A ‘you had to be there to witness it all’ moment at Carrow Road

It was a “you had to be there to witness it all” moment yesterday (Saturday, April 11) at Carrow Road for Town fans.

As the celebrations flowed at the final whistle the 2,000 plus Ipswich supporters danced with delight following the 2-0 victory over arch rivals Norwich City … the first victory on Norfolk soil since February 2006 and a first East Anglian derby double since 1992/93.

It wasn’t pretty but it was cut-throat, clinical and a masterful defensive display by Ipswich.

Skipper Dara O’Shea and his defensive partner Jacob Greaves were superb denying the Canaries any significant chances in front of goal.

While up front the efficient finishing of Jaden Philogene’s penalty and George Hirst’s first half injury strike helped to grab the historic victory and the three points.

Ipswich won this game not because of free-flowing football, but largely because of their desire and fight. And that’s all supporters demand of their team on occasions like this.

Norwich finished this game with 67 per cent possession, 37 crosses, 13 corners and 15 shots to their name. They failed to create a single clear cut chance though.

O’Shea and Greaves made 24 clearances between them, Furlong repeatedly made first contact on dead balls into the box, while Christian Walton confidently claimed several high deliveries.

Jack Taylor’s perfectly-timed hooked midfield challenge on Pelle Mattsson in the first half and O’Shea’s crunching tackle on Ali Ahmed in the box towards the end, which was celebrated like a goal, were highlights in what was a fully-deserved 15th league clean sheet of the campaign.

Norwich found chances hard to come by.

Pelle Mattsson and Anis Ben Slimane tested Walton in the Suffolk side’s goal but it was a poor return for Norwich’s domination of possession.

The Championship table looks good reading if you’re a Tractor Boy or Girl after Millwall drew 0-0 at West Brom on Friday and with both Middlesbrough and Hull losing while Coventry could only draw 0-0 with basement club Sheffield Wednesday yesterday.

However, the danger appears to be coming from the south coast in the shape of Southampton who have climbed into fifth spot after coming from behind to beat Derby 2-1.

There was much talk around the plans for visiting fans making it to Norfolk .

A total of 17 coaches left Portman Road at 9am, and additional ones in Norwich for those not travelling from Ipswich, with tickets supplied by each of the stewards on duty.

It must have been a logistical nightmare for those involved. But from the first moment arriving at the ground with food and drink on offer, to an almighty police escort along the A140 and back it was an outstanding success and credit to those involved.

Speaking to Town TV after the game manager Kieran McKenna said: “It was a brilliant day for the club, everyone’s delighted of course.

“I thought it was, in the context of this game, an outstanding victory because we know how hard it is to come here, that’s why the record is what it is, and the boys were so determined to give the supporters that (victory) today and give them that moment and those memories.

“It took a brilliant defensive performance. We defended so well from the front to the back, gave away so few chances in open play, defended our box, defended the set plays really, really well, and then we were really efficient.

“We had by far the better chances in the game. Clinical in terms of our moves whenever we put them together.

“A really good finish from George and good of course on our set plays.

“Of course it was a different type of performance for us but in the context of the derby and what it meant to everyone I think an outstanding effort.”