Jonas Knudsen netted his second derby goal of the season but Jacob Murphy equalised as Town and Norwich drew 1-1 at Carrow Road. Knudsen opened the scoring with a header on 63, then Murphy beat the otherwise brilliant Bartosz Bialkowski with a 20-yard strike at an angle six minutes later.

The Blues were unchanged from last week’s 1-1 home draw with Leeds with skipper Luke Chambers OK to take his place on the right of the defensive three having been ill earlier in the week.

Cole Skuse continued in central midfield with Toumani Diagouraga, who had also been unwell earlier in the week, back on the bench having been ineligible against his parent club last week.

With Tom Lawrence still suspended, Freddie Sears kept his place alongside David McGoldrick up front despite suffering a groin strain in the draw with the Whites in which he scored his first goal since October.

Norwich made three changes with Steven Whittaker, Yanic Wildschut and Alex Pritchard dropping to the bench and Ivo Pinto and Steven Naismith, both back from injury, and Wes Hoolahan all starting.

More than 2,000 Town fans were in a capacity crowd, as was Framlingham-based pop star Ed Sheeran, sat with the home fans although understood to be a Blues supporter.

The home side were first to threaten in the fifth minute when a corner from the left reached the unmarked Jonny Howson, who smashed a volley against a defender. Town failed to clear and the ball again fell to the former Leeds man, who hit another effort, which deflected wide.

Norwich kept up the early pressure and two minutes later Mitchell Dijks crossed from the left and Cameron Jerome shot wide on the turn when he will feel he ought to have done better.

The Blues threatened for the first time in the ninth minute, Jordan Spence finding Sears on the left of the area but the ball was stabbed behind and Town were unable to make anything of the corner.

From the flag-kick the Blues probably should have been awarded a penalty when Dijks hauled back McGoldrick, however, referee Oliver Langford gave a freekick against the Town striker.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 15th minute when Jerome escaped behind the Town defence - with more than a hint of offside - but Christophe Berra did superbly to get back to slide the ball behind. From the corner, the former Cardiff and Stoke man headed over.

The Canaries continued to look much the more dangerous side and in the 18th minute only a brilliant Bartosz Bialkowski save stopped them from going in front.

Dijks beat Spence and crossed low from the left. The ball struck Berra and then Knudsen, who inadvertently diverted it goalwards only for Bialkowski to pull off a remarkable reaction save to tip it over the bar.

On 20 the Blues’ Polish keeper came out quickly to claim the ball ahead of Jerome from Pinto’s through ball.

Town started to have more of the ball as the game moved towards the half-hour mark with McGoldrick beginning to get more involved.

However, the Blues were still to create a chance and in the 29th minute Bialkowski was again quickly off his line to clear ahead of Jerome, whose battle with Berra was one of the main features of the first half.

Four minutes later, following a corner, the ball was laid back to Hoolahan on the edge of the box but the Irish international’s shot flew well over.
"In the 35th minute a mix-up between Berra and Bialkowski allowed Jerome a free shot at goal, but fortunately the centre-half’s header as the keeper advanced out of his goal had taken the ball very wide and the striker’s shot flew into the side-netting.

The Norwich pressure continued and in the 37th minute the home fans appealed for a penalty after Knudsen blocked a shot from a corner but the ball hadn’t appeared to strike the Danish international anywhere near his hand and referee Langford waved away the protests. Soon after, Myles Kenlock did well to get across to block yet another Norwich shot from just outside the box.

Two minutes before the break McGoldrick hit Town’s first serious strike of the half high and wide into the stand from a tight angle on the left.

The scoreline remained 0-0 after one minute of additional time. The Blues’ backline had withstood a great deal of pressure during the first 45 minutes with Norwich only really coming close to breaking the deadlock on two occasions, Jerome’s early effort on the turn and Knudsen’s almost-own goal when Bialkowski made an outstanding save.

At the other end, Canaries keeper John Ruddy was yet to be tested with McGoldrick - who ought to have won a penalty early on - and Sears only involved fleetingly, while in midfield, Emyr Huws had had an uncharacteristically quiet half.

Three minutes after the restart the home side thought they’d gone in front when Dijks forced a corner from the right over the line, however, the Dutchman was adjudged to have used his hand.

There was a further early scare for the Blues a minute later when Naismith’s flicked header from a freekick seemed destined for the corner of the net until Bialkowski got down and across to push it past the post.

Town made their first change in the 56th minute, Tommy Smith coming on for his first appearance since undergoing a back operation in September in place of Kenlock. Smith took up his usual central defensive role with Knudsen moving to left wing-back.

Soon after the change Town created their first opportunity of the second half, Sears crossing from the right but McGoldrick was unable to divert the ball goalwards. Knudsen cut it back from the left but nowhere near a team-mate.

As the hour approached, Sears was booked for a foul on Pinto and from the freekick Jerome headed the ball into the ground and to Bialkowski.

The Blues were getting more opportunities than they had in the first half and in the 61st minute, after a Knudsen long throw from the left, a loose ball fell to Sears, whose shot was blocked. Norwich subsequently broke but Hoolahan’s ball was too strong and Bialkowski claimed.

But Town were growing in confidence and McGoldrick in influence and in the 63rd minute they went in front. The Irish international striker fed Spence on the right and the ex-West Ham man sent over a cross to the far post from where Knudsen nodded his second East Anglian derby goal into the back of the net before celebrating with the visiting fans on the right.

Norwich briefly looked stunned at having gone behind and McGoldrick crossed from the right to Sears as the Blues went looking for a second goal, but the former Colchester striker was unable to keep the ball in play.

But the Canaries quickly started to threaten to score an equaliser, Naismith hitting a shot from the edge of the box which Bialkowski palmed away.

And in the 69th minute they levelled when Jacob Murphy - nephew of former Blue Tommy Parkin - smashed a powerful shot from just outside the area to the right which flew past Bialkowski’s left hand inside his near post. The keeper may feel he ought to have got down to it.

Jerome nodded a Dijks cross wide on 73, before Bialkowski made another fantastic save, diverting Alexander Tettey’s powerfully hit shot from just inside the area over.

Town switched Sears for Kieffer Moore, then Norwich swapped Naismith for Josh Murphy and then Hoolahan for Pritchard. Not long after, Diagouraga replaced Huws for the Blues.

As the match moved into its final 10 minutes the Canaries were continuing to have most of the chances - Bialkowski again did well to save Pritchard’s shot hit low to his right - but Town were threatening on the break, Timm Klose doing well to cut out Skuse’s cross from the left for McGoldrick. On 86 Spence was booked for pulling back Josh Murphy.

In the 88th minute Dijks hot a powerful strike from distance which Bialkowski confidently held on to with Norwich continuing to press Town as they looked for a winning goal.

In five minutes of injury time Dijks turned a corner wide, then seconds before the whistle Pritchard fired over from distance.

Despite having gone ahead, Town will be the happier with the point and the share of the derby spoils having been under the cosh at times with the Blues backline resilient and man of the match Bialkowski making a number of superb saves.

At the other end, Town, quieter and less on the front foot than in other recent games, rarely tested Ruddy aside from the goal, although they will feel they ought to have been awarded a penalty in the first half when McGoldrick was manhandled by Dijks.

The Canaries will be disappointed with a draw which will have dealt their play-off ambitions a setback, particularly having had so much of the ball.

Given the current financial disparities between the clubs Town will feel the two derby draws - the first time both league clashes between the sides have ended level in the professional era - reflects upon them better than their deadliest rivals, although the wait for a win against the Canaries continues, the last victory having been the 3-2 April 2009 win at Portman Road and the last at Carrow Road having been the 2-1 success in February 2006.

The result sees the Blues stay in 15th ahead of next Saturday’s home game against Brentford, who are two places and one point ahead of them.

Norwich City: Ruddy, Pinto, Martin, Klose, Dijks, Tettey, Howson, Jacob Murphy, Hoolahan (Pritchard 79), Naismith (Josh Murphy 76), Jerome. Unused: McGovern, Whittaker, Wildschut, Lafferty, Bennett, Josh Murphy.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Kenlock (T Smith 56), Skuse, Ward, Huws (Diagouraga 81), Sears (Moore 75), McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Emmanuel, T Smith, Bru, Moore, Pitman. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 27,107.

Photo: TWTD

cat added 14:52 - Feb 26 Good away point and nice to put a slight dent in Norwich promotion chances, at least a moral victory achieved. Totally uninspiring and dull performance today, pockets of pass and move football, but hoofball still very evident. Big positives regarding players for me are Knudson, Henlock and Spense are very capable footballers on the ball. Didz was the pick off the outfield players again. On the negative Berra and Chambers although they were effective defending today, they are no footballers and looked very uncomfortable on the ball. Overall a reasonable February

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Brownie added 15:00 - Feb 26 Good point in albeit poor game. Got to say I thought Skuse had a decent game. Good to see McGoldrick looking sharp as well on very limited possession. Re the future they need to invest in players with quality, pace & who are ours. Add that to youth and some of the good pros we already have and we can then get a squad to challenge at the top. Whoever the manager is next year the owner needs to spend some money. In the meantime well done to MM & the lads for this battling point.

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 15:02 - Feb 26 TimmyH - maybe because the cost of a squad does mean something? Teams like Norwich, Villa and Derby all splashing £8m+ on single players in the Championship is ridiculous, especially as none of them look likely to go up this season, when you look at the likes of us who are constantly signing freebies and bargain basements. Yet we've taken 9 points out of a possible 18 from them (only losing once - to Derby). Spending £8-9m on a single player generally buys you better players than spending £10k on a non league player....that's why people are bringing up squad costs. Pritchard cost them £8m and was sat on the bench for the majority....I think he's a little bit better than Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Hyam, Bishop etc.

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cat added 15:05 - Feb 26 Blue75- -15 and its only 3pm, good work fella, very impressive!!!!. Looks like your breakfast, lunch and dinner for the feasting pro MM bridgade when actually your post doesn't warrant that IMO. Chin up though the hungry mob will soon be satisfied and will move onto there next victim. Ps it's good to get some minuses now and again, at least that way your not saying what people want to hear like many on here do.

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walkon added 15:08 - Feb 26 With the money available to MM. He has done a great job if anyone else was in charge we would be in div 1 by now and struggling, it's time to lay off MM and thank him for the job he is doing
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dagenhamtown added 15:11 - Feb 26 Good point worked hard what we lacked in quality we made up with a bit of desire for a change. Sears poor will never frighten good defences . Main point is evans give the man a competitive budget and please stop milne from licking your bum
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Westy added 15:12 - Feb 26 We got a point at their place which is now historic and you have to accept it. But why does Mick keep annoying me with comments like 'I'll be happy with a point' BEFORE THE GAME. This is Norwich City we are talking about, the local derby. Go for the jugular. He doesn't get it. Or the FA Cup. If I was Ipswich manager, I would not be saying 'its just another game', I would be reiterating to the players the importance of it as an occasion and we should be doing everything we can to win.

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December1963 added 15:16 - Feb 26 At the end of January the February fixtures looked very tough,was afraid that we may loose all 5 games and only be 3 or 4 points ahead of the bottom 3.But 7 points from 15 and unbeaten is a great effort from the team. To still be 11 points clear of trouble going into March means any fears I had of a religation fight are all but gone. Also as the 2 Norwich games are concerned, from where both clubs started the season from, we have gained 2 points but they have dropped 4. Whatever you think of MM some credit is due to the man and his team for the turn around in fortunes.

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dirtydingusmagee added 15:17 - Feb 26 well the month didnt turn outt as bad as feared,another point from some tough matches.Would have been great to get 3 points ,but the 2 points TAKEN AWAY from budgies is good enough for me today.They were expecting to go straight back up if todays result goes towards preventing that I'm happy.I just hope Evans gets his a#se in gear and makes positive moves to improve prospects for next season ,and not sleep on it till next August or worse still, January .coyb

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blueboy1981 added 15:18 - Feb 26 ........ oh well - the forever satisfied brigade will be waxing lyrical with a point. One shot on target tells it's own story as to what the game plan was from the off - Norwich are nothing special at all, and had we set out to WIN this game - it would have been there for the taking. Remember - we haven't just played Man Utd, Barcelona or the likes off - we have just played NORWICH who are nothing special. Opportunity of a WIN missed without doubt. Disappointed for sure. Sad when a point at Carrot Road - equals euphoria from many.

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ivandeighton added 15:31 - Feb 26 Hope McCarthy stays seems to be building a good squad for next season
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bluemike1969 added 15:32 - Feb 26 Some people on here I think are missing the point. As much as this is just another game, in the past on derby days, Norwich have lifted their game for the occasion and totally humiliated us. Today was not one of those days and to take anything away from our lads is IMO unfair. We have struggled and our confidence has been low. Today we showed resilience and a desire to turn things around. Please remember that and take a look at the last few derby results if you don't agree

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blueboy1981 added 15:33 - Feb 26 The real 'Pride of East Anglia' of the past - would have gone there with only one objective - to WIN. The tag will never return with this Manager, or Owner - is my prediction. Not enough passion or desire from either person.
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bluey123 added 15:33 - Feb 26 Come on you Mick lovers 2 wins in 10 games will never go to PR until this idiot is gone Scum were awful we tried very hard to be as useless as they were . McCarthy OUT
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BillBlue added 15:58 - Feb 26 Why, why, oh why go to Norwich and play not to lose? Norwich ARE crap and have always been crap. Ipswich now fifteenth in the second division. Disgraceful.
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eMeM added 16:10 - Feb 26 Another awful performance on TV. Very lucky to get a point. I don't like watching teams who doesn't even want to score a goal. We don't want to get into their penalty box, we don't look to shoot. it's just game of time wasting from first whistle. I hate back passes to goalkeeper (McCarthy approved). Other teams do it to keep the ball, we kick it away on half line to random player in random shirt. Many times we do it when defender is not even in any danger.

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 16:15 - Feb 26 You all know that I am very anti-Mick and have been very vocal in that. Yes, in days gone by, we'd all be dissappointed with a point at Carrot Road but, you have to live in the real world. 6/7 years ago we went there with a squad that, arguably, was a lot better than today's (certainly cost an awful lot more, anyway) and got beat 4-1 and then 5-1 in the return leg.... I still very much want Mick out...it isn't going to happen until at least the summer though. I'd argue we are now safe...time for Evans to start looking for a replacement manager and to start looking and talking to players. Regardless as to who is here in charge next season, it really is time that Evans put some real investment in.

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runaround added 16:19 - Feb 26 Decent point although I don't believe we deserved more. Excellent application & effort but feel we don't do enough to win games like this. A good away point though & messes up Norwich's season more than ours
4

DJ27 added 16:26 - Feb 26 As somebody pointed out on twitter 27 passes in the build up to the goal. Hoofball?! We are definitley trying to change the style. Will take a point, f**** up their play off hopes. Disappointed not to hold.the lead for longer. Bart outstanding.
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Bluethroughandthroug added 16:28 - Feb 26 Have been a town fan since the late 60's and have obviously had my fair share of highs and lows. I read this site daily and although I can understand people's frustrations, having felt that way myself on occasions, it amazes me what short memories people have. Mick Mccarthy has done an awful lot for this club and helped them recover from two bad managerial decisions. He has had next to nothing to spend, which is another matter and to be honest has done well to keep us in this league let alone get promoted. There's too many armchair managers on here who haven't got a clue! It's about money and resources and seeing though he's had little of either, I for one think he's done a bloody good job and very much hope he's here next year.

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bluey123 added 16:43 - Feb 26 There are also a lot of people on here who recognise good football unlike you my friend Blue throughand through you keep with McCarthy and you will get what you deserve nothing he is a disgrace to football and should be banished in obscurity. Yes he saved us 4 years ago but how long do you keep thanking him he gets more money in a year than we will see in a lifetime and gives nothing in return . McCarthy OUT

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StochesStotasBlewe added 16:49 - Feb 26 Poor game between two average teams.
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blueboy1981 added 16:50 - Feb 26 Vindictive or what ? ............ Why should so many people be more concerned about messing up Norwich's promotion hopes - than our performance / performances ? I would put much more value on us being able to go there to perform - and WIN. No wonder we are what we are with some people's accepting attitude - will we ever reclaim our past "Pride of East Anglia' reputation with such ?. Highly doubtful - because if the fan's don't care enough - why should the Owner, Manager, etc; etc; need to strive for it and do the necessary - and we all know what's needed !!

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BillBlue added 16:59 - Feb 26 MickM - We went there not to lose where we should have gone there intending to win. This guy has never beaten Norwich or won a Cup tie while he has been here! Astounding. Sunderland, Wolves, Ipswich he will soon run out of clubs to scrounge at. ps. Even Keane beat the Arsenal!
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Seasider added 17:03 - Feb 26 Suppose a draw was ok considering Mick as expected kept one of his old favourites sideways Skues in and benched' Dave'or Toums as he calls him. It took him a while to drop his former favourite Gerks leaving Bart on the bench,same with Douglas who now thank goodness wasn't even on the bench.Now the same is happening with 'Skusey'. Thought Huws had his worst game today;but it never occurred to our esteemed Manager to bring Skues off when Diagouraga came on,and it was backs to the wall,hanging on for a point which was obtained,thanks mainly to Bart who received Sky's mom award. Yes we are unbeaten in five;but only one win in nine and 15th in the table wont get the season ticket holders flooding back I fear. No outstanding players on view for either side really only positives were of a negative nature ie Berra& co snuffing out the threat especially of their centre forward;but Mick seemed pleased and felt Town were back to their old selves.Scored with only effort on target which was well taken by Knudsen,otherwise only three other shots against 17 by Norwich. At least we are keeping the ball better, with more possession than Norwich;but only one ball from Bart all game passed out from the back,otherwise big boot upfield to no one in particular. McCarthy will never change

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