Boss Kieran McKenna felt the Blues were the better team by a considerable margin during this afternoon’s 2-2 home draw with local rivals Norwich City.

Nathan Broadhead gave Town the lead before Jonathan Rowe gave the Canaries a surprise lead with goals either side of the break, prior to Wes Burns levelling for the Blues, who continue to wait for a derby win.

“I thought it was a great occasion in terms of the build-up and the supporters did the club proud in terms of the atmosphere they created,” McKenna said.

“I thought it was a really good performance, I thought we were the better team by a considerable margin, created lots and lots of chances, gave away very few chances and there were lots of things we can build on from the performance.

“Of course, the frustration is conceding two goals from hopeful balls which ricocheted around our box, but beyond that, there are so many positives we can take from the performance.

“Of course, only a point but we would have loved to have given the supporters a victory but I think the team in blue can certainly take a lot from that game.”

Prior to Broadhead’s opening goal, the Wales international had spurned two opportunities, while fellow countryman Burns had similarly failed to take another.

Asked whether the missed opportunities were a major thing for him to reflect on, McKenna reflected: “No, I understand it. We’ve been so clinical at home and I think that’s a 3-0 performance in the first half, if I’m honest, and we go in 1-1.

“Our forwards have been so clinical for such a period of time, so it can happen, especially in a game which means that little bit extra as well.

“On the other hand, we were here and we scored five goals in the first half against Exeter, not to go back there, but these boys have shown they can be clinical in big games.

“That doesn’t concern me. I know on another day, if we play that game 10 times over we win it a lot more than [we don’t].

“That doesn’t concern me, the goals we gave away were a disappointment, no doubt about it, two moments of concentration in our penalty box and a little bit of fortune on both, which can happen.

“It’s unfortunate that it happened today and Norwich were clinical in those two situations really.”

Did McKenna feel the occasion perhaps got to the players? “No! In what guise, the chances they missed? Maybe, we’re talking about players who have been really, really clinical and we’ve missed a couple of chances.

“Is that because you’re a tiny little bit more tense in that situation than you would have been? It’s possible.

“But I think in the general performance, I know it was built up that we were favourites for the game, but Norwich are a really good team with really attacking principles, one of the best attacking teams in the league. Have scored the third-most goals, usually create much more chances than today and our general level of play was really good.

“I understand in terms of the chances missed, that’s unlike us, but on the other hand the composure we showed in a lot of aspects of our general performance, I was really pleased with.”

Quizzed on whether he believed the game would open up and suit his side more having gone in front, McKenna said: “I thought the game suited us most of the game. I thought whenever they pressed us, we were able to find the solutions most of the time and break through, whenever they sat in I thought we were a threat.

“Maybe in the last 20 minutes we didn’t create as much as we would have liked and they defended their box well. They’ve got a big centre-half [Shane Duffy], who can defend the ball well on crosses, and they defended the box well, but I thought it was comfortable in all game states.

“They had a few moments in the second half when they built well down their left-hand side, but other than that I thought we controlled almost every situation, apart from two balls into the box, which weren’t quite as clean and as switched on as we need to be to defend that situation.

“But I didn’t think the goals changed the course of the game, first goal, second goal. My view was that we were in control for the whole game.”

Regarding the coach welcome in which thousands of fans with banners and flares greeted the team when they arrived at the ground, McKenna said: “It was brilliant. It’s so appreciated, fantastic memories.

“As I said beforehand, it wasn’t going to win us the game, it wasn’t going to lose us the game because I knew the players weren’t going to get overawed by that sort of thing.

“I think it strengthens the bond going forward. A day like today where you see what the club is capable of, you see the atmosphere that was created before the game, you see the following, you see the interest in the town because the team is doing well and we’re playing in a derby.

“The vocal support that the players got, the performance that was delivered under big pressure against a team, who 18 months ago were operating in the Premier League and for that team’s supporters to be celebrating a draw and we’re 21 points clear, I don’t need to emphasise it too much, there’s lots of positivity to take from today as a football club.

“The day’s done now, both teams take the point and we try and build on it. We’ve got big games coming up, we’ve got tough games coming up but I think today’s a day we’re a club from everything I saw that represented themselves well and made the progress that we’re making.”

Asked whether he might have preferred not to have had the welcome, McKenna said: “No, 100 per cent absolutely not. I don’t think it had any impact, certainly from a negative points of view and I thought it was a lovely bonding moment for everyone in the football club.”

McKenna was asked about an incident in which a beer can and other objects were thrown at Norwich joint-majority shareholders Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn-Jones’s car as it followed the Town coach through the crowds.

“I haven’t heard about that, somebody mentioned there was an incident,” he said. “I can’t comment on that.”

Photo: TWTD

cooper4england added 15:57 - Dec 16 I feel numb
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Suffolkboy added 16:00 - Dec 16 A careful ,but rather defensive summation which probably disguises real disappointment ,into which he’s simply not going to get . For sure defensive failures must have been evident ,BUT the very real damage is the very poor and off colour finishing in attack . KM really almost glosses over the missed chances ,but this’ll be by design and he attempts to compensate by drawing comparison with the ‘usual’ better standards and goals achieved . A draw is a draw , and a shame when much more was both expected and in reality not only possible but ought to have been the case . Never mind. ; we cannot win them all so onwards and upwards ! COYB

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Linkboy13 added 17:07 - Dec 16 Yes we missed chances today but we cannot be expected to score three goals every home game to win a game. Ive said this before i don't like slagging players off but Wolfenden and Burgess are decent but probably not top championship players. Baggott is obviously still a way off making a start for the first team as he's not even on the bench. Corrie Ndaba is turning out regularly in the Scottish premier league for Kilmarnock and apparently impressed against Celtic .

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AYACCA added 17:16 - Dec 16 We play the best football in England, can't be anything but proud of that team.
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viewfromtheu2 added 17:30 - Dec 16 Absolutely spot on here from the gaffer. The only thing we didn't come out of on top today was the score. Otherwise, we can be proud of how we were today, on and off the pitch
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SingBlue added 17:42 - Dec 16 Don’t get negative comments about our defence - I’d prefer us to play exactly as we are, which does give more pressure on the defence, but what I’ve noticed in 16 of the league games we’ve played so far the opposing teams defence has let in more goals than ours! What I also noticed is that super KMc was laughing at our nearest neighbours cheering a draw at the end - the legend status has gone up another notch.

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carlo88 added 17:45 - Dec 16 Nothing wrong with that result, or performance. Got a horrible game out of the way too.
4

ITFCson added 17:45 - Dec 16 If they are going to ask McKenna regarding the beer cans at the car maybe also ask about the carlsberg bottles raining down on Ipswich fans when they scored their 2nd, 1 of which struck the lady next to me on the shoulder.
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Gforce added 17:56 - Dec 16 We just have to put that one down to experience. On a positive note,beat the scum in April,then we can sing to them 5 years and still no win !!
4

Nomore4 added 18:39 - Dec 16 We really was…… and should have been over the hill and far away by half time. I was in the North, and Norwich looked weaker, (especially upfront) than any visiting team this season 1st half.
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Nomore4 added 18:48 - Dec 16 #Singblue. Agree it is odd. Undefeated 20 times in 22 games…… That’s how our defence has been performing. Totally struggle to see any negatives…….throughout all positions.
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bobble added 19:56 - Dec 16 no damage done , no injuries ,no pts lost in 3rd place gap ,plenty more tough games to come
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bringmeaKuqi added 21:43 - Dec 16 Leeds drew their easier fixture today, so not losing ground to them is a good outcome. Not the result we wanted, but we've reduced the number of opportunities Leeds have to make up ground.
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algarvefan added 01:02 - Dec 17 I think we have been great all season, there will always be ups and downs and of course it is a shame we didn't beat Norwich. I guess like most of you I felt disappointed at the end, we should and could have sealed the game in the first half. I still say look where we are currently and we are playing great football, there is a transfer window looming and I expect a push to inject some premier league quality as we are well placed for the second half of the season. Everyone will drop points between now and the end of the season, we just have to keep this momentum going and not stress over individual games. I honestly believe we can do this, I trust the team, the management and the fans to get us promoted. Keep the faith!!

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Mariner1974 added 02:59 - Dec 17 You tell 'em Kieran. We're streets ahead in points and style.
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Europablue added 08:07 - Dec 17 It was really funny that KM got a couple of digs in about them celebrating a draw and us being 21 points ahead. He really is a cheeky chappie!
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Rimsy added 13:53 - Dec 17 Wolfenden should have shut out the first goal. Blocked the first shot then stood still and let them have another go, should have closed him down, a step forward and the goal doesn't happen.
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hyperbrit added 14:04 - Dec 17 guarantee you KM is well aware of the problems at both ends of the pitch that must be fixed if Town is to progress. His brief is to get to the Premiership ASAP not languish in the Championship indefinitely.
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