Norwich City extended their unbeaten East Anglian derby run to 15 years and gave their Championship play-off hopes a major boost with a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at Carrow Road.
Marcelino Nunez scored the only goal of the contest to deal the Tractor Boys' promotion bid a serious blow, extending the Canaries' gap to seventh-placed Coventry to seven points.
The hosts were in the ascendancy from the first minute, but struggled to convert their dominance into clear-cut chances.
They didn't need one to open the scoring, however, with Nunez converting the last in a series of free-kicks with a dipping and swerving derby day gem.
Axel Tuanzebe's challenge downed Sargent on the edge of the area minutes earlier and appeared to be the last Ipswich man between him and goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky, but referee Matthew Donohue gave only a yellow card.
Ipswich went in search of an equaliser after half time, pinning Norwich in their own half and probing unsuccessfully, with the Canaries' best hope of a second coming on the counter.
Borja Sainz had one such opportunity when Sam McCallum's chip bounced fortunately off his back and into his path, but flicked wide of the near post.
The Championship leaders were bound to get their act together before long and created a spate of their own opportunities midway through the second half, Angus Gunn collecting tame efforts from Kieffer Moore and Omari Hutchinson before substitute Harry Clarke headed wide.
After weathering the storm there were more chances for David Wagner's men to double their lead, Sargent first charging into the box and firing straight at Hladky before he teed Sainz up to sky from 15 yards.
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
8. Gibbs (on for Barnes, 75)
14. van Hooijdonk
16. Fassnacht
21. Batth (on for Sainz, 90+2)
35. Fisher
43. Welch
44. Aboh
46. Montoia
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings:
Goals: Nunez (39)
IPSWICH TOWN:
Substitutes:
1. Walton (GK)
2. Clarke (on for Tuanzebe, 62)
11. Harness (on for Chaplin, 75)
12. Ball
14. Taylor (on for Luongo, 75)
16. Al-Hamadi (on for Moore, 75)
19. Jackson
21. Sarmiento (on for Broadhead, 62)
28. Travis
Manager: Kieran McKenna
Bookings: Tuanzebe (31)
Goals:
KEY MOMENTS
1 - A corner breaks for Sainz on the edge of the area for a half-volley, but he scissor-kicks over the bar.
10 - Stacey starts a counter with a firm tackle and ends it by dragging well wide from a tough angle.
22 - Burgess meets Davis' corner but heads well over.
29 - Sara drives his free-kick wide from 30 yards.
31 - Sargent goes through on goal and is bundled over by last man Tuanzebe. A free-kick is given but only a yellow card with it.
32 - Nunez tries to go under the wall from the free-kick, but it's deflected wide.
33 - Sara rolls his corner to Nunez in the box, but he can't force the ball through a sea of Ipswich bodies.
39 - GOAL NORWICH (Nunez): Nunez swerves a brilliant long-range free-kick past Hladky, off the post and in.
Half time: Norwich City 1-0 Ipswich Town
57 - Sainz fortunately brings down McCallum's pass before trying to flick beyond Hladky on the volley, but his effort drops just wide.
64 - Moore flicks Sarmiento's cross goalward, but there's no power behind his header and Gunn catches comfortably.
67 - Hutchinson cuts in and shoots towards the near post, seeing his tame effort collected once more by Gunn.
70 - Sargent charges forward after Sainz wins the ball high up, but he can't get enough direction on his shot.
71 - Sara finds Sargent with a sublime diagonal and he sets up Sainz, the Spaniard smashing his effort high and wide from 15 yards.
74 - Davis cuts back for Chaplin to sky from the edge of the box.
81 - Sarmiento turns and fires well over with his left foot.
85 - Al-Hamadi goes through on goal but his lofted half-volley is kept out by a combination of Gunn and Duffy.
88 - The ball breaks for Harness in the box, but he can't sort his feet out and Gibbs clears.
Full time: Norwich City 1-0 Ipswich Town
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7, Stacey 8, Duffy 7, Gibson 9, McCallum 6, Nunez 9, McLean 8, Sara 6, Barnes 7, Sainz 8, Sargent 7. Subs: Gibbs 7, Batth 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 38%-62%
Shots: 11-10
On target: 3-3
Corners: 4-6
Fouls: 9-5
Added time: 2 mins/5 mins
ATTENDANCE: 27,001 (2,001 Ipswich)
REFEREE: Matthew Donohue
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel