Ipswich Town 2-2 Norwich City: Hosts come from behind to draw East Anglian derby

Wes Burns set up Ipswich’s first goal before scoring their second as they drew with Norwich in the East Anglian derby

A storming strike from Wes Burns saw Ipswich come from behind to draw with Norwich in a pulsating first East Anglian derby in five years at Portman Road.

Nathan Broadhead’s close-range shot following a corner rewarded the hosts for a dominant first-half display.

But quick reactions from Jonathan Rowe saw him equalise six minutes later, before he capitalised on a brief spell on top for the Canaries to put them in front shortly after half-time to turn the match on its head.

Ipswich dominated most of the game and Burns deservedly drew them level to the relief of the home fans, with a stunning shot into the bottom corner. But they were unable to find the winner which would have sent them top as Norwich stretched their unbeaten run in the fixture to 13 games.

While Ipswich have been the vastly superior side so far this season and remain second in the Championship, they still could not beat their old enemy, with their last win over the Canaries coming in April 2009.

The Tractor Boys pinned Norwich back for large periods of a feisty first half but were unable to bury the bulk of their chances.

Burns – one of four players recalled to the side following the midweek win against Watford – was a constant nuisance and was denied the opening goal by an outstanding block from Shane Duffy.

Seconds later he played in Broadhead for a golden opportunity, but after some excellent footwork to run into the box, Broadhead somehow dragged his shot inches wide. Minutes later, Burns teed up Broadhead for another effort, which he curled wide.

For all the pressure Ipswich built, the Championship’s leading scorers’ unusual lack of composure in front of goal continued as they pounced on a loose pass from Norwich just outside the box, only for Burns to blaze over the bar.

Broadhead finally broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark at his third time of asking.

When Norwich tried to clear the initial corner, the ball came straight back in and George Hirst headed it on to Broadhead, who struck it into the net for his eighth goal of the campaign.

Yet the euphoria inside Portman Road lasted only a few minutes until Rowe’s equaliser brought the ground to a stunned silence. His diving header missed Sam McCallum’s initial cross and he tried an overhead kick when the ball came back across, before showing rapid reactions to spring up from the ground to prod the rebound in over Gunn.

Out of nowhere, Rowe gave Norwich the perfect start to the second half, hitting the ball on the volley from a long throw, and while it took a small deflection it was enough to trickle under Vaclav Hladky and put the visitors in front.

Still, Ipswich were far from down and out, and while Cameron Burgess headed off target, Burns was definitive in his effort to fire his side back level.

Ashley Barnes was made to pay for some sloppy passing on the edge of the area and Ipswich instantly pounced, playing it out to Burns who drilled his shot past Gunn into the bottom corner.

Ipswich continued to press and looked more likely to find the winner as Norwich created little and seemed more content to take the point.

Broadhead almost snatched all three points with 87 minutes on the clock, only for Gunn to brilliantly tip his curling shot over the bar.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:

“I thought it was a good performance overall in plenty of different aspects. I thought we pressed high really, really well and made it difficult for them to build and limited them to very few chances – and they’re a team that score a lot of goals and create a lot of chances.

“We created more than enough to win the game. We didn’t manage to do it, we weren’t as clinical in their box as we usually are and we gave away two goals which were high, hopeful balls into our box that fell their way.

“That’s football, there’s lots to be positive and pleased and proud of on the day – both on and off the pitch – just unfortunate we weren’t able to get the result to send our fans home really happy.

“But when we reflect there’ll be lots of things from today that we can build on.”

Norwich manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:

“I think it was a great football match, everything what you need in a derby, a lot of battles, a lot of challenges the lead changed, good goals as well.

“I’m absolutely delighted. I think the players put in a fantastic shift, the effort that they have shown for me deserved a point. They always kept going.

“Ipswich are a good side, you’ve seen their home record. If you can’t win it you have to make sure you can’t lose it and this was how it was today.

“A very exciting afternoon, now the first one is played and later in the year we will play the second one at Carrow Road.”

Line-upsIpswich

Formation 4-2-3-1

31Hladky

2Clarke6Woolfenden15Burgess3Davis

5Morsy25Luongo

7Burns10Chaplin33Broadhead

27Hirst

Substitutes

Norwich

Formation 4-2-3-1

28Gunn

3Stacey24Duffy23McLean15McCallum

17Gomes Sara26Núñez

27Rowe10Barnes7Sainz

11Idah

Substitutes

Referee:Josh Smith

Attendance:29,611

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