smashed Tabb’s freekick in from the left over his own crossbar.

On 53 Berra did well to cut out Grabban’s cross from the left, then from the corner Johnson headed wide. Two minutes later Grabban hit a low shot through to Bialkowski which failed to trouble the Polish keeper.

Sears saw a strike blocked on 58 with Town beginning to put the home side under a bit of pressure. Three minutes later, Norwich swapped Nathan Redmond for Cameron Jerome.

Within a minute of coming on the former Cardiff man inadvertently created the second goal for Grabban. Having been forced wide to the left by Berra, Jerome cut in and hit a shot which struck Mings, deflected off Grabban and trickled over the line.

As the Blues looked to get back into the game Ruddy saved from Sears from distance on 67, then two minutes later Parr replaced Bru in the Blues midfield.

It might have been 3-0 in the 73rd minute when Jerome was threaded through on goal but Bialkowski came off his line quickly to save.

Despite the match appearing lost the Blues kept going and twice threatened in the 76th minute. After Ruddy had dropped a cross, the ball was returned into the box and Sears and then Parr both had shots blocked.

With 11 minutes left on the clock new signing Wood took over from 21-goal Championship top scorer Murphy.

Sears almost created a goal for Town in the 81st minute. Tabb took a quick freekick and the former Colchester man chipped a cross over Ruddy but Johnson headed off the line and Sebastian Bassong nodded over.

Three minutes later Mings was booked for a foul on Howson. From the freekick, Canaries skipper Russell Martin stabbed into the side-netting at the far post.

Wood flicked a header wide from a Parr cross after a Town freekick in the 86th minute with the Blues continuing to look for a goal which would never come.

Paul Tierney’s whistle signalled Norwich’s victory - their fourth derby in a row for the first time in their history - a result which sees the Canaries move up to third and the Blues remain in sixth.

While there wasn’t a huge amount in the game and Town had one or two chances, the home side played the more controlled football for the most part and took their best first-half chance, while the Blues failed to take theirs.

The somewhat flukey second goal came at a time when Town were starting to impose themselves on the game. The Blues kept pushing and carved out one or two half-chances but never really looked like getting back into the game once they had gone two goals behind.

Norwich: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin (c), Bassong, Olsson, Tettey, Johnson, Redmond (Jerome 61 (Hooper 90)), Howson, Hoolahan (Dorrans 83), Grabban. Unused: Rudd, Turner, Hooper, Andreu, Garrido.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru (Parr 69), Chaplow (Varney 46), Bru, Murphy, Sears. Unused: Gerken, Clarke, Anderson, Benyu. Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire). Attendance: 27,005.

Photo: Action Images

Tomairyn added 16:49 - Mar 1 Essex Tractor: Berra to be exempted from criticism but Chambers and Smith yet again displayed nil ability in control or distribution. Are you seriously trying to tell me that Berra has ability to control a ball and then accurately pass it ? For a professional footballer he has absolutely no idea where any of his hoofs forward are going and my Nan could control a ball better than him. And she's dead !!! If you ask me, we kept more clean sheets when Chambers and Smith were our two centre backs with Stearman at right back. Why not go back to that, with Parr taking Stearmans place. Smith is never going to look comfortable on the right side as he has no right foot.

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pablo123 added 16:50 - Mar 1 Chambers , mings and tabb can all f*** off now for me !!!! Dreadfull
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prebbs007 added 16:51 - Mar 1 Poor team selection AGAIN Mick, the responsibility lies with you. Smith is a liability every game as a right sided defender yet you continue to pick him. Tabb creates nothing yet you continue to pick him. Premier league striker on bench do when you change it at half time how is it Varney ahead of Wood ??? You have to take the blame for this Mick, apart from one save from Sears, Ruddy could have sat in the dugout. Shocking performance again when it mattered. That's from manager down !!!! Be very lucky to finish in play offs. Too many poor players played on wrong positions by stubborn manager with his favourites who can't be dropped. Pathetic.

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runaround added 16:52 - Mar 1 I expected us to lose but it still hurts. Thought we did ok, battled hard as always but lack imagination pace & skill in midfield. The first goal was a top class finish but he was fortunate that the cross deflected to him whilst second was a fluke with 3 deflections following Jerome's initial shot before it made it over the line. Once again Parr for some reason doesn't start whilst Smith looks a nervous wreck & seriously needs taking out of the firing line. Hate to say but I expect Norwich to push on & win the division. We now have 2 vital games coming up, we must make sure of a top 6 finish then take it from there. We have the players to achieve this but need some of the injuries back ASAP COYB we can still do this

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Bobby_Petta added 16:52 - Mar 1 Williams is injured still but there must be other players out there! though he was decent when here, don't agree with you there NSL
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rinkydinkpanther added 16:52 - Mar 1 @senduntd No, Mings didn't have a good game. Most of us watching could see that. I agree with cartman1972 - he's extremely overrated. In games like today, I just don't see what the fuss is about. In fact, at times, he looks absolutely f*cking atrocious. Doesn't even really play, or appear, like a real footballer. Then again, that can be said for several of our lot. The fact is: we do well for a sh*t team. That's what McCarthy's managed to achieve with us. As long as he's our manager, this will possibly always be the case. It's an improvement on the recent past...but is it something we're happy to settle with? I suppose we should be grateful, but that ultimately can only extend to a point. I'd love to enjoy watching Town play attractive football again at some point. And despite what McCarthy's philosophy may or may not allow, results can be achieved with it (Norwich). Plus the players to do it are clearly out there without having to pay the world for them (Sears).

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peteswindon added 16:52 - Mar 1 Simply out classed and out played. Our passing is atrocious at best.
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DeanoBlue added 16:52 - Mar 1 not much between the two but Norwich kept the ball on the floor and please play wingers if ur gonna go 442 not 4 centre mids, Sears was best town player, March is such a tough month we'll no by the end of it if promotion is over or not
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bostonusablue added 16:53 - Mar 1 Let's face it Norwich should be beating us with the squad that they have. Dorrans off the bench for example. We lack any creativity in the team, so why did we not go for a player like that? Chaplow? Utter rubbish. Any team that has midget Tabb playing the full 90 week in week out will never get promoted. At this rate, we will be lucky to make the play-offs. 10 million for Mings. Is someone having a laugh? We should sell him in a heart beat and strengthen the entire team. PS. Does anyone else think that Tabb looks like a midget version of Rick Mayall?

2

potter added 16:53 - Mar 1 Neither side deserved the win Tbh. They only troubled Bart once really the whole game. Both lucky goals, first was a deflected cross that fell to Johnson and 2nd well can you get any luckier. Sears had 2-3 good chances I'm baffled by micks choices though. What has Parr got to do even a loanee Chaplow got ahead of him today. Varney on before woods??? I think 8th is where we could possibly be heading. Any news on Jonny Williams to sort of dross of a midfield out

0

wychyblue added 16:54 - Mar 1 Be realistic , we are sixth but not even the sixth best team in the championship. We are in a false position and I guess will be in our rightful position at the end of the season . Why even contemplate buying wingers if you have absolutely no intention of playing them ? Quite bizarre really ! Sadly probably better in this division . At least semi- competitive over 46 games . Would be embarrassing week in week out in the league above .

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bellazzurri79 added 16:55 - Mar 1 McCarthy just said Luke Carney had a good game ?????????? Are you kidding me?
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bellazzurri79 added 16:55 - Mar 1 McCarthy just said Luke Varney had a good game ?????????? Are you kidding me?
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pablo123 added 16:58 - Mar 1 If i was johnny parr i would be out of here asap !!! He is a million miles better than chambers , yet he cant get a game !!! Seriously , chambers is truly sh***e !!!
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bluefeast added 17:00 - Mar 1 If your manager lacks imagination then so will his side. one dimensional manager equals one dimensional team performance. We lack the obvious , midfielder who create chances for strikers ,who get in front of strikers by making runs , who pass the ball forward and support it. what summed this match up for me was chambers pass out wide in the 93rd minute ,kicked it straight into touch. We lack everything but effort.

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Bluetone added 17:01 - Mar 1 @bostonusablue I think you'll find Rick Mayall is a better player.
3

bluefeast added 17:02 - Mar 1 MM match round up is terrible ,Varney had a good game he said.
1

RedDust added 17:02 - Mar 1 Find the stats for completed passes.... That will tell you everything you need to know! End of story
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HackneyBlue added 17:03 - Mar 1 BERRA-You so said the wrong thing on radio suffolk. Asked if the defeat hurt,he replies it does not matter who you lose to its disappointing as pros we have to move on.Butcher,Wilnus,Holland,Beatie would have not said that. Town you were poor-no pain no gain,hang your heads in shame.
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ipswich_Jordy added 17:07 - Mar 1 Unbeliveable! Second goal was as lucky as you can get! Thought that Tabb was awful today, showed no attacking ideas (as usual) but was also poor in challenges and general defensive work. MM went for a point by matching up the scum with the narrow system, i dont have a problem going for a point away from home in such a big game but as soon as they scored the game plan was ruined, no one on the pitch with any flair, apart from sears, and nobody with any flair even on the bench. He needed Stewart/Connolly on the bench to bring on with 10 mins to go and get there back 4 running towards there own goal, the one time we did this Murphy crossed for Sears who was unlucky not to score. Anyway, another tough away game Wednesday lets get the 3 points and put this result and performance behind us

4

bluefeast added 17:10 - Mar 1 Our players have got worse as the season has gone on ,stiffled by negative tactics. Know that however they play they still get picked ,what aout Chambers who has been terrible for most games ,Parr who has been decent in all games. Tabb ,no good ,Anderson who must be thinking whazts the point, Tabb on corners how embarrassing Im a Pi55ed off fan
4

Crawfordsboot added 17:11 - Mar 1 I am really choked at the result today and already getting flak from budgie mates but I really do not understand some of the bile and rubbish spouted on here. MM took over with us facing relegation. We now sit in a play off place (who reasonably expected more this season) and some nutters want him to resign!!
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midastouch added 17:12 - Mar 1 where an earth was parr? mick mccarthy has a deathwish for derby matches with his team selection. it was like playing with 1 arm tied behind our backs! what was parr not full back? wtf was chaplow picked before parr. how did chaplow deserve to get the nod before parr? i just cannot understand that! and varney, have you seen his record? if he's so good in the air he might as well join the RAF as he aint no good on the deck! jay tabb is the suffolk water carrier, they should just leave him in the changing rooms to polish john wark's boots! i swear he is better at golf than he is football! he has the odd good game but not enough for me. parr deserves to be picked before the likes of chaplow and jab scab every day of the week! chambers is a centre back, parr is a full back. we all know it, so why doesn't bloody mick see it? we lost that game in the dressing room, too many water carriers and not enough quality! that was an average norwich team there for the taking, if you can win 6 games on the bounce playing like that then that says a lot of the standard of the championsh*t IMhumbleO! Rant over!!! :-(

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clint_eastwood added 17:14 - Mar 1 Drop Skusey, Mick!! He is no Frank Lampard!
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Andy32Cracknell added 17:14 - Mar 1 Well, that is about as s&*T as it can get really. Poor from first whistle to the last. I have never witnessed such utter crap, i am so bored already of the constant hoof ball. People keep going on about the fact we have no money, its irrelevant, people cant keep defending this garbage, people need a BIG REALITY CHECK, the tactics and team philosophy comes from the manager, so the buck stops with Mr McCarthy. THAT WAS SIMPLY NOT EXPECTABLE.

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