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

airliner added 08:15 - Mar 2 Storm in a tea cup , move on to Wednesday. No point in dwelling on bad results.
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stevelincsexile added 09:22 - Mar 2 I was at the game in with the home fans. Generally they were of the opinion that there was not a great deal between the teams, a bit of luck would swing the game either way. Where they felt we were weak was our midfield where we lacked invention and penetration a view we all seem to agree with but as a team we were a better outfit than most teams they had beaten on their recent winning run, so chins up everyone I think our neighbours are a good bet for promotion so chins up and onwards and upwards I am still confident we will be in the playoffs at least.

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Lightningboy added 09:30 - Mar 2 I'd say that 90% of our fans cannot understand why Jonny Parr hasn't been playing at Right back all season BUT does Mick Not see that? Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't our results and performances pick up this season when Parr came into the team around the beginning of September? This situation reminds me of when Jewell insisted on playing Carlos Edwards at Right back..that didn't work either but PJ couldn't see it. Wakey wakey Mick or are you just being stubborn?

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Pabloisgod84 added 09:47 - Mar 2 after wathcing that how are we even in the top 10?? our midfield is shocking. not a clue , no width. we need to play 4-5-1 when everyone is fit. 2 holding midfielders with sears/mcgoldrick/bishop behind Murphy. that would see some creativty and 3 players who can play on the ball. bru and hyma holding. current midfield and system is just shocking and we look so weak there. off to Leeds weds , onwards and upwards, another dull game expected.

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bohslegend added 10:13 - Mar 2 THIS! sir_george_burley added 17:56 - Mar 1 The game was not rubbish. It had plenty of interest. Town had a lot of possession and some good flow of moves. Certainly there was, as usual, too much lumping of the high ball from defence and from midfield. But Norwich have an expensive and very talented squad, and the new manager is on a roll with them — six wins in a row, so we were up against it today good and proper. We have to be realistic about the task and I think Town did just as the people on Sky said — gave a good account but Norwich had that bit of extra flair on a few occasions, enough to get the points. MIngs wasn't dreadful but showed a lot of talent at times (pretty good for an inexperienced youngster replacing our previous best player). Tabb certainly wasn't dreadful and was at the heart of most of what went well; corners weren't good today but the high wind was a significant factor. How can some people damn Varney and Chaplow as hopeless signings on the basis of part of one game? That's just disappointment speaking, I think. I share others' surprise that Parr isn't trusted with more of a regular role — and that might include the right side where we were once again weak when coming forwards.

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rickw added 10:57 - Mar 2 All of the negativity on here isn't unexpected after losing to them, however I don't think we were completely outplayed liked many on here have suggested. It seemed fairly even until they scored with a great strike on the counter attack - this performance was nowhere near the dross we saw vs Wigan. I thought MM's subs were quite brave - we had 3 forwards on at the end and he subbed off Murphy who's been brilliant this season but hasn't been at his best the last couple of games. On paper our £100k team should never be able to beat their £30m team and yesterday that was the case - especially with our 2 best technical players injured (Bish + Didz), but the way results went on Saturday we didn't lose any ground on the top. None of us want to see long ball especially when the defenders have time, and Tommy Smith is the worst culprit for this, so I think time out of the team for him would be good. I think a 433 with McGoldrick just behind Murphy and Sears could be brilliant, but until he's back I would settle for us just getting results to stay 5 points from top.

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axelt89 added 11:48 - Mar 2 I think this game and especially the Southampton games have shown the limit of what we can achieve, it's certainly better then anything we've done in the past few years but against teams that press high we struggle. That could be helped by a decent midfield that doesn't need to resort to hoof ball, but we really need to spend money to get those players. I think this is as good as it'll get on a team as inexpensive as ours. However, mick has got us this far, it is only 1 game, beat Leeds and Watford and we'll be back on course #istillbelieve

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karls_dad added 12:52 - Mar 2 I thought that we were better than hoofball? it was blowing a gale at the match so all our players did was hoof it! 9 times out of 10 it fell to a yellow shirt! we could not pass a ball to save our lives, pathetic performance, i was hoping that we would actually give them a game, sadly not, it just showed us to what we really are, a team of journey men, with nil passion for the fans, shame on you is all i can say!

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NoelTheDub added 14:22 - Mar 2 bohslegend Seriously what game did you see flowing moves what you might be referring to is Murf chased a hoof up the pitch did well to put a ball on the deck across the box for Freddy who might have done better,also Freddy made a shot for himself and the keeper did well to save can I also add at the end of the game the hoof ball worked because PARR yes Parr crossed in a few good balls and we actually had players in there.As for the 30 million they spent and we have no money see that little round thing that was flying around in the sky that down to the manager not the bloody gale that was blowing if there was ever a day to keep it on the deck it was yesterday.No excuses in my book for our unbalanced hoof ball team we do have the players to straighten this out but Mick refuses to address this and its causing us major problems even in games we have won.Talk wed my friend...

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warktheline added 16:38 - Mar 2 Balance of team needs addressing, back four has been an on going saga, as has finding correct balance of players in midfield. Lets get the defence right please McCarthy, and once again become hard to beat. Parr, Chambers, Berra, Mings. Regardless of results, this situation is driving fans Bonkers! Really never expected much at Norwich yesterday, especially when you consider their current form, and compare both squads, but if the manager gets the formula right, I see no reason why we wont be in top 6 come end of season.

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Cloddyseedbed added 18:25 - Mar 2 I'll try a different approach and maybe it'll work. Please Mr McCarthy keep Chambers at right back, don't play Parr. Keep telling Mings, Berra, Smith and Chambers to hoof it up top for poor old Murphy and Sears to try to deal with it. Tell the midfield to run around and when the defence gets it, run like hell to join the attackers, don't try to make yourself available for a pass from the defence. Defence don't worry if you don't find an Ipswich player with a hoof as it makes you in the game more as the opposition are back at you within seconds. Hopefully that'll do the trick as it seems the more us supporters attack the team selection and tactics the more bloody minded the management appear.

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blueboy1981 added 18:55 - Mar 2 .......... good post warktheline ...... credit where it's due - agree with you totally.
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philpott2 added 19:31 - Mar 2 That was so frustrating. Sears was the only bright light during that derby game, Chaplow next best in that he saw lots of the ball - but it was pinged towards him at all angles and speeds, making it very difficult for him to control it and do so.ergo g with it. Mings rubbish.....again. I know guys on here have said he was great, especially those that listened on the radio, but he is half hearted, won't tackle, out of position, casual, can't control the ball etc etc. Bring back Micky Stockwell....show Tyrone what commitment andheart is about. I'd prefer to see Parr at right back and even Jay Tabb at left back would-be better, at least he'd outbid foot in. Chambers and Berra in the middle and some pace somewhere and we might have a chance. Sat with some mates who were Naarwich fans to watch the game....and I wasn't surprised to be embarrassed by our performance. Been pretty rotten since I got to the first game against Southampton two months ago. Come on MM....change the personnel around, start Parr and put people in their best position or not at all.

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