CANARY CURSE STRIKES AGAIN
IPSWICH have relished life back in the Championship after a four-year absence. The Tractor Boys are the division’s top scorers, are gunning for promotion and had won nine of their previous 10 games coming into this Old Farm derby.
But despite their remarkable progress, they just cannot knock the Canaries off their perch. Norwich’s 15-year stranglehold over their bitter rivals continued after Marcelino Nunez’s goal allowed Leicester to leapfrog Ipswich at the top of the table.
The Chile international sent Carrow Road wild when he struck with a firsthalf free-kick, boosting Norwich’s playoff hopes and putting a huge dent in their rivals’ promotion bid.
It is now 15 matches since Norwich last suffered defeat at the hands of their neighbours and manager David Wagner had no doubt the passionate home crowd played their part.
He said: ‘To play against the leaders and biggest rivals and to keep a clean sheet against a team that scores so many goals, the players totally deserve the positive headlines. The atmosphere was fantastic, it was outstanding — the best since I’ve been in charge.
‘Everyone can see what kind of big influence it has. Today is about us. We have targets as well.’
Just after the half-hour mark Josh Sargent burst through on goal only to go down under a challenge by Axel Tuanzebe. Home fans demanded a red card, but referee Matt Donohue gave the defender a yellow.
It was a warning for the visitors though and with six minutes of the first half remaining Nunez delivered a dipping free-kick that Ipswich’s Czech goalkeeper, Vaclav Hladky, managed to get a hand to, but only to deflect the ball onto a post and in.
The goal briefly woke up a previously lethargic Ipswich, who started to play with more tempo and energy towards the end of the half.
Sargent was upended by Sam Morsy on the hour mark just on the edge of the penalty area, but the referee waved away claims for a penalty.
While Town put on late pressure, their ability to score late deserted them and manager Kieran McKenna said: ‘I didn’t think it was our best performance. We didn’t hit the level that we would have hoped to.
‘It was a period of ten minutes in the first half where decisions and set plays went against us, that culminates in them scoring a free-kick from 30 yards.
‘It was a big game, big atmosphere and there were a lot of different factors involved.’