Ipswich beat Norwich for first time in 16 years

Jaden Philogene scored a stunning 30-yard goal as Ipswich secured a pulsating 3-1 Championship victory over arch rivals Norwich.

Philogene's long-range shot followed Cedric Kipre's opener, while substitute Jack Clarke added a third, deep into the second half to seal maximum points.

It was the first time Town had beaten the Canaries in 16 years and the result saw them move up to ninth in the table to sit just two points off the top six.

Norwich - who remain just above the relegation zone in 19th - had equalised through Oscar Schwartau prior to Philogene's stunner, which was played in a thrilling derby atmosphere inside Portman Road.

The hosts had the ball in the net in the 22nd minute through Philogene but George Hirst was adjudged to have fouled Harry Darling in the build-up, while Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer parried a fierce shot away for a corner following a shot from Schwartau.

Town broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute following a corner from Philogene.

Ipswich skipper Dara O'Shea initially headed the ball across the six-yard area where centre-back Kipre connected with it on his second attempt and fired it high into the net for his first goal for the club.

But Norwich equalised three minutes later through Schwartau, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area took a slight deflection off Kipre.

Hirst almost dragged Ipswich back into the lead when Jens Cajuste put him through on goal but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

But the home side retook the lead on the stroke of half-time following a thunderous shot from Philogene.

He picked the ball up in midfield and turned Pelle Mattsson, ran forward and fired a rocket of a shot from fully 30 yards out.

Hirst had a great chance to extend Town's lead following a cross from Sammie Szmodics but his tame effort was safely gathered by Vladan Kovacevic.

Serbia international Mirko Topic had a wonderful opportunity to level the scores when perfectly placed in the penalty area but fired just wide of the goal.

At the other end, Hirst elected to square the ball across the six-yard box rather than go for goal and Philogene fired just over the Norwich crossbar.

Hirst's header struck the top of the Ipswich goal following a corner and there were huge cheers in the 75th minute when former Norwich midfielder Marcelino Nunez came off the Ipswich bench replace Jens Cajuste.

And Nunez was involved in the third and crucial goal scored by Clarke in the 77th minute. He threaded the ball through to Ivan Azon, who struck the post but Clarke was on hand to put the ball into the back of the net.

Chuba Akpom nearly added a fourth for a dominant Ipswich as they secured the three points and finally ended a long awaited victory over the Canaries.

Reaction

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna felt his side were deserving winners after their first East Anglian derby victory over Norwich in 16 years:

"I think it (the result) means a lot to the town and is really special in many regards," McKenna said.

"I think we deserved the win and we had a threat all game. We had a threat with our runners against their back line and we got in behind them and round the side of them lots of times, and I thought we were really good value for at least three goals.

"We did not give much away other than that there were bits of it that were typical derby which were scrappy and challenges and duels and second balls.

"I really liked our intent to play our football even in those circumstances. A big part of what got us our success over the last few years as a team, we played without fear on any occasion and we try and impose ourselves.

"We got stuck a few times and had to deal with a lot of tension in the crowd and around the game, but all the players kept calm heads."

Norwich head coach Liam Manning cut a frustrating figure after the defeat, which kept his team just two points above the relegation zone.

"It was a hugely disappointing one for us and it hurts," Manning said. "It was a frustrating one and really disappointed with the result.

"When you look at the game and how it went, I think it falls on us, the type of goals we give away.

"The second one, people will talk about the finish, but if you look at what leads to the opportunity, it's a real simple thing about the regain, the same as the third one.

"I thought the second half we started OK, had elements of control and another really poor turnover leads to another opportunity for them, so it's on us again. We have got to look at ourselves, we have got to take responsibility.

"I didn't think there was a huge amount in it up until the third goal. The first half, we caused them some problems.

"They caused us a few problems, but performance-wise I did not think there was a lot in it."

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