Norwich City continued their remarkable run against Ipswich Town with a 1-0 win on Saturday, meaning they’ve not lost to their rivals in 15 years.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ipswich Town’s resurgence under McKenna has been impressive, but they have yet to beat Norwich City in two attempts.
- The historical dominance of Norwich over Ipswich has been evident, with Ipswich unable to secure a win since 2009.
- Despite the recent setback against Norwich, Ipswich remain in contention for back-to-back promotions under McKenna’s guidance.
Kieran McKenna has led Ipswich Town to unprecedented success, with promotion back to the Premier League a definite possibility.
Since his arrival at Portman Road, the former Manchester United coach has worked wonders, assembling an attacking, dynamic squad that has become one of the stories of English football in the last 18 months.
Despite his talent, McKenna has failed to beat Norwich City twice since his hiring.
Norwich City’s hold over Ipswich Town
Upon returning to the second flight, Ipswich fans eagerly anticipated the encounter against the Canaries.
For younger Tractor Boys fans, it’s been a game of hurt and disappointment, with Ipswich unable to beat their bitter rivals since 2009, a streak that lasted 12 games before this season.
| Norwich City’s Record Against Ipswich Town Since April 20, 2009 | ||||||
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Scored | Conceded | |
| 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 10 | |
During that time, there have been some particularly dismal points, notably a 5-1 home defeat to Norwich in 2011, a 3-0 loss at Carrow Road in 2019, and a painful play-off loss over two legs in 2015, when Alex Neil’s side went on to win promotion.
However, Ipswich fans may take comfort in the fact that the Canaries were just better at the time.
They had greater resources and clubs that had gone up and down in the Premier League, whilst Ipswich were a mediocre Championship team that would eventually plummet to League One.
But this time, it was going to be different.
McKenna’s team entered both games this season sitting above their opponents on the table, emphasizing their superiority. They had momentum on both occasions, and there was hope that the hoodoo would end.
Norwich City’s unbeaten record against Ipswich
In December, Ipswich demonstrated their superiority to a packed Portman Road crowd. They controlled the territory, the possession, and had more shots on goal.
David Wagner’s team persevered and continued their unbeaten streak with two goals by Jonathan Rowe.
Then everyone’s attention shifted to Saturday’s game, with many believing it was the most crucial East Anglian derby in a long time, which was understandable.Norwich need points to finish in the top six, while Ipswich want for automatic promotion.
In actuality, unlike the preceding games in the campaign, this was not a classic. Norwich won their derby encounter with a goal from Marcelino Nunez, proving that winning is all that matters.
Of course, in the broader picture, Ipswich were happy that Leeds United lost later in the day, which means they still control their own destiny and, unbelievably, are only five games away from back-to-back promotions.
Moore was allowed to feature in the East Anglian derby and may still be an important player in the automatic promotion race for Ipswich.
So, Ipswich and McKenna’s sole emphasis is on finishing the season well as they aim to build on their extraordinary climb under their excellent head coach.
It remains to be seen whether they can go the distance, but it will be difficult for everyone involved with the club if they fall short.
Furthermore, if they do not advance, they may face Norwich in the play-offs.
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