Town’s 3-1 victory over Norwich City finally ends 16 years of hurt

Sixteen years of hurt came to an end at Portman Road on Sunday (October 5) when Ipswich beat Norwich City 3-1 in a pulsating Championship encounter.

Nearly 30,000 fans inside the stadium witnessed a full blooded East Anglian derby with the Town coming out on top with goals from Cedric Kipre, a stunning 30 yard thunderbolt from Jaden Philogene and a tap in by Jack Clarke.

Norwich scored their goal three minutes after Kipre’s opener through Oscar Schwartau and the result lifted Ipswich up to ninth place in the league with Norwich left rooted down near the bottom in 19th spot.

The scoreline heaped further pressure on Norwich chief coach Liam Manning while Town’s unbeaten run was extended to five matches lifting them up eight places in the division, just two points outside the play-off spots.

Corners led to the first two goals, scored in the space of three minutes, as Kipre thumped Ipswich in front, only for Schwartau to bring the Canaries level with a shot which was deflected past Town goalkeeper Alex Palmer.

Philogene, though, produced a thunderbolt strike to light up the game firing into the roof of the net from 30 yards, and Jack Clarke converted late on in the second period after Ivan Azon struck the post.

Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk: “We looked back with the group this week at special moments in the derby and part of that was ‘this is your chance to step up and have your moment’.

“To to see somebody [Philogene] grab the game by the scruff of the neck and do something incredible was almost something of a throwback.

“We were the better team and had the better chances right through the game, but it was a big moment by a young player with a super talent. It was great to see.

“I think we’re getting better in terms of our football and if you do enough of the right things over the course of 90 minutes then you have a chance to win.

“We’re delighted to have done it today, delighted to have ticked that one off. For the players and supporters to go through that big-game experience together and get the win is really important.”

While the Norwich boss told BBC Radio Norfolk that he was “gutted” and “disappointed” with the result.

He said: “Basic errors cost us again, which has been a little bit of a pattern so far this season. If you look at it outside the goals, I didn’t think there was a huge amount in the game.

“In the first half we caused them a few problems with how we pressed, showed a few moments with the ball, albeit we probably lacked a ruthlessness, an edge, in and around their penalty box.

“Second half, we showed some bravery and desire to go and change it and play, you start to build a bit of momentum, give it away, you’re 3-1 down and after that we were nowhere near it.

“We’ve got a huge amount of work to do. I’m under no illusion.

“We’ve acquired a load of talent but we’re now in the process of trying to build a team. It does take time, but whilst you’re doing that you do have to win games and that’s what we’re not doing.”