Norwich curse after keeper makes point
IT MAY have finished all-square but Norwich were the real losers after a frenetic East Anglia derby yesterday.
Alex Neil’s team moved a point closer to the Championship play-off places with the draw but they really needed all three and were denied by an outstanding performance from Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Jonas Knudsen, with his second derby goal this season, opened the scoring for Ipswich after 63 minutes with a header from a Jordan Spence cross after escaping Jacob Murphy.
But Norwich youngster Murphy, below, responded six minutes later with an angled finish, which beat the otherwise outstanding Bialkowski at his near post.
Despite dropping two points at home, Neil insisted Norwich, who play Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, are still very much in the promotion hunt.
“There are 12 games left so it doesn’t matter whether we get in just now or in a few games time,” said Neil, who led Norwich to promotion two seasons ago. “If it takes us to the last game then that’s when it’s at its most important.
“We have to try to win more games than the teams above us and when we play them they become really significant matches.
“We’re confident with the group of players we have, that we’re capable of doing it.”
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy was certainly the happier of the
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managers, especially after going through the whole of February without defeat, despite a run of matches against Reading, Aston Villa, Brighton, Leeds and Norwich.
“Norwich had the best chances although we might have had a penalty but it makes no odds so there is no point in bitching about it,” said McCarthy.
“We carried a bit of luck at times along with some magnificent goalkeeping, which kept us in it. “It is testament to this group of players that we have gone unbeaten this month against really good teams.”
Ipswich’s penalty claim came when Mitchell Dijks appeared to drag down David McGoldrick, but the foul was given against the Ipswich striker by referee Oliver Langford.
Norwich had a goal ruled out when Dijks used an elbow to put the ball in from a Wes Hoolahan corner.
NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Goal: IPSWICH TOWN (3-5-2): Goal: