 |
Match Report: Norwich 2-0 Ipswich | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
|
Norwich City recorded their first win in the East Anglian Derby since 2005 with a 2-0 victory at Carrow Road. Paul Bloomfield reports.Jon Otsemobor was the first to threaten the Ipswich Town goal after 2 minutes with a curling effort from outside the box which brushed the roof of the net. Richard Wright was called into action three minutes later to deny Leroy Lita’s headed effort from David Bell’s corner. Owen Garvan rattled the crossbar after 21 minutes, but his effort wouldn’t have counted anyway as the referee had blown for a foul against Pablo Couñago. Norwich came close again when Alex Bruce’s determined attempt to get in a block on Sammy Clingan’s effort resulted in the ball deflecting off him and striking Richard Wright’s crossbar. The referee however failed to spot the deflection and awarded Ipswich a goal kick. The first-half ended goalless and didn’t prove to be much of a spectacle, however it was clear that the home side were much the better and more threatening of the two teams. Ipswich Town and Jon Walters could have hardly wished for a better chance to take the lead five minutes into the second-half, when the former Chester man found himself through on goal. The Carrow Road crowd fell silent almost in disbelief at the amount of space he found himself in, but Walters failed to beat David Marshall in a one-on-one situation, with Norwich goalkeeper getting a firm block on his shot. You felt that Town may rue this missed opportunity and sure enough that was to be the case. Town fell behind to a goal that even the hardiest of Town fans must have able to admit was a deserved lead for the Canaries. Lee Croft found himself in space and unleashed a rasping shot from 22 yards which gave Richard Wright no chance. Richard Wright had to foil Leroy Lita for a second time in the game soon after in order to prevent the home side from taking a two-goal lead. Wright got an important hand to Lita’s low driven shot down to his near post. Darren Ambrose’s replacement, Danny Haynes, a regular thorn in Norwich City’s side, almost continued his scoring record against the Canaries when his close-range header from Owen Garvan’s corner was kept out by David Marshall. Norwich doubled their advantage on 81 minutes in highly controversial circumstances. Leroy Lita pointed out to the referee that Town defender Gareth McAuley was bleeding, therefore needing to leave the pitch, and thus being absent from the pitch for the upcoming Norwich City set piece. Sure enough, the free kick resulted in a goal for the Canaries, with the ball falling to Matty Pattison who blasted the ball in off the underside of the crossbar from 4 yards out. From that point onwards it looked to be all over for an angry Gareth McAuley and his Ipswich Town team mates. It was a highly disappointing showing by the Blues who simply failed to perform. It couldn’t even be considered a dignifying defeat, due to the sheer lack of quality and seeming lack of passion at times, with the side in green and yellow much the better side and fully deserving of their win. Jim Magilton was yet to taste defeat as a manager against Ipswich’s fierce East Anglian rivals, but will be sure to feel the brunt of what it feels like on this occasion, with many fans already uneasy about his management at the club. Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Doherty, Omozusi, Bertrand, Croft (Russell 82), Pattison, Clingan, Hoolahan (Lupoli 90), Bell (Fotheringham 88), Lita. Subs not used: Nelson, Drury. Booked: Clingan Ipswich: R.Wright, Volz, D.Wright, McAuley, Bruce, D.Wright, Norris, Shumulikoski, Garvan (Naylor 82), Ambrose (Haynes 60), Walters, Couñago (Stead 67). Subs not used: Supple, Miller. Booked: D.Wright, Walters, Shumulikoski. Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |