Norwich 0-Ipwsich 2: Tractor Boys earn first league double in over three decades | OneFootball

Ipswich Town beat Norwich 2-0 to seal their first league double over their local rivals in 33 years and regain second place in a fiery East Anglian derby at Carrow Road.

Goals from Jaden Philogene and George Hirst were enough to lift Kieran McKenna’s men into second at the expense of Millwall, who the Tractor Boys have two games in hand over,

The result also surely ends ninth-placed Norwich’s own promotion hopes, with the Canaries eight points off the playoffs before the 3pm fixtures having played 42 games.

As it happened

Having not lost at home to their chief nemesis’ since 2006, and won more league matches than any other team since Phillippe Clement’s arrival, the Norfolk outfit would’ve been confident of securing victory this afternoon.

But it was the away side who started stronger, and within just ten minutes they were awarded a controversial penalty after Jack Taylor appeared to make a meal of a challenge from Anis Slimani.

Amid a chorus of boos from the Carrow Road crowd, including a certain FromTheSpot staff member, Jaden Philogene sent home keeper Vlad Kovacevic the wrong way with a composed finish from 12 yards.

Things almost got better for the the Blues minutes later, only for George Hirst to be denied by a glorious Kovacevic save before Philogene blazed over from the resulting corner.

Hirst wasn’t to be kept out for long though. After seeing another gilt-edged chance saved by Kovacevic, he hammered home a half volley from the resulting throw-in to put the Suffolk outfit in control on the stroke of half time.

Norwich got better in the second half, and had opportunities to get back into the match through Slimani and Emmanuel Toure.

And their fans will feel particularly aggrieved they weren’t given a penalty of their own after Ben Johnson appeared to shove Kenny Mclean in the area.

But in the end the Super Blues, who have the best defence in the league this season, were full value for their victory, and seal their first seasonal double over their arch-rivals since 1992-93.

Indeed, the only away player who won’t be satisfied with today’s events is substitute Marcelino Nunez, with the ex-Norwich midfielder humiliatingly withdrawn following a series of rash challenges.