Only a 95th minute equaliser from Timm Klose prevented the Blues from ending their nine-year wait for derby glory as Town and Norwich drew 1-1 at Carrow Road, skipper Luke Chambers having given the visitors an 89th minute lead. Chambers looked set to win it for the Blues with a header from a Martyn Waghorn corner but Klose nodded in Grant Hanley's cross seconds from time to save the game for the home side.

Boss Mick McCarthy switched the Blues to a 3-5-2 formation with Adam Webster joining Chambers and Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back.

Dominic Iorfa came in for Jordan Spence in the right wing-back role with Jonas Knudsen on the left as manager Mick McCarthy eschewed his usual 4-3-2-1 system.

Stephen Gleeson was part of a three-man midfield with Cole Skuse and Callum Connolly with Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn up front.

Spence, Bersant Celina and Grant Ward dropped to the bench alongside David McGoldrick, who was back after his knee injury. Sub keeper Michael Crowe was also among the subs having got over the illness which made him a pre-match doubt.

There was no place on the bench for Freddie Sears, although the former Colchester United man was in the travelling party.

The Canaries lined up in their usual 3-4-3 formation and were unchanged from the team which drew 1-1 at Derby County last week.

At a sunny Carrow Road on what would have been Sir Bobby Robson’s 85th birthday, Town won an early corner on the right.

Waghorn’s flag-kick was dealt with not entirely comfortably by the Norwich defence but the former Sunderland man’s subsequent ball back into the box was too long and Webster was unable to stop it going out of play.

Town made a positive start and they might well have gone ahead in the ninth minute via a familiar derby source.

Gleeson wafted a ball towards Norwich keeper Angus Gunn’s right post towards Knudsen, a scorer in each of last season’s derbies, who headed wide when he will feel he should have hit the target.

Moments later, Gunn was forced into his first serious save of the afternoon, the on-loan Manchester City man diving away to his right to palm Waghorn’s 20-yard shot wide.

Norwich had their first sight of goal in the 15th minute, but Nelson Oliveira’s touch let him down after he had been found by a clever pass over the top. The ball ran loose on the left but the Portuguese frontman’s cross was too long.

In the 18th minute, Garner looked to have sent Waghorn away on goal but Hanley did well to get across and force the Town striker off the ball inside the area. Waghorn claimed a penalty but referee David Coote wasn’t interested, probably correctly.

Town had looked the more threatening side in the game’s opening quarter. The Canaries had had a fair amount of the ball but to little effect. On 22 Oliveira scuffed wide from distance.

James Maddison, the scorer of the only goal when the sides met at Portman Road in October, struck his first effort of the game just after the half-hour mark but his 25-yard freekick was watched past his left post by Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Connolly did better with a freekick at the other end in the 33rd minute. His low strike was saved by Gunn down to his left but the keeper couldn’t hold on. Garner looked looked to get on to the loose ball at a tight angle on the right, Jamal Lewis barged into him and sent him to ground but referee Coote waved away the Blues’ striker’s protests.

Josh Murphy flashed a shot wide for the Canaries, then Knudsen saw a strike blocked on the edge of the Norwich box.

Gunn was forced into another save in the 40th minute. Following good work from Gleeson and Iorfa on the right, Waghorn found space to shoot on the edge of the box, the ball looping up into the six-yard box from where Connolly forced Gunn into another save.

The on-loan Everton man will have felt he should have had the ball in the net, but the linesman’s flag was raised in any case.

The Norwich keeper was forced into a more meaningful stop in the 44th minute when a 25-yard freekick was played short to Waghorn and the striker smashed a low strike which the keeper did well to get across to and paw behind.

Just before the break, Iorfa went to ground in the area after losing control of the ball as he burst into the box, much to the annoyance of Klose, who shoved the Blues defender and was subsequently spoken to by the referee.

Town went off the happier of the two sides having had all the first half chances with Bialkowski still to be seriously tested.

Knudsen’s early header was probably the best opportunity, while Waghorn, twice, and Connolly had both stretched Gunn into making saves.

The Blues will probably feel they ought to have made more of their numerous set pieces - both freekicks and corners - with Waghorn’s balls into the box not always as dangerous as they have been at times in previous games.

At the other end, the Blues’ three-man backline had been comfortable for the most part, while Gleeson was starting to see more of the ball in midfield towards the end of the half.

Shortly after the restart Hanley did well to nod Garner’s ball for Waghorn back to Gunn ahead of the Blues striker.

Bialkowski was forced into his first save of the match in the 48th minute, Maddison, surprisingly quiet in the first half, curling a freekick from just outside the area towards the top corner until the Blues keeper palmed it over.

There was a further scare for the Blues from the corner. After Chambers had headed it clear, Harrison Reed looped it back into the box towards the unmarked and on side Klose on the edge of the six-yard box but the Swiss international defender was unable to get the ball under control and the danger passed.

Garner picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 55th minute for felling Maddison 30 yards out. The highly-rated youngster took the freekick himself and Webster did well to head away his dangerous ball into the box.

Moritz Leitner joined Garner in the book for tripping the breaking Knudsen just before the hour. In the 62nd minute Garner was replaced by McGoldrick.

Soon after, Maddison skipped into the area but shot well over, then on 64 Skuse was booked for a late challenge on the former Coventry midfielder. Two minutes later, Luke Hyam took over from Gleeson.

Within seconds Connolly was booked for a foul on Maddison a couple of yards outside the area. Again Bialkowski was equal to the youngster’s shot, pushing it away from goal to his right.

The Canaries were by now dominating and the Blues had Bialkowski to thank again in the 75th minute when he got down to his right to superbly save from Oliveira’s edge-of-the-box effort.

Two minutes later, the Pole was in action again, helping a Maddison shot which had struck Connolly past the post to his left.

On 79 Spence took over from Iorfa at right wing-back. The defensive nature of the substitution led to chants regarding McCarthy’s style of football from the Town support in the Jarrold Stand.

Waghorn and then Spence were booked for fouls, then on 83 Reed scraped a shot wide from the right of the box. With six minutes remaining Denis Srbeny took over from Murphy for the Canaries.

As the clock hit the 85-minute mark the Town support applauded and cheered in tribute for legendary boss Robson on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Town had shown little attacking threat in the second half but in the final scheduled minutes they began to look more dangerous Spence winning a freekick on the right.

Then in the 89th minute Knudsen’s cross was diverted out for a corner and from the flag-kick the Blues took the lead. Waghorn sent the ball into the box and skipper Chambers got away from Tettey to nod down and into the net sending the travelling Blues support wild.

TV footage appeared to show manager McCarthy - presumably in reaction to the earlier chants - gesture and swear in the direction of the Town support as he celebrated the goal.

Norwich swapped Tettey and Reed for Onel Hernandez and Mario Vrancic in injury time as they went looking for an equaliser.

Town looked like they were going to see the game out to record their first derby win in nine years until the fifth minute of injury time when Hanley chased down a ball which looked to be going out of play on the right and - with Bialkowski retreating having initially gone out chasing the ball - crossed back to the far post where Klose nodded in the leveller. There was no time for the Blues to hit back before referee Coote ended the game.

The late goal out of nothing was a sickener for Town having waited so long for a derby win and with the game seemingly all but won.

However, on the balance of the second half, a defeat would have been harsh on the Canaries, who had had all the chances up to Town’s goal, the Blues having been poorer after the break having been the better team in the first half.

The result leaves the two sides eight points off the play-offs - 12th and 13th following Bristol City's 2-2 draw at Leeds - with 14 games left to play.

Norwich: Gunn, Hanley, Zimmermann, Klose, Reed (Vrancic 90), Tettey (c) (Hernandez 90), Leitner, Lewis, Maddison, Murphy (Srbeny 84), Oliveira. Unused: McGovern, Pinto, Stiepermann, Watkins.

Town: Bialkowski, Carter-Vickers, Chambers (c), Webster, Iorfa, Skuse, Connolly, Gleeson (Hyam 66), Knudsen, Waghorn, Garner (McGoldrick 62). Unused: M Crowe, Celina, Spence, Ward, Carayol. Referee: David Coote (Nottingham). Att: 27,100.

Photo: TWTD

toxtethblue added 17:47 - Feb 18 MM gas still never beaten Norwich, still a massive derby failure.
7

truckerblue added 18:01 - Feb 18 Just watched Rochhdale Tottenham. A team in blue trying to play on the deck football. All you happy clapoers saying be careful what you wish for will you please feel your necks in. Yes Rochdale are bottom of their league but Not for too much longer if they carry on playing like that. Their record transfer paid out is £150,000 so football can be played on a budget. I'm sure the majority of town fans would rather be entertained by a team playing football on the ground and maybe a year or two of struggling even going down and rebuilding rather than the tosh that is being served up by muck the mouth and his favourites. Careful what you wish for? I know what I'd rather have and if you're happy with what you're getting now then more fools you.

16

truckerblue added 18:05 - Feb 18 ^^^ wind your necks in not feel!!!
0

warktheline added 18:27 - Feb 18 Today has undoubtedly highlighted the 'fractured' current state of our club! McCarthy has and continues to be a law onto himself with little, or no, 'conductibility' to answer for to an owner who remains in 'isolation' and totally detached from a 'toy' he no longer wants to 'fool' around with! With this being the case I can only foresee one way forward, a 'young eager manager' happy to be given the reigns with a very 'restrictive' budget to get on with through vigour and energy aiming to make a name for himself ! That man is COWLEY!

8

Cakeman added 18:27 - Feb 18 Probably a fair result between two very ordinary teams. Only Bart and Maddison of Norwich are premier class. Not a huge fan of Skuse but I have to say he did a good job on keeping Maddison quiet for an hour until Skuse ran out of steam. At nil nil we had a chance to give it a real go but our manager decided to lay half a dozen brown eggs by making chicken decisions by not making attacking substitutions. At least we didn't lose. Season over though.

6

Tony88 added 18:29 - Feb 18 I am stunned that trucker blue will be happy for us to go down if it meant more attractive football. If we went down I believe we would stay down does anybody believe that if we went down the fans would come back. I DON'T THINK SO.
-2

Northstandveteran added 18:37 - Feb 18 Is Tony Pulis still available? Not a name that I have heard mentioned by any fans on this forum. I assume he is based in the Midlands having managed teams in that area. I know that many supporters are wanting a young manager with fresh ideas and some may see his appointment as swapping like for like but personally feel a rookie appointment may not be what this club needs right now. Would be good to hear others opinions on this

-8

truckerblue added 18:39 - Feb 18 Tony88. Feel free to be stunned then. As I say if you're happy with the bile that's being served up then that's fine. Best example I can think of in recent history was Newcastle last season. We played them off the park. Proved it can be done so imagine a young eager to make a name for himself manager could do with the current crop of players. Yes I could tolerate going down for a season maybe even two if it was for the greater good.

8

warktheline added 18:55 - Feb 18 @trucker, have said this many times before , sometimes you have to drop down to come back up! When McCarthy goes unless Evans gets 'lucky' picking the next manager I can see us hitting division 1 very soon! I'm not happy with current 'football' philosophy and 'happy chappie mid table careful what you wish for' mindset neither ! Therefore 'what will be will be'!
8

warktheline added 18:56 - Feb 18 Pulis manages Boro!
1

Surco72 added 19:07 - Feb 18 Getting relegated from Championship helped Leicester , Saints , Wolves and Norwich in recent years certainly not end of the world and anything is better than anymore of MM football and arrogance
4

thundercat600 added 19:07 - Feb 18 How many on here like me watched the game on tv the turned over to watch Rochdale against Spurs. Did you see the similarities between town and Rochdale, both wearing blue tops and white shorts. That's where the similarities ended. Rochdale were playing high tempo with passing forward running football and getting stuck in. As for Ipswich Town, no more needs to be said

2

Bert added 19:18 - Feb 18 The usual suspects on here who haven't been to PR for two seasons yet they know all about what is played on the pitch. They bore us week in week out with their foul mouthed language yet kick off when MM says anything. I want MM to go and to go soon because his time is up but please don't ask me to respect the keyboard warriors on here who couldn't even muster a placard at Portman Road before a game. What cowards they are.

-3

Northstandveteran added 19:20 - Feb 18 😂 thanks warktheline I was blissfully unaware of that! I of course meant the Cowley brothers. Blimmin predictive text. I think I got away with that........
1

TimmyH added 19:23 - Feb 18 Give me Monk or Cowley any day over Mick!
1

Pip50 added 19:27 - Feb 18 Bert wker what cliche. Please if you are to grace this board say something that makes sense.
1

blueheartXT added 19:27 - Feb 18 I think mick has right to swear at some of the fans if he did ? not at all though You can continually call him all sorts and that's ok just a little F off To some that expects Miricalwith no budget I think he's done a great job and I will thank him for everything he has done and wish him well he departs at the end of the season to a club that probably beats us home and away next season Such a shame today ended as it probably a fair result with a game of two halves

-2

paddypowell added 19:28 - Feb 18 subs were not right garner put the defence under pressure while he was on didzi came on and the pressure was lifted we lacked pace on the wings so mm puts on 2 defending players on while celina and carayol 2 with pace stayed on the bench we could see what we needed as fans so why could mm cum on mmsir bobby will b turning in his grave the way u r treating this club and fans

1

Northstandveteran added 19:36 - Feb 18 The idea of Ipswich going down to the 3rd tier of English football is not an option. For every Southampton and Norwich there have been arguably bigger clubs than us, Sheffield Wednesday, forest, Sunderland to name but 3 that spent more than one season trying to get out of it. With crowds falling and the club at an all time low, what would give anyone the impression we would get promotion just by turning up? No, relegation could be disastrous

1

midastouch added 19:39 - Feb 18 This is why we need a new manager to put an end to put an end to this sort of ridicule! http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-fans-loving-commentary-of-ipswich-hea Mick has plenty of chances to beat Norwich and he's failed each and every time! Magilton had no such problems!
3

smokester added 20:04 - Feb 18 Forget it. The tide is slowly turning for Norwich. Next year they'll be on a budget and let's see how many German players they can buy. With or without MM we'll be at least as good as them. I live and work in Norwich and can't stand (most of) these a55holes.
2

itfc94 added 20:39 - Feb 18 First and foremost, where the hell did 5 minutes injury time come from!? Shocking officiating. We were completely outplayed second half. Maddison clearly too good for us and probably should be playing a higher level. Overall today epitomised the McCarthy era. Boring football, hard to beat and lacking anything creative. The season is pretty much over, we aren't gonna go down and nor good enough to compete with top 6. So why not go for it? Subs showed how inept he is at tactics. McG, Hyam and Spence!? Got two creative, direct players in Carayol and Celina.... play em! And swearing at us fans. Disgusting. I'd be sacked for swearing at loyal customers at work.... not really any different!?

3

AdyCOYB added 20:43 - Feb 18 Saw the game on the box today (although rather have been there, I may have missed some atmosphere!), Town played well 1st Half really impressed and stopped Maddison getting in between our defence and midfield where he is most dangerous. I don't know what happened at half time however we backed off and created space for Norwich to play the ball around and Maddison came more into the game? Our Substitutions where baffling at best why did Mick change them unless they were injured. All he had to do was to compress the play again like we did in the 1st half? The subs had no impact as we were continuing to back off!! As for the 5 minutes there has been a lot a talk about this, to my knowledge this time should be 30 seconds per substitution. At the 90 mins. there had only been 4 subs (2 mins.) Before somebody asks, Norwich had not utilised there two subs until after the 90 mins and after the extra minutes had been declared. Allowing for time wastage I would have envisaged around 3 mins extra minimum play but never 5. Somebody on here mentions Mr Andrews co commenting today who was a Town loanee and our club captain if I remember rightly, yes a loan player was our club captain!! Things have progressed on that front but again Mick's tactics have to come into question especially the second half.

0

Ipswichbusiness added 20:43 - Feb 18 Northstandveteran, I live on the Staffs/Derbys border and so I know quite a few Stoke fans. They were keen to see the back of Pulis as they thought his football was primitive long ball stuff. That said there is a simple difference between Pulis and MM; Pulis' brand works.
2

lightingblue added 20:52 - Feb 18 I find it quite humorous. Don't any of you lot get told to F off by anybody anywhere.Next time I go next game I'd buy you lot a can of man up. Things are said in the heat of the moment. A chill pill is needed. I would like to say, you seem to think it's ok to swear and abuse someone, then when the person reacts, you go on the defensive. If you can't take it, don't dish it out. Whatever your thoughts on mm, you need to give the bloke some kind of credit. His saved us from league 1. His done well with no money, digging up the likes of Mings, garner and Waghorn. I understand that he actually signed Bart for free. Please all be careful what you wish for. Yes he doesn't play sexy football but he is what he is. If he goes who do we honestly get in who will generally do any better. We have to realise that Ipswich is not a big sexy club. We are miles from anywhere and will struggle to find any investors, management or players what wanna come our way. They want to be where the trendy places are. These places are normally in the bigger cities where these people can build their connections and build their business network. Sorry guys but we ain't attractive. We a looked upon as that friendly little club in the middle of nowhere who nobody is really bothered about

-4

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls