Norwich dent Ipswich’s promotion push with Marcelino Núñez’s derby free-kick

The sweetest of derby wins may yet prove a mere appetiser. This was a triumphant afternoon for Norwich, who extended their hex over Ipswich to 15 years and fully deserved their extensive celebrations. They maintained a grip on the final playoff spot with an eighth straight home win and, in doing so, put a dent in their bitter rivals’ chances of automatic promotion. Ipswich had been top and flying before kick-off but were off the pace throughout and must hope the consequences of an uncharacteristically flat display are minimal.

While Leicester took advantage, Leeds’s defeat at Coventry kept Ipswich in the top two. Nonetheless these sides could do it all again next month, with a Wembley final at stake. That will be the case if Norwich retain sixth spot and Ipswich slip to third and, on this showing, David Wagner would fancy their chances of inflicting an even more grievous blow. His players were sharper, quicker and more aggressive in a scrappy game that was decided six minutes before half-time by a rare moment of quality from the dead-ball specialist Marcelino Núñez. Continue reading...