Two second-half Teemu Pukki goals and Onel Hernandez’s early opener saw Norwich City beat the Blues 3-0 at Carrow Road as Town continue their long wait for a derby victory. Hernandez put the Canaries in front in the second minute of a first half which saw Blues boss Paul Lambert and Norwich head of performance Chris Domogalla red-carded after the teams and staffs clashed in the closing stages. Town were the better side for much of the second half before Pukki goals on 65 and 81 sealed the win for the top of the table Norfolk side.

Skipper Luke Chambers, outcast left-back Jonas Knudsen, Trevoh Chalobah, Jon Nolan and Will Keane all returned to the Blues side but centre-half James Collins remained unavailable due to his hamstring injury.

Chambers, who missed the Sheffield Wednesday match due to a foot problem, partnered Matthew Pennington at the heart of the defence with James Bree at right-back and returning-to-the-fold Knudsen, who last played at QPR on Boxing Day having indicated he'd like to move on in January and who netted home and away in East Anglian derbies in 2016/17, on the left. Toto Nsiala dropped to the bench, while Myles Kenlock was missing from the 18.

In midfield, Cole Skuse was joined by Chalobah and Nolan with Teddy Bishop and Flynn Downes on the bench.

Up front, Keane started in the centre with Freddie Sears playing a more than usually advanced role on his left and Alan Judge more central with Collin Quaner not among the subs.

Norwich, second in the Championship following yesterday's games, were unchanged from the team which beat new leaders Leeds United 3-1 last week with ex-Blues striker Jordan Rhodes on the bench.

Prior to kick-off, with rain falling heavily, the Town support unveiled banners bearing the slogans ‘Fans not criminals’ and ‘Farke the police’ in reference to the draconian security measures put in place for away supporters for the match.

Town got off to the worst possible start with the Canaries taking the lead in the second minute. The Blues failed to clear Max Aarons’s cross from the right, Hernandez’s shot was blocked but the ball was headed back across the box by Mario Vrancic and the German turned home from close range.

Having got their noses in front and their tails up, Norwich continued to take the game to the Blues. On six Emi Buendia crossed from the left and Vrancic nodded well wide.

Two minutes later, Aarons got round the back of Knudsen on the Norwich right but Pukki stabbed wide at the near post.

Town took a while to get into the game but in the 16th minute they won two corners on the right. From the first Judge played a low ball in to Skuse, whose effort was blocked. Then, from the subsequent flag-kick, Chambers headed over.

On 20, after a promising Blues attack down the left had ultimately comer to nothing, Vrancic curled over from the edge of the box following a Canaries break.

But Town were starting to dominate play. On 23 a long spell of possession led to Judge hitting a shot from 20 yards which was blocked.

Three minutes later, Christoph Stiepermann shot wide with a powerful effort from the edge of the box, before play moved back to the other end with Judge overhitting a pass in for Keane inside the area.

The Blues were well in the game, however, with Judge becoming increasingly influential and moments later Chalobah shot over from the 18-yard line. On 32 Skuse was shown the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Vrancic having been spoken to earlier by referee Peter Bankes about a previous transgression.

Keane made the most of some hesitant Norwich defending in the 39th minute to tee-up Judge but the former Brentford man’s shot was little trouble for Tim Krul in the home goal. Two minutes later, Pennington slid in to prevent a through ball from reaching Pukki.

In the 42nd minute the Blues were forced into a substitution with Sears, who had hurt his knee in a challenge a few minutes earlier, making way for Ellis Harrison.

Moments after being introduced, the ex-Bristol Rovers frontman was involved as the Blues battled their way to a chance in the box, Judge eventually hitting a low shot from a tight angle which deflected behind.

Norwich were forced into a change just before the break with Vrancic succumbing to a knee injury which had hampered him all half.

Moments before the whistle the game erupted after Norwich’s players reacted to a Nolan challenge on Aarons. Judge in particular was shoved by Canaries players, then as the melee was beginning to subside there was a clash between some of the Norwich staff and Town players including Harrison.

Seemingly as a result, Canaries head of performance Chris Domogalla and Blues boss Lambert were involved in an exchange which saw the two of them separated by stewards with a police officer subsequently moving the Town boss away from altercation.

Eventually, when order had been restored, referee Bankes showed a yellow card to Nolan for his challenge and reds to Domogalla and Lambert, much to the delight of his old supporters in the home stands.

There was no time for further action before the whistle ended a half which Town won’t have been too unhappy with, aside from the early goal and their manager having been sent to the stands.

Having given away the lead in the second minute, the Blues weathered the Norwich storm which followed and had been in control for spells, albeit without having been able to carve out anything more than a half-chance.

Norwich had also had periods on top and had had the more dangerous moments in and around the area, however, without Bartosz Bialkowski having been forced into a serious save. Despite being behind at half-time Town remained very much in the match.

Boss Lambert took a seat next to general manager football operations Lee O’Neill and fitness coach Jim Henry in the stand ahead of the second half.

The Blues were first to seriously threaten after the restart in the 54th minute. After Chambers had taken the ball away from Hernandez as he broke through towards goal, Town counter-attacked with Chalobah finding Harrison on the right. The sub crossed low and the ball was bundled behind at the near post ahead of Keane.

Town continued to push and on 58 Norwich skipper Zimmermann did superbly to slide in and block Harrison’s shot from the right of the box after he had been played in by Chalobah. Two minutes later, Jamal Lewis was booked for pulling back Chalobah.

The Blues were well in control but without having carved out the chance which would get them back on terms. On 63 Norwich sub Tettey scuffed wide after Knudsen’s clearing header had fallen to him on the edge of the box.

Norwich’s victory was all but sealed in the 66th minute when Judge shot low just past Krul’s right post and then the Canaries doubled their lead.

Buendia played a pass from the right for Pukki to run on to and the Finn struck a low shot across Bialkowski and into the net.

Norwich should have made it 3-0 in the 70th minute when through two against one with Pennington grounded. However, Stiepermann’s pass to the unmarked Pukki was blocked by Chambers.

The Canaries had the ball in the net again in the 73rd minute when Pukki added a perhaps unnecessary final touch after Zimmermann had flicked on a corner from the right. Moments later, Town switched Skuse for Teddy Bishop.

On 76 Tom Trybull was booked for fouling Bishop, then three minutes later Stiepermann was also yellow-carded for tripping the sub, who signed a new contract yesterday.

With 1-0 minutes on the clock, the Canaries made it 3-0 with Pukki stabbing past the advancing Bialkowski from close range from Buendia’s ball through.

Downes took over from Nolan for the final five minutes with the Canaries replacing Stiepermann with Todd Cantwelll, then former Blue Rhodes for double-goalscorer Pukki.

The game erupted again seconds before the end of scheduled time after Downes had fouled Buendia on the halfway line. The Blues midfielder and Norwich sub Todd Cantwell were both booked.

There was no further action before referee Bankes ended yet another derby disappointment for the Blues, who following the weekend’s matches are now nine points plus goal difference from safety at the bottom of the table.

Having gone down to the early goal, the Town fans in the Jarrold Stand, who remained in good voice throughout, might have feared an even bigger defeat but they held off the early storm and the first period was ultimately an even enough affair.

The Blues had most of the ball for much of the first half but crucially without being able to create a serious chance to get them back on terms, a problem week in, week out for Town.

Norwich, however, bided their time and when they got the ball in Town’s half, they created opportunities for Pukki, who took his total for the season to 21 and claimed derby bragging rights once again, although 3-0 flattered the home side somewhat on the balance of the game overall.

Town will hope to bounce back from the result and make up some ground in their increasingly desperate attempt to avoid relegation when they host Derby County at Portman Road on Wednesday.

Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann (c), Godfrey, Lewis, Vrancic (Tettey 45), Trybull, Buendia, Stiepermann (Cantwell 85) , Hernandez, Pukki (Rhodes 88). Unused: McGovern, McLean, Hanley, Srbeny.

Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Chambers (c), Pennington, Knudsen, Skuse (Bishop 74), Chalobah, Nolan (Downes 85), Sears (Harrison 43), Judge, Keane. Unused: Gerken, Jackson, Bishop, Nsiala, Elder. Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside). Att: 27,040.

Photo: TWTD

Dissboyitfc added 15:41 - Feb 10 Had we got a scorer like pukki in our team we would have won today, how many games has he scored for them? the good news is If they go up they will come down, their youngsters will get owned in the premier league! and if we get a couple of goal scorers i do believe we will come back up very soon!
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Jonaldo added 15:44 - Feb 10 I enjoyed some of the aproach play today, posession football, high pressing and aggression (not least from the manager). We are passing it well now and creating an identity but we desperately need a finisher, a goalkeeper and 2 centre backs.
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robmonkey007 added 15:47 - Feb 10 We're all on the same team apparently, yet some seem to spend more energy arguing on this website then anything else. Allthinking they are so knowledgeable, yet lack any solutions that are realistic. 1, no one is coming to buy the club, so whether you like ME or not, there's no alternatives at present so quit crying over it. Once there's alternative options, then we can decide. 2, the players lambert has brought in are slightly better, but who really wants to come here. I think the rebuild has begun for league one 3, we are relegated, get over it and stop bickering. Come August we will go again.

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ThailandBlue added 15:48 - Feb 10 So League1 here we come, Think I would rather watch paint dry.. people say we will come straight back up, don't think so, we will be there for a few years at least, The Heart has been ripped out of this club and it will take a long time to Heal
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Swn98 added 15:49 - Feb 10 added 14:57 - Feb 10 ITFCSINCE 73 It's the proper blokes I'd have out the squad tomorrow. But what do I know. NOT A LOT i'm afraid mind you your not out of place on the news site.
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runaround added 15:50 - Feb 10 Sums up the whole season. No lack of effort or passion from the players but just not enough quality especially in both boxes. We need to rebuild in league one around our young talented players & get some momentum moving forward. Sad to see the club at such a low ebb but everyone seems to be together & will help us start to move forward quicker. One thing that stood out today though, a year ago ITFC's manager told the fans to **** off. Today hour new manager told a Norwich coach to **** off! Much better 😂

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Wishing4arightback added 15:51 - Feb 10 Having just watched that my concerns are beginning to relate to Lambert. Yes he is passionate and yes he clearly is supporting the team and the fans, which is great, but I would have hoped after this amount of time he would know his strongest line up and formation. It will not help the team improve if they don't know if they will be playing or not. Bishop was our stand out performer in the last game, is the one true player who may be able to create something, yet he sits on the bench. What's the point of being an impact player on a 5ea m that will be behind and have no goal scorers? If I was Kenlock, I would look to leave. He makes one mistake and is out of the squad, replaced by an error strong player who has stated he wants to leave. Chambers has done so many more mistakes but is not dropped. I wish I could be an experienced mistake maker and get that amount of money each week. We need to look at the players we have. Morris, although injuries now, can score goals. Pukki did nothing apart from score when he got chances. We are not Man Utd with loads of flash players, if we need a goal scorer play one! Not a player judged on his around game. Also who has Emmanuel annoyed. We have had a string of players play ahead of him, Pennington apart, they have all been poor at right back. Perhaps for the sake of his career he should move on, as he is clearly not going to get a chance here. It is league 1 next year, but with the same management I doubt we will even be in the play offs. I really hope I am wrong, but I look at a professional club I support, and I am a season ticket holder and will be next year regardless, and can honestly say I was fortunate enough to play with non league players better than the ones wearing the blue and white!

5

Swn98 added 15:51 - Feb 10 ThailandBlue But this is what people wanted!!!!!
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:52 - Feb 10 predictable end result, but in my opinion we did make a game of it with a team that is not up to the Championship, We lack fire power and that has cost us a hatful of points, we cant respond to going behind. A mistake at the back can result in conceeding a goal, but if you have players that can score you can fight back WE LACK the players to do that, I at least feel that the team gave it a go at 1-0 we continued to have the better of the play,but nobody at the front able to capitalise on it. Im resigned to the fact we will be relegated ,but i did see a pig flying in a dream a few nights ago ! so i may be wrong. Still think PL is the man for the job [ ive heard a lot of people changing their mind] but it will be starting from scratch in Lge 1 . Lets be honest Hursts players have not got it,and Lambert has had them to play with, the transfer window in January is always crap, and the players brought in were a sticking plaster at best for this season .

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Seri added 15:52 - Feb 10 Imo the main problem is our defence and defensive midfield. Not only do they leak heavily and are prone to mistakes, but they are way to slow and inaccurate in their deliveries. People are moaning about a top goal scorer. The problem imo is that the ball is moved to slow from the back so that there is no space for any goal scorers to thrive the way we (don't) play. Because the ball is moved to slow the upper 1/3 gets crowded and we can't offer our forwards anything. Look how much space they created for Pukki. Quick precise passing from the back and oops he's alone with our keeper. He could have scored four. If Harrison had been provided anything near that he also would have scored a couple. Let the good blokes Chambers and Skues go and rebuild something else. From League One unfortunately. Coyb!

4

warwickblue added 15:55 - Feb 10 Thought we played alright but I was sad to see the unnecessary tackles flying in from the likes of Downes.
2

tallguy6767 added 15:58 - Feb 10 Total shambles of a football club! ,Massive clear out so evident, anyone who thinks having a bit of possession is good progress, are delusional ,completely toothless up front and hopeless at the back that's the stark truth of it ! A clean slate in the summer and start from scratch, a long road ahead for us.
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ChrisFelix added 15:59 - Feb 10 Chambers couldn't organise a p_ss up in a brewery. This was proved by the first goal. Skuse could catch a cold. Knudsen doesn't know what a left back should do Hopefully next season they will be gone, although I fear Lambert may keep 2 for experience
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TimmyH added 16:01 - Feb 10 Swn98 - please stop getting your needle stuck!!!!!!!!!! - it is the decisions that Marcus Evans HAS TAKEN SINCE McCarthy was let go that has got us in this predicament and to spell it out to you as you don't seem to understand - recruiting Hurst, letting Waghorn, Garner go, signing numerous inexperienced league 1 and 2 players etc. - have you got it? By the way I'm not crying despite this 'annus seasonilis' of a season and results being really poor the entertainment hasn't got any worse and fingers crossed may be in the long run going down to league 1 will be a wake up call for many (namely the owner and players)...straw clutching I know but we all know we'd be treading water with big Mick in charge and getting his £!M a season for doing it!

6

ITFCsince73 added 16:05 - Feb 10 SWN98. What has the proper blokes contributed over the last 3 yrs?? One of which doesn't even want to be here. We won't compete in any league with Skuse or Chambo in the team. Yes they need to be removed and can't come soon enough. And as stated many times if they had any quality they would have moved on last summer.
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planetblue_2011 added 16:06 - Feb 10 Well what can you say a derby game which only goes one way yet again!!! We just can't beat Norwich & the sad thing is they arnt even that good, pretty poor really. They just have a striker who can put the ball in the back of the net & we haven't. Can't blame the teams effort today we were on top end of first half and all of 2nd half up until they scored the 2nd. If judges shot had gone in before their 2nd goal a minute later, that would of changed the game & we could be the ones laughing. Yet again they have the last laugh and with out a doubt sending us down. When Lambert got sent off I knew from that moment it's gonna go their way again. Just can't believe he was sent off just for sticking up for himself. The game is not the same anymore. It's a long way back to recovery but I'm always gonna be a blue. Good fortunes will come but probably in league 1. Rebuild & stable funding and I'm sure we will be back fighting👍🏻

7

dukey44 added 16:07 - Feb 10 Sorry after fading these comments you can't blame the owner on how rubbish our team plays sorry but that's what opinions are for on here. Some of the players are just not good enough and Evans makes the players play rubbish. I thought they were are paid to play how they are told by THE MANAGER AND NOT THE OWNER??
0

Minneapolis_ITFC added 16:08 - Feb 10 Woke up and the first thing was to get an idea of score of what occurred out there, didn't think we'd get beat by three by seems the team at least fought on occasion and didn't surrender to those pr1cks by any means. Pity is, they got attackers far more competent than our own and not pleasant to say it, but would have shown why they're in a promotion place and so far ahead of ourselves. I don't believe the new kids brought in are simply good enough, at least not at second league level. If the team had possessed defensive and attacking units more capable than what we got now, not only may we have taken a result from the trip today but be in a far less threatening league position. All what if's and maybe's, unfortunately damage has occurred and regrettably we're NOT of this league's standard. Was Marcus Evans at the game today ? Did he realize the importance of occasion ? Until that sorry ass if far removed from this club set-up we're never going to recapture previous standard. Don't mean by that Robson times and UEFA Cup victories, more to the point how it were more recently i.e. top six in the EPL, European nights at Portman Road protecting the unbeaten home record etc. Hell I'd even settle for regular play-off opportunities in the second league. It's been so long since any of the above actually came to pass you wonder if we'll ever make it back to how it were. Lo and behold we got the obstruction of League One or third league to come next season - further time that will hold the club back. Thank you Mr Evans and all those inept crap managers you appointed, if nothing else at least you will have accomplished something.

1

Stato added 16:10 - Feb 10 Lambert and Hurst both got 9 league points with Lambert having 2 games extra under his belt. Only difference is Lambert has won over some of the fan base with great PR.
4

robmonkey007 added 16:21 - Feb 10 Boss man.....not to mention Lambert picking up the pieces left by Hurst. Poor transfer dealings, poor player management and poor coaching. I won't even mention his assistant bully boy Doig. Lambert is doing the best he can with a squad hurst put together.
4

dirtydingusmagee added 16:24 - Feb 10 Evans's level of football is Sunday league, given another 10 years he should be in his element, .
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Lightningboy added 16:29 - Feb 10 Totally flattering scoreline..I hope they implode from here on. My dad said to me halfway through the 1st half that your problem will be hanging onto your players next season in League 1 to which I replied I don't really want to hang on to any of this lot apart from the kids & maybe Sears. Seriously,the best 2 things Lambert can do this summer is have the biggest clear-out in this club's history and to give George Burley a ring and get him onboard as assistant manager.

3

blueherts added 16:33 - Feb 10 If the answer is Nolan and Skuse what is the question Play Bishop and Judge down the middle and Sears come to that Keane is no better than Harrison Where was Quanar - looked ok vs AV Knudsen has always split opinion and he will be off so why bring him back As for Bree - what is the point Lambert has done a great PR job - that is about it and today I think he lost the plot Nolan is poor and that challenge can be added to the School of Spence challenges He was lucky not to go IMO Reckless and shame we did not do the same in the first minute to stop their wing back Overall no surprise but over the past few weeks selections and overall game strategy is baffling Will Lambert take us forward long term possibly and I think he can do a job in Div One but we need to start playing on the front foot and drop Skuse for starters

1

bluemike1969 added 16:34 - Feb 10 Did anyone really think we would get anything out of this game? Lambert is NOT the man to sort this problem out but I don't envy anyone else that may come it to repair the damage. Both Hurst and Lambert are to blame as they have both brought players in that can't perform. No hope, no passion and no talent. We can't hit a barn door with a shovel and have become a pathetic shell, a laughing stock and a total joke. I have followed the town for well over 43 years and anyone that thinks we will be anywhere other than league one next year is deluded. Against poor teams we have been bad, dreadful and embarrassing. I can only laugh now at how bad we have become, otherwise I would cry and this team ain't worth crying over! Wave the white flag now boys and get the youngsters ready for next season in the third tier. And don't you dare insult me by saying I'm not a genuine supporter!!!

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TimmyH added 16:36 - Feb 10 Yep! without a shadow of a doubt if PL doesn't start the season well if we're in league 1 (though I want him to succeed) I'd look no further than Burley and co thereafter.
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