IPSWICH Town sank to a new low when thrashed by arch rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road today. It was their fourth consecutive league defeat and they are just four points off the relegation places.

Norwich City 4 Ipswich Town 1

IPSWICH Town sank to a new low when thrashed by arch rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road today. It was their fourth consecutive league defeat and they are just four points off the relegation places.

The match was played out in front of the highest crowd since the stadium was made all-seater and in front of the live BBC TV cameras

Town fans will be left devastated at the defeat and the armchair viewers will have seen Roy Keane’s management in a very poor light although the sending off of Damien Delaney in the 36th minute was a huge blow to the Blues.

It was Town’s biggest derby defeat since a 3-0 loss in 1994/95.

Town made three changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Hull City the previous weekend with Fulop returning in goal in place of Murphy who dropped down to the bench.

New loan signing Zuiverloon came in at right back for his debut in place of the injured Tom Eastman, while Ipswich reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation with Priskin coming in at front to partner Scotland.

O’Dea was available to play after spending the week in Glasgow where his partner was in the final stages of labour.

Luca Civelli made his first appearance in a Town squad for more than 18 months when he suffered severe knee problems after making a good impression after joining from Argentinian football.

He was on the bench where he was joined by a fit again Colin Healy, Shane O’Connor and also new loan signing Rory Fallon who although a born-again Christian was happy to play on the Sabbath.

The Canaries included their loan signing from last week – Henri Lansbury from Arsenal – and had the dangerous pairing of Grant Holt and Chris Martin up front.

Ruddy saved Leadbitter’s 22 yard low effort in the second minute and shortly afterwards Holt was booked for a nasty challenge on Colback and Leadbitter for the afters that resulted as players from both sides piled in.

Holt and Surman tackled each other when the Town defence opened up in the 11th minute right in front of goal.

More dreadful defensively play allowed the Canaries to take the lead two minutes later.

O’Dea fails to clear with his back to goal and although there is a suspicion of handball by Holt the home striker takes possession and strides on to beat Fulop comprehensively with a cool side-foot finish.

Soon after, Priskin tricks his marker and his drive across the box is pushed out by Ruddy – with the Norwich keeper relieved that the ball drops to a team mate.

Fulop saved from Crofts after a goalmouth scramble in the 25th minute soon after Lansbury had shot just over from distance.

Town equalise with a rare first half goal after already having more shots than in the entire game at Hull last week.

Priskin leaps for Leadbitter’s free-kick and when the ball is headed down Delaney is there to turn it over the line ending up in the back of the net himself.

O’Dea is the culprit again when Norwich re-take the lead in the 35th minute. He is hanging back from the back line and allows Holt to be on side when he runs free and clear on to Lansbury’s precise forward pass.

Holt nets confidently off the right boot of the exposed Fulop.

There is more agony for the Blues a minute later when Delaney loses possession to Holt just inside the Town half. The Town man grabs at his opponent who goes down with the referee deeming it to be a professional foul even though O’Dea looked perfectly positioned to have got in a challenge.

Town were now right up against it with O’Dea moving inside to partner Smith and Colback going to left back.

With City now well on top Fulop needed to be at his best to keep out a close range 44th minute Surman header.

Town hold out well despite being one man short although when they are carved open in the 67th minute, Fulop does well to block a close range effort by C Martin.

Ten minutes later the world really came crashing down on Ipswich’s world when C Martin worked his corner well and played the ball back for Holt to complete his hat-trick – the first in an East Anglian derby since Mathie in 1998 – with a precise side-foot finish low to Fulop’s left.

A minute later – the 78th – Norwich rub salt into the wound with a fourth goal. C Martin again does well with his control and pass to substitute Hoolahan who outpaces Healy and then dinks a chip over the head of an on-rushing Fulop.

Teams

Norwich City: Ruddy; R Martin, Barnett, Ward, Lappin; Lansbury (K Smith 81), Crofts, Surman (Hoolahan 64), Fox; C Martin, Holt (Jackson 84). Substitutes: Rudd, Nelson, Johnson, McNamee.

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Zuiverloon (Fallon 69), Delaney, T Smith, O’Dea; Edwards, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback; Scotland (Healy 41), Priskin (Brow2n 81). Substitutes: Murphy, O’Connor, Livermore, Civelli..

Referee: Mr K Hill (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 26,532

NORWICH CITY v IPSWICH TOWN MATCH RATINGS

Norwich City: Ruddy 6; R Martin 6, Barnett 6, Ward 6, Lappin 6; Lansbury 7, Crofts 7, Surman 6, Fox 6; C Martin 6, Holt 9.

Ipswich Town: Fulop 6; Zuiverloon 6, Delaney 7, Smith 7, O’Dea 5; Edwards 6, Leadbitter 6, Norris 6, Colback 6; Scotland 6, Priskin 6.

MATCH STATS

Norwich City 4

Goals: Holt 13, 35, 77, Hoolahan 78

Bookings: Holt 4, Lansbury 44, Jackson 89

Shots on target: 9

Shots off target: 8

Woodwork: -

Corners: 6

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 11

Ipswich Town 1

Goals: Delaney 28

Bookings: Leadbitter 4, Norris 61, Colback 88.

Sent off: Delaney 36

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 3

Woodwork: -

Corners: 4

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 11