Six things many did not notice during Ipswich 2-2 draw to Norwich

admin | December 18, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Connor Southwell examines six things you might have missed during Norwich City’s 2-2 draw with rivals Ipswich Town in Saturday’s East Anglian derby.

1 – The show goes on

Fourteen years, seven months, one week, and six days – a total of 5,365 days. Norwich City’s unbeaten streak against their Suffolk rivals was extended this weekend.

Those of the blue and white stripes believed this was their moment. After a fantastic ascent under Kieran McKenna over the last two seasons, the only thing left to do was end their derby day drought.

Before the game, Portman Road was a hive of activity. Everything pointed to this being the end of the record. It was now their turn.

Norwich, and particularly Jon Rowe, had not read the screenplay. City had to dig deep and come from behind to win the most valuable of points. A day that began with blue flares and great exhilaration ended in disappointment.

Given the fear that City fans had felt as the game approached, this was a performance that, if far from perfect, possessed the fight and intangible elements essential in a derby.

Despite having a formidable home record and a free-scoring propensity that has shattered Championship records, this Ipswich club was unable to get three points against a Norwich side that has been underperforming for the majority of the season.

It wasn’t the best performance, but in a derby, the outcome is what matters most to the fans.

2 – New entrant

Jonny Rowe has been admitted to the derby day double club with a stunning brace on Saturday.

Rowe follows Terry Allcock, Peter Mendham, Andy Johnson, Leon McKenzie, Malky Mackay, Iwan Roberts, and Teemu Pukki in scoring twice against Ipswich, with Grant Holt topping the list with his memorable hat-trick in 2010.

Rowe will take extra delight in graduating from City’s academy and continuing to make significant development since his promotion to the first squad.

This season, Rowe has 11 Championship goals. To accomplish that goal before Christmas when he hadn’t made a first-team appearance since the season began is a fantastic accomplishment.

City will have a battle to secure his long-term future, and with negotiations still ongoing, there will be plenty of speculation as the January transfer window approaches. Two goals in an East Anglian derby will have done little to quell the growing interest in him.

Rowe’s performance was not his best, according to David Wagner. Norwich failed to bring him into the game on a continuous basis, and he was sloppy in control at times.

But derby games are about moments, and Rowe produced two of them to ensure Norwich maintained their unbeaten record at Portman Road – he was only five when Ipswich last won in this match.

3 – Great expectations

Ipswich have won all eight of their home games this season, with their last defeat coming against Daniel Farke’s Leeds in August.

Prior to this season, Kieran McKenna’s side had dropped just 12 points all season, giving them the second-best start to a Championship season behind Leicester.

Since the start of the season, just five teams have prevented them from winning. Prior to Norwich, only three teams – Leeds, Plymouth, and Sheffield Wednesday, both from League One – had taken points from them at Portman Road this season.

This highlights how difficult it has been for teams to go to Ipswich, as well as how much of a fortress it has been for them.

Norwich had to absorb up pressure and minimize their chances, but in the second half they reduced a strong offensive side to little more than Nathan Broadhead’s shot that Angus Gunn saved and Wes Burns’ goal.

This contributes to the notion that existed inside Portman Road. It felt more like a party than a buildup to a heated derby showdown before kickoff.

The equalizer by Jon Rowe took some of the sting off of the game. It never again reached the same decibel level. With his second strike, the mood shifted to frustration.

Ipswich Town fielded their strongest team since Norwich’s dominance in this encounter, but they were unable to win.

4 – Hammer throw

With the arrival of Sam McCallum, Norwich City gained a secret weapon: a long throw.

Due to Dimitris Giannoulis’ minor hamstring injury, the defender was named to the starting lineup for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Coventry in October.

The left back had a rough first half, with Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin making it difficult for him defensively. Norwich, on the other hand, improved dramatically in the second half.

When Rowe popped up to put Norwich ahead, it was assumed that McCallum had sent the ball into the area from the sideline. Replays revealed that it was Chilean player Marcelino Nunez who channeled his inner Rory Delap.

It hasn’t been a characteristic quality of any Norwich side for a long time, but when they were under pressure in Suffolk, it created an extra threat.

Norwich fans were taken aback by Nunez’s throw, which produced commotion in the penalty area. Shane Duffy’s physical presence and aerial supremacy were sufficient to direct the ball into the path of Rowe.

If Norwich can consistently incorporate it into their attacking arsenal, it might add a new dimension to their goal-scoring efforts.

5 – Family roots

Nobody needs to explain the significance of the East Anglian derby to Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who was born in Norfolk and has lived his whole life around the fixture.

His father, Bryan, is renowned in Suffolk for his air kick from Robert Ullathorne’s back pass in 1996. It has a moment that is still remembered as famous in East Anglian derby history – correctly for the blue side and incorrectly for the yellow and green.

It exemplifies how moments are typically remembered more than fixtures. Gunn senior will understand this better than most. He was also the last Norwich manager to be defeated by Ipswich.

Gunn’s name has been on both the yellow and green sides of this fixture for many years, and it will have meant a lot to Angus to depart with his long unbeaten record intact. His father was with him on Portman Road, enjoying the excitement.

The greeting was cold from the minute he entered to warm-up, but at the end, it was Gunn with a big smile on his face, having made a vital contribution.

With everything on the line, City’s first-choice goalkeeper made an outstanding save late on to deny Nathan Broadhead and gain an important point for his team. It emphasizes the significance of keeping him fit. When he’s available, he’s one of the best in the division.

6 – Tis the season

Everyone around Norwich City is expecting that this result would serve as a nice lift ahead of a busy festive period, as Jon Rowe intimated. David Wagner also mentioned it.

City’s next home game, against Huddersfield, is the first of four games in ten days during the Christmas break. It provides an opportunity to build on their recent form, which has seen them suffer only one defeat in seven games.

Despite the optimism around the draw, Norwich are now five points behind the top six, up from three at the start of the weekend, and still need to improve their consistency in performances.

Norwich finished second at Portman Road. Darren Huckerby termed their victory over Sheffield Wednesday as ‘convincingly unconvincing’. Preston was a stodgy draw. The win at Bristol City was a smash and grab, and they only had one shot on goal against QPR.

With injured players ready to return, there is now a need for an increase in performance level and greater attacking intent to be visible, which has helped to create confidence and quieten the noise about David Wagner’s future.

Norwich has a chance to establish it can be something more sustainable against some challenging opponents, particularly West Brom and Southampton.