AFTER City's 2-0 win over the Blues at Carrow Road, First News reflected on reports of the game from media organisations present at the match.

Media Talk

There's little else that can be said about City's 2-0 derby-day victory yesterday other than that it was a first-class performance from the Canaries from start to finish.

It wasn't the first time this season when we've witnessed Norwich completely dominate their opponents.

After all, as the likes of Plymouth, Wolves, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest would have to testify to, when the Canaries put their minds to it and get the bit between their teeth like this they can take some stopping.
Neil Adams, Norwich Evening News 08/12/08

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton admitted his team could not cope as Norwich subjected their old rivals to a pressure cooker atmosphere.

After the home side had grabbed their first Old Farm derby win in six attempts through goals from Lee Croft and Matty Pattison, Magilton said: 'Norwich's intensity was very high and at times we did not match that.'

The high tempo was simply too much for an Ipswich side that suffered their third successive away defeat, particularly as too many of their players were off form.
The Daily Mail, 08/12/08

Roeder's decision to play Wes Hoolahan just ahead of Sammy Clingan and Pattison in midfield, rather than as a conventional second striker, meant the Canaries regularly outnumbered their opponents in the struggle for possession, and they used the ball effectively to keep their opponents on the back foot.

Ryan Bertrand put an early shot on to the roof of the net, Leroy Lita's header from David Bell's corner required Richard Wright to make a smart save and it needed a stretching block from Alex Bruce to deflect Clingan's shot over the bar, but at the same time, there were few signs they were capable of cutting their opponents open.

The turning point of the match came five minutes into the second half, when the Town striker Jon Walters back-headed Wright's punt over Gary Doherty, turned and found himself clear on goal, only to fail to beat Marshall. Hoolahan, set up by Lita, volleyed over, but Croft's strike from around 22 yards soon afterwards gave Wright no chance at all.

Magilton rang the changes, but luck, as well as the momentum, was now with Norwich. Having won a free-kick, Lita cannily drew the referee's attention to a cut on McAuley's forehead; the law required the Town captain to leave the field, David Bell swung in a cross that McAuley would probably have dealt with, and Pattison lashed the ball in off the underside of the bar.
The Guardian 08/12/08

Blues' boss Jim Magilton gave credit where it was due and admitted Norwich showed more intensity than Town in the 90th East Anglian Derby.

Lee Croft and Matty Pattison dashed Ipswich's hopes of moving up to eighth place with second-half goals and leave the Blues in 13th spot.

Magilton said: "Norwich didn't afford us any time or space and closed us down particularly quickly.

"They started brighter than us although we defended very well first half and Richard Wright made some good saves and we started the second half a lot brighter.

"We probably had the best chance of the game and in tight games like this if you can get your noses in front it goes a long way in securing a victory but we didn't and they go up the other end and score.

"Norwich deserved their victory, their moment in the sun, and it is my first taste of defeat as a manager in a derby game and it doesn't taste nice."
East Anglian Daily Times, 08/12/08

Norwich stormed to their first "Old Farm" derby win in six meetings thanks to the quick thinking of striker Leroy Lita and the superb finishing of Lee Croft.

Croft had manager Glenn Roeder and director Delia Smith on their feet cheering when he crashed home a stunning 61st minute opener, picking up midfielder Matty Pattison's pass and smashing a 20-yarder into the top corner.

It was only Norwich's second win in seven games and their first clean sheet in three months. Roeder said: "We need a few tricks up our sleeve. Sometimes we are too nice and too naïve for our own good.

"But managers dream about that sort of performance. We spoke about the importance of the derby before the game and then really out on a show."
The Daily Mirror, 08/12/08

Leroy Lita used his head yesterday and, in a way, an opponent's one, too, to secure Norwich City's first East Anglian derby victory at Carrow Road since March 2004. With City 1-0 up and preparing to take a free kick, the Norwich forward ran over to Lee Probert, the referee, to point out that Gareth McAuley was bleeding from a head wound.

The Ipswich captain was ordered off the field to receive treatment and in his absence, the defence failed to clear David Bell's high cross and Matthew Pattison pounced to seal Norwich's first derby win in six attempts. "It's a ridiculous law," Jim Magilton, the Ipswich manager, said. "There is no reason he can't be treated on the pitch. But we have other players who can head the ball. Lita was bright, I wish our players had been half as bright." Glenn Roeder, the Norwich manager, was unapologetic. "We are ridiculously honest," he said. "We have players who are too nice, too naive, who sprint off after being substituted instead of walking off. We need to have one or two tricks up our sleeves."

A second win in eight matches pulled City up to nineteenth place, which Roeder believes is a false position. "Any unbeaten run has to start somewhere and this would be the perfect platform," he said.

"But talk is cheap and you have to make it happen. Our 5-2 win against Wolves [in October] was no fluke, but we have to prove we can do it no matter who we're playing against."
The Times, 08/12/08

Glenn Roeder hailed this as the best derby victory of his managerial career.

The Canaries finally nailed neighbours Ipswich yesterday after failing to win any of their previous five Old Farm clashes.

And Norwich boss Roeder — who has managed West Ham, Newcastle and Watford — said: "To beat Ipswich 2-0 is the equivalent of when I took Toon to the Stadium of Light and we won 4-1.
"Performance-wise, and in terms of what it means to the club, this was close to beating QPR 3-0 last season — the win which kept us in the Championship."

It was only Norwich's second win in eight games and Roeder urged his team to finally put a decent run together in a bid to move away from the foot of the Championship. He added: "This could be the perfect platform but talk is cheap.

"We have to go and make it happen. We have to take this performance and go to Watford on Wednesday but it will be a difficult game.
"There is no doubt this current squad is technically gifted. We beat Wolves 5-2 and that was no fluke but we have to do it more regularly."

Norwich had keeper David Marshall to thank for making two cracking saves at key moments.
The Sun 08/12/08