Norwich City 1-0 Ipswich Town: Stuart Watson's verdict

Jack Stacey tackles Massimo Luongo. (Image: Pagepix Ltd)

FIRST HURDLE CLEARED

Ipswich have conceded a fair few goals in the opening exchanges of matches this season, so when they got to the 20 minute mark still at 0-0 it felt like an important first hurdle cleared.

It had been an anxious, scruffy, error-strewn start to the match from both teams, with no real goalscoring opportunities at either end as a result. That can happen in derby games.

At that stage, I was feeling okay about things. The intense home atmosphere started to drop off a bit. Town are so good at problem-solving in game under Kieran McKenna, I expected them to increasingly settle and find some rhythm. There certainly looked space in behind for left-sided outlet Leif Davis to work with.

It didn't work out that way though.

Norwich City players celebrate Marcelino Nunez's free-kick goal in front of their fans. (Image: PA)

TOO MANY FOULS

Not for the first time this season, Ipswich invited an intense spell of pressure by giving away too many free-kicks in a short period of time.

Sam Morsy fouled Kenny McLean and Gabriel Sara curled wide from 25 yards out.

Three minutes later, Josh Sargent was sent racing away on the counter-attack and went down under the attentions of Axel Tuanzebe just as he looked to burst into the box. Did the Town defender make contact with the ball or the opponent's ankles first? It was hard to tell. Referee Matthew Donohue was quick to award the foul, then took his time before showing a yellow card. That was a relief. In truth, it was a challenge not much different from the one that saw Southampton's James Bree dismissed at Portman Road a few days earlier. Marcelino Nunez's low dead ball attempt deflected behind this time and Town were scrambling to survive at the subsequent corner.

Two minutes after that, Cameron Burgess grappled Sargent at a throw-in. Sara's dead ball delivery was headed behind by Massimo Luongo and Town were scrambling to survive at the subsequent corner. The warning sign was not heeded.

Next, Morsy tangled with Sargent as he twisted and turned. Nunez's subsequent swerving hit from 30 yards out was pushed onto the inside of the post by Vaclav Hladky and the net was left bulging. A keeper error? For me, the size and position of the wall was the bigger issue.  

Omari Hutchinson went down under the attentions of Borja Sainz inside the Norwich box late in the half. A shout for a penalty? I think it would have been soft.

Ipswich weren't behind at the break because of the referee. They weren't behind because Norwich had been particularly good either. They were behind because they hadn't done enough of the basics right.

Still, there was plenty of time to turn things around for the division's comeback kings.

Josh Sargent (right) is bundled over by Sam Morsy. The Norwich striker was a constant threat on the breakaway. (Image: PA)

SURVIVING BREAKAWAYS

Unfortunately, things continued in the same vein after the restart.

Luongo bundled over Sara, Tuanzebe mis-controlled a ball into touch, Morsy then mis-hit a pass back to Hladky and the Blues keeper got away with a panicked slice straight to Sargent. The tone was set.

Norwich, with a lead to protect, sat in a compact mid-block with two banks of four. Their game plan was to land a killer blow on the break. It came close to coming off too as Sargent repeatedly ran in behind.

Morsy got away with bundling the American over from behind, Burgess had to produce a last-ditch tackle on the mobile forward after he'd shrugged off Luke Woolfenden, while Hladky kept out a low shot. 

Things weren't going to plan. Still, the damage was only 1-0. Ipswich had options on the bench and were now heading towards their favourite time of the game to score - the last 15 minutes... 

Norwich keeper Angus Gunn denies Ipswich sub Ali Al-Hamadi late on. (Image: Pagepix Ltd)

DOOR SLAMMED SHUT

Twice Davis picked out Conor Chaplin in the box - once with a low corner, once with a trademark square pass. Chaplin didn't make contact with the first chance though and sent the second over the angle of bar and post.

Jack Taylor, Marcus Harness and Ali Al-Hamadi were subsequently introduced, Harry Clarke and Jeremy Sarmiento having already been brought into the fray.

Norwich defended deep with desire and organisation. Ipswich didn't have the quality to break them down. Angus Gunn confidently claimed aerial balls and commanded his area, racing off his line to deny Al-Hamadi, while Stacey and Ben Gibson made important tackles and blocks. The Blues knocked on the door, but it never really felt like they were blowing it down.

This was the first time since a goalless stalemate at Stoke, on New Year's Day, that Ipswich had drawn a blank.

"I don't think either team hit a particularly high level," rued McKenna afterwards. I don't disagree with that.

"At the end of the day my players were better. I had the feeling they wanted it more," said Canaries boss David Wagner. It's hard, unfortunately, to disagree with that either. 

Omari Hutchinson reacts at the final whistle. (Image: Pagepix Ltd)

WHY SO FLAT?

Ipswich Town, relentlessly competitive this season, had frustratingly failed to turn up in the game their fans wanted them to win most of all. On and off the ball, this performance fell well short of usual standards.

Why is that? It's probably a multitude of things.

It could be psychological. There's the pressure of the prize that's now tantalisingly in reach, while talk of a lengthy winless run against Norwich may have weighed heavy.

It could be physical. Town put so much into that perfect Easter weekend, fighting right to the death in games against Blackburn and Southampton.

Several players have been affected by illness and injuries too. Kieffer Moore, who has played a lot of football for club and country, may just have been flogged a bit too much of late. Davis has struggled with flu. Morsy is coming towards the end of Ramadan now, a tough period for any Muslim athlete. They are three integral players.

Did McKenna's analytical, play the game not the occasion, cool, calm, collected approach actually backfire here? Was this a match to prioritise passion over process? I'm not sure about that, but I understand the debate.

It's only right to give the opposition some credit as well. Norwich have found a formula that works for them. They've now won eight league games in a row at Carrow Road. Fair play.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna reacts to defeat at Norwich City. (Image: PA Images)

PROMOTION PICTURE

Strip away the derby element of this game and losing narrowly away from home to an in-form top-six side is hardly a disaster.

Leicester scoring late to beat Birmingham 2-1 means they are back at the top of the Championship table, a point clear of Ipswich with a game in hand to come.

But Leeds losing 2-1 at Coventry means that the Blues still go into the final five games of the season with automatic promotion in their own hands. That's a scenario no-one would have predicted after stepping up from League One.

McKenna always talks about being more interested in performances than points. Having clung on at Blackburn, been outplayed for large period by Southampton and then fallen flat against Norwich, is that a cause for concern? I guess time will tell. It shouldn't be forgotten that the 6-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday was only three weeks go. Or that Town have still suffered fewer league defeats (six) than anyone in the division.

This group has always responded well to set-backs. Let's hope they can now take some frustrations out on Watford and Middlesbrough at Portman Road this week.

For now, Norwich fans can gloat. Rightly so. It would be the same if roles were reversed. This season's fight for bragging rights is far from over though. As I said in the build-up, he who laughs last will laugh the longest. We can only hope that revenge is a dish best served cold.