The post match reaction said it all, really. For Ipswich fans, they were pleased to draw Norwich 1-1 in the first leg of the Play-Off semifinals. Here’s five things learnt from the match.
Pole position
While it wasn’t a win, City have a goal advantage on their rivals with one match remaining—at Carrow Road. Saturday’s match lacked the intensity Alex Neil’s men have shown for most of his regime, but it was efficient and puts the Canaries in a better position than they were in before the match. If Town fans were celebrating their uninspiring performance at home in a derby, that indicates a drastic difference between the clubs’ expectations. To Norwich, it’s always been about promotion. The goal was automatics; now it’s at Wembley. Following the first leg, Ipswich seemed excited just to play a role in the festivities.
Urban development
Not to bash the town of Ipswich or the county of Suffolk (clearly I’ve never been), but their premier football club plays agricultural football. It’s primitive. It’s football in its simplest form: the big kids at the back take big kicks to the fast kids up front. Norwich play a much crisper, flowing style that emphasises the midfield—a place the Tractor Boys seem to ignore. Neil picked a stout lineup for Portman Road—one of strength and ball winners. Dropping Wes Hoolahan in favour of Nathan Redmond injected pace on the outside. Once Hoolahan came on for Graham Dorrans, Norwich kept possession in the final third the last half hour of the match. Expect more of that for the reverse fixture.
Possible changes
The players who played at Portman Road will all be available this Saturday. Forward Lewis Grabban will serve his final match ban. Cameron Jerome was efficient holding the ball up top as the lone striker, but that formula might change at Carrow Road. Maybe he was kept on too long at Portman Road, instead of Gary Hooper. Hooper had some chances but lacked the amount of time to create anything hazardous to the home side. Perhaps the duo will play together up top for a portion of the second leg. In addition, it shouldn’t be a surprise if Hoolahan is called back into the starting lineup, or at least featured earlier in the match.
Unshattering nerves
Created a new word for this segment. City fans were strung out heading into the first match. We’ve beaten them twice already this season. Is this Ipswich’s chance? It was, and they didn’t take it. Instead, it allowed for away supporters to light smoke bombs in their end and rejoice at their imminent advancement to Wembley. Hopefully the nervousness has been pushed aside for inflatable canaries.
Message for those going Saturday
I got to watch Norwich City for the first time since October this past Saturday. It was the first time I was able to watch a full match all season. Even if there was an American announcer who kept saying “Tet-tee” and “Hool-a-hin.” The audio levels were off, so I couldn’t hear the Ipswich fans or even the Yellow Army. But it was a chance to see them again. Saturday will be the last time we see Norwich at Carrow Road this season. For me, this will be my first time. Yet even if the audio levels are turned down in the production van outside the ground, you’ll all be heard. The fans echo in the background of every Chris Goreham’s commentary. Every “On The Ball City” channels perfectly 6,413.14 km away to my home. Send the boys to Wembley in style. And win there—so I can see them play, too.
