Jonas Knudsen netted a first-half injury time equaliser as the East Anglian derby between Town and Norwich City at Portman Road ended 1-1. After Jonathan Douglas had had an early goal wrongly ruled out for offside, Cameron Jerome gave the Canaries the lead against the run of play on 26 but Knudsen equalised. In the second half, Steven Whittaker came closest to winning it when he hit the post.

Kevin Bru replaced Teddy Bishop, who dropped to the bench, in an otherwise unchanged Town side again lining up 4-3-3.

Striker Brett Pitman returned to the bench having missed the last three games with a thigh injury. Norwich made one change, Youssouf Mulumbu taking over from Josh Murphy in midfield.

Town had the ball in the net in only the second minute but it was ruled out due to a wrongly raised linesman’s flag.

Bru’s freekick was headed into the air by Christophe Berra and Daryl Murphy nodded down to to Douglas who turned home from close range and briefly thought he’d put the Blues in front until the assistant’s flag was spotted.

Replays indicated the Irish midfielder was onside and that Town had had a perfectly good goal ruled out for the second successive game.

Despite the disappointment, the home side kept up the early momentum and in the fourth minute Daryl Murphy shot wide with his right foot after Jonas Knudsen had returned the ball to the edge of the box.

Town continued to press and following a corner, Berra headed skipper Luke Chambers’s cross wide at the far post with an unmarked Douglas frustrated that the ball hadn’t reached him beyond the Scotland international.

Adam Webster crowded out Cameron Jerome as the visitors made their first foray into the penalty area in 10th minute.

But the Blues were still on top and a minute later Murphy out-muscled Timm Klose and burst into the area before running into traffic and hitting the turf. Referee David Coote ignored penalty appeals from the crowd. A minute later, Berra blocked a Wes Hoolahan shot on the edge of the box.

Murphy wasn’t too far away from from an opener in the 18th minute when he flicked Chambers’s cross from the right over Canaries keeper Michael McGovern and onto the roof of the net.

On 23, the Irish international, who was giving the visitors’ backline significant problems, turned another header through to McGovern from another Chambers cross from the right.

Despite the Blues domination of the first quarter of the game, the Canaries went in front with their first shot of the game in the 26th minute.

Daniel Ivo Pinto rode a Freddie Sears tackle on the right and cut the ball across and following work from Hoolahan and Steven Naismith skipper Jonathan Howson laid it back to Cameron Jerome and he struck a low shot which caught the inside of Bartosz Bialkowski’s right post before hitting the net.

The goal settled the visitors down and they began to keep hold of the ball with greater composure. Town’s threat was limited to corners which the Canaries were able to deal with.

Naismith curled a shot over in the 37th minute, then soon after at the other end Sears’s cross just wouldn’t fall for Knudsen and Klose cleared.

As the game moved into injury time, the Blues got back on terms. The ball was played into Murphy’s feet on the right of the area and the striker turned it on to Sears, who fed Knudsen behind him. The Danish international cut in and hit a low right-foot shot into the corner of the net beyond McGovern to send Portman Road wild.

The Blues thoroughly deserved to go in level - at least - at the break after dominating the first 25 minutes and having been hugely unlucky to see another good goal chalked off, and in such a significant game.

Once in front via Jerome’s well-worked goal, the Canaries had been on top but Town had still looked a threat when in their half with Klose in particular not having been able to get to grips with Murphy.

The Irishman played a big role in the equaliser, as did Sears, who might have looked to find space to shoot himself rather than feeding Knudsen, who took his second Town goal with great confidence.

Norwich switched Pinto for Whittaker ahead of the start of the second half, which the Blues started on the front foot, winning an early corner which came to nothing.

Ward won another flag-kick on 53 and Berra powered a header against a defender. Claims it struck a hand from the crowd were ignored by referee Coote.

The Canaries immediately broke through Hoolahan and eventually Webster nodded a scuffed Whittaker shot, which had bounced up and over Bialkowski, off the line.

As the game moved to the hour mark Murphy was sent away beyond Klose, who he out-paced. The Swiss international slid in outside the area and caught the Town striker, who went down hurt as a result, but referee Coote rather surprisingly waved away Blues protests. Had he awarded the decision in the Blues’ favour then Klose’s difficult afternoon would have ended with a red card.

Alexander Tettey picked up the game’s first booking in the 64th minute after fouling Douglas but the caution looked more for his subsequent dissent. Bru hit the freekick into the wall.

Bishop replaced Bru in the 70th minute, then a minute later Norwich sub Jacob Murphy was sent away down the right but Knudsen blocked his cross.

A Sears shot almost fell to Bishop inside the Norwich box, then on 75 the Canaries came within a whisker of going back in front.

Jerome crossed from the right and Webster’s clearance only reached Whittaker, who hit a low shot which struck Bialkowski’s right post before being cleared by Skuse.

While that was the closest either side had come to a second-half goal, more of the game had been played in and around the visitors’ penalty area than Town’s. A minute later, another Sears shot was deflected away from goal.

Two minutes from time sub Bishop twice had the chance to win it. Following a corner, the ball fell for the 20-year-old but his shot struck a defender. Then seconds later, he caught a defender dallying with the ball and won it but McGovern was off his line to block. Moments afterwards Luke Varney took over from Sears.

As the match moved into three minutes of injury time Hoolahan hit a low shot which gave Bialkowski no trouble.

Deep in injury time Norwich’s Murphy broke into the area and hit the game’s last shot across the face of goal and wide.

The Town players were warmly applauded off by their fans after a derby which they had shaded, even if they were unable to claim a victory.

As has happened on a number of occasions in recent derbies - and also against Wolves earlier in the week - the Blues were the victims of poor refereeing with Douglas’s goal disallowed in the first half and what looked to be a foul on Murphy unpunished in the second.

The Blues were on top for the majority of the second half, however, the better of the chances fell to the visitors with Whittaker’s effort against the post the nearest either side came to a winner.

Despite not having won the game, most fans are likely to have gone home happy with their side’s performance against their greatest rivals with another home game next Saturday against Preston.

Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru (Bishop 70), Ward, Sears (Varney 89), Murphy. Unused: Gerken, T Smith, Kenlock, Dozzell, Pitman.

Norwich City: McGovern, Pinto (Whittaker 46), Bennett, Klose, Brady, Tettey, Mulumbu (Jacob Murphy 61), Howson (c), Naismith (Canos 80), Hoolahan, Jerome. Unused: Jones, Martin, Bassong, Lafferty. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 23,350 (Norwich: 1,992).

Photo: TWTD

Steelmonkey added 14:49 - Aug 21 We had them pinned back in their half until they got the goal. Their first shot on target. I'm so pleased that championship match officials now have professional status, it really showed again today didn't it. Murphy was being held at every challenge for the ball. One of the best performances from Knudson today, well done, great goal. Another encouraging show from Grant Ward. Would love to see that effort applied in all our home games, from recent past derbies I've doubted the commitment from town players, but even donkey Douglas had a better game today. Poor turnout crowd wise, however good atmosphere, under 24,000, but perhaps for those extra fans that did turn up the performance might encourage some more to turn up on a Saturday, if they do I hope they are rewarded. Still short of an out and out scoring forward, surely lower league players would be worth a punt. COYB's.

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bluearmy4life added 14:49 - Aug 21 Very proud of our performance today, especially for the first 23 minutes of the game. In some ways, we shut those idiots from up the road up. They came here, over cocky, they thought it would be a walk in the park and they thought they would go away with more derby day success, well if I'm honest with the chances we had, Douglas disallowed goal which should've been given, Murph had a very good shout for a penalty, and Bish's chance at the end, I think we deserved the three points and one over our arch enemy. Some really good performances today, in particular I thought Ward, and Knudsen were outstanding, Murph worked hard, the team worked hard. If we can work as hard as this, tighten up a bit, and be more clinical in the final third, who knows, we could have a very successful season. COYB

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SheptonMalletBlue added 14:54 - Aug 21 Not a bad performance today. Chambers though is another matter. As a right back he is clueless & his distribution is dreadful. Don't think he can pass the ball on the deck.Please get in a proper R/B before the transfer window shuts.
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Daleyitfc added 14:59 - Aug 21 Better than expected, but what a dreadful player we have signed in Webster : can't kick with his left foot at all, and as for being a ball-playing centre-half, with his right presumably, there was no evidence of that.
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runningout added 15:01 - Aug 21 winnable game and 2 points scuppered..
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EssexTractor added 15:04 - Aug 21 Effort today generally good. Freddie Sears does receive criticism but obviously engaged to play as a second left back under Micks system which sadly didn't work preceding their goal. And of course that role of Sears leaves Murphy so often alone up front and despite power that he has his finesse is ordinary and so many balls hoisted to him have little end product . Norwich were under par, but Hoolahan showed why such a player as he, who finds space and usually looks to threaten defences, would be of great value to ITFC. Maybe if, when, Bishop becomes fully fit we might see that , for Bru is not good enough as a playmaker and less said about his free kicks the better. Much credit to Knudsen not just for his goal but for keeping his spirit up and for better positional sense and the most positive note was to see Grant Ward showing a talent for crossing a decent ball and looking like a footballer of future promise. More of a smile than a frown today, but work still to be done, for those missing inhouse spectators to be convinced to return permanently.

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BlueCardigan added 15:08 - Aug 21 Great performace
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yorksblue added 15:09 - Aug 21 If Murphy had his boots on the right feet, we may have got what we deserved..
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NoelTheDub added 15:10 - Aug 21 Great shift by all today had to work very hard for this draw and should have won in the end.I think Murf was too isolated at times when a long ball was pumped up to him but he worked his socks off for us today.I really do think that Teddy should start in central midfield as we have no quality other than young Ward who was a breath of fresh air today.Im happy with this draw but do believe we can win more games than we will with 1 or 2 changes.Well done everyone..COYB.

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humberblue added 15:15 - Aug 21 ArnieM ... You are as clueless as our managers tactics. How much more hoof ball do you want to see at PR?
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runaround added 15:16 - Aug 21 Fair result. Definitely didn't deserve to lose but not 100% sure we did enough to win. Think we just a bit too negative & nervous especially second half & when the time came to try & win the game they were too tired. Perhaps Sears & Murphy could have been replaced earlier as both were running on empty toward the end. That said the effort all the players showed was commendable & we can be proud of the display they put in today. As much as it pains me to say it Norwich are by far the better team right now but we matched them today. 2 games in a row we have had a perfectly good goal disallowed so looking forward to luck evening it self out soon

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blooo added 15:20 - Aug 21 Defence solid, midfield looked good especially Douglas sears looked lost. Played well and competed which is a positive for the season
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baldman added 15:21 - Aug 21 Very p off with result that's 4 points we've been cheated out of things would be looking so much better time for video replays would have taken 2 seconds to see he was on side still scum always get the rub of the green keep it up town and we will be there
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jas0999 added 15:23 - Aug 21 Fair result in the end, we had more possession, they had the better chances. Slightly concerned that we lack a cutting edge up front with Murphy perhaps disappointed he didn't make more of a couple if good chances. Great goal by Knudsen. No complaints it was a draw - with the Town working really hard and deserving of something against a team who certainly looked stronger on paper. Let's hope we use this as a catalyst to press on this season. A couple of quality additions and we may be in with a shout. Douglas had a good game.

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prebsa added 15:24 - Aug 21 I thought today was a decent performance against what I hate to say is a side that should get promoted. Up until they scored we looked far the better side and the when they did we went right off the pace and sunk back a bit all up until the goal. I am normally the first to criticise him but I thought Knudsen had one of his best games in a town shirt! Second half I felt we came out at them again and tried to build on the first half goal. Webster looked confident for his first derby game as did ward. Douglas was again showing his age, slow in the middle and hardley every creates a good forward pass. Sears out wide looked like he couldent be bothered and to me it looked like he spent most of his game at LB. Murphy aswell I thought looked off the pace and should of done better with his chances in the first half. Mick tactically I though he missed the mark leaving Sears on for as long as he did and also for taking Bru off for bishop. I though Bru played a very good game and did a lot of running. I would of take Douglas off and brought bishop on to try and win the game. Micks sub made it look like he just didn't want to lose. Shame about the crowd only being 23k for a derby game we really should be selling out! Overall though I though it was a good team performace with a few minor issues. It's a good point against a strong side and I thought we played some better football of times too.

4

humberblue added 15:24 - Aug 21 I have no clue as to what planet most people are on here?. 15 long and painful years in the second division. MM has done ok with what we have but there is a desperate need for that "Something Else" that would have won that game for us today. If anyone saw MM post match interview you will have noticed his absolute lack of ambition. Justified or not it doesn't give your players the right attitude heading into a local derby. The scummers were poor and having equalised just on half time there should have been only one winner. Sadly "Hoofball" took over , as usual, and we gave the Canaries a point they should not have got😡

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sidtheswan added 15:27 - Aug 21 Good 1st half lots of atmosphere second half usual boredom, Didn't see 4 3 3 just 4 5 1 leaving Murphy isolated with not much support . Sears , why is he in our team total lack of confidence caused by M M playing him out of position . Need to be on bench and we desperately need a goal scorer now . Still 2-3 players short of a play off spot but encouraging 1st half . Good to see stewards doing their job and letting supporters in with flares . Security needs beefing up and while I'm moaning big crowd in Legends Bar total lack of extra staff. Very poor.

7

StowTractorBoy added 15:43 - Aug 21 Came away disappointed that we did not win as Norwich were no great shakes today although Whittaker almost won it for them. It just is not working for Sears and the moment and time for MM to give someone else a chance. Bishop still looks way off the pace which is understandable but we need him fully fit asap. Not many Knudsen or Douglas haters on here today as both put in decent shifts with Knudsen particularly giving his all and scoring a valuable goal. Assistant Referee on Co-op side once again not up to the job and Referee not much better. Hopefully our luck will change as two bad decisions inside a week have cost us dearly. A must win game on Saturday now with the same effort required.

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Elizabeth added 15:46 - Aug 21 Absolutely so proud of the whole team today ! All played with commitment! Grant Ward is a breath of fresh air ! Well done MM and TC .. Made us proud today x
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happybeingblue added 15:47 - Aug 21 Kevin bru taking free kicks and corners ..nearly as bad as Kane taking corners at the euros ..please can we sort this out asap wasted chance straight at the wall
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poldark added 15:51 - Aug 21 100 per cent effort no quality and anyone who things this was good you deserve all you get which will be NOTHING McCarthy OUT
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 16:01 - Aug 21 Credit where credit's due; the team out there today put in a shift. I can't comment on our style of play as I wasn't there (joys of working Sundays!) however, against them lot, I couldn't really care less if we played more like London Wasps than we did Barcelona. Listened to bits of it on BBC Suffolk and from hat I heard Knudsen had a cracking game, Bishop was bright coming on, Murph worked hard, Ward seems a real quality buy at £500k and even Douglas sounded a little less like a donkey today! One other player that did catch my eye/ear was Webster. He seemed confident and calm considering it's probably the biggest game of his career so far. Hopefully he carries on and is one for the future. We still need at least one more goal scoring striker, if not two, and also a right back. Trouble is, we have Emmanuel who a lot of us think is more than capable stepping in now but Mick won't ever drop captain Chambers. Shame really. Wonder if we'll lodge a complaint to the FA about having dodgy linesmen at our games? Two perfectly good goals ruled out in the space of a week and 4 points dropped because of it? How important those 4 points will be come the end of the season? Who knows? Well done to all at ITFC today (even Mick!).

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poldark added 16:16 - Aug 21 Heard 2 supporters walking home after the game priceless comment: One said what did you think of Douglas his mates reply he would do well in my garden with a rod in his hand overlooking my pond says it all
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ArnieMsBigToe added 16:18 - Aug 21 Just confirmed no one predicted Knudsen to score for us!! Good strike too. I watched the match on Sky and apart from the last 20 minutes of the first half, I thought we shaded it. Was it my imagination, or did we play less hoof ball second half?
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humberblue added 16:24 - Aug 21 POLDARK.... As much as it upsets me THAT IS ITFC as we speak. With MM in charge I doubt we'd ever get relegated but in the same breath we will never get promoted. If that's "OK" for some then fine. It isn't for me and I would rather do a Man City and go down to come up stronger than put up with this long ball rubbish that we seem to be happy to put with 😡
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