It’s the longest unbeaten run in the history of the East Anglian Derby and Norwich City’s local dominance of Ipswich Town started 10 years ago today – with a famous Grant Holt hat-trick.
Town haven’t beaten the Canaries in almost 12 years, since claiming the bragging rights with a 3-2 win at Portman Road in April 2009, but after City grabbed them on November 28, 2010, they haven’t been relinquished since – in 12 attempts by the Tractor Boys.
The match was live on BBC One and saw the moustachioed Holt, in support of the Movember charity, help himself to a hat-trick and a place in derby day folklore.
Paul Lambert’s newly-promoted team had only won one of their last eight Championship games but the emphatic nature of their Carrow Road triumph would spark a promotion push that would carry the Canaries all the way to the Premier League.
Strangely, Lambert is now in charge down the A140 – for now, at least – after being unable to prevent Town’s slide into League One in 2019.
With an outspoken supporters’ group currently calling for a change as Town’s form dips and the prospect of a third season in the third tier sets alarm bells ringing, mixed with City setting themselves up for a chance at bouncing straight back to the top flight, it could yet end up being a third consecutive campaign without a derby game.
So here’s a reminder of the drama and glory of that past decade of dominance, as Norwich won seven of the 12 games – including the play-off semi-final joy of 2015.
Sun, Nov 28, 2010 – Norwich 4 Ipswich 1
It was all about Grant Holt from the start, robbing Darren O’Dea to put City ahead in the 13th minute and quickly reclaiming the lead in the 35th minute, after Damien Delaney had headed Town level.
The striker converted Henri Lansbury’s brilliant through-ball for 2-1 and then was hauled down by Delaney as he went through on goal, as Ipswich were reduced to 10 men.
Chris Martin teed up Holt for his hat-trick and to seal the win in the 76th minute, with Wes Hoolahan completing the triumph within two minutes, who chipped Marton Fulop from close range.
Holt became just the second player to score a derby day hat-trick for Norwich, following in the footsteps of Hugh Curran during a 4-2 away win in the League Cup in 1968.
Thurs, April 21, 2011 – Ipswich 1 Norwich 5
By the time the teams met again the Canaries were closing on automatic promotion but Ipswich, with Paul Jewell having replaced Roy Keane, were in mid-table and were seeing play-off hopes drift.
Andrew Surman had opened the scoring for City and a Gareth Macauley own goal made it 2-0 before the break. Simeon Jackson made it three but a brilliant strike from Jimmy Bullard briefly brought Ipswich back into the game.
Goals from Russell Martin and Dani Pacheco in the final 10 minutes sealed a first derby double for Norwich since 2003-04 and a glorious night, as Lambert’s team moved up to second place with three games remaining.
Sat, Aug 23, 2014 – Ipswich 0 Norwich 1
Lewis Grabban scored the only goal at Portman Road, managing to turn an awkward header in from close range after Alex Tettey had chipped the ball into the box.
Sun, March 1, 2015 – Norwich 2 Ipswich 0
A trademark left-footed thunderbolt from Bradley Johnson from the edge of the box smashed the Canaries ahead in the 24th minute and it was Grabban again making sure of the victory, diverting a Cameron Jerome shot into the net from close range midway through the second half.
Sat, May 9, 2015 – Ipswich 1 Norwich 1
The Stakes were raised as City finished third and Town sixth, to set up a momentous play-off semi-final clash.
A tense match saw Jonny Howson turn in a Jerome cross to claim the lead in the 41st minute and Paul Anderson equalise just before the break for the hosts, but City held out as a raucous Portman Road crowd piled on the pressure.
Sat, May 16, 2015 – Norwich 3 Ipswich 1
An epic occasion which would end in a pitch invasion on an emotional day.
Ipswich defender Christophe Berra was sent off for deliberately handling a goal-bound Nathan Redmond shot and Wes Hoolahan calmly dispatched the spot-kick in the 50th minute.
Tommy Smith headed Town’s 10 men level 10 minutes later but Redmond fired the Canaries back in front within four minutes and Jerome sealed a Wembley final and one of the most satisfying derby triumphs when he poked home in the 76th minute.
Sun, Aug 21, 2016 – Ipswich 1 Norwich 1
A season of stalemate after City’s return to the Premier League, with Jerome turning in off the post for the visitors in the 26th minute but Jonas Knudsen also finishing from the edge of the box to equalise for the Blues just before the break.
Sun, Feb 26, 2017 – Norwich 1 Ipswich 1
It was Knudsen again, with the Dane heading Town in front in the 63rd minute, but Jacob Murphy rose to the occasion and thumped Norwich level within five minutes, during the latter stages of the Alex Neil era.
Sun, Oct 22, 2017 – Ipswich 0 Norwich 1
James Maddison’s classy finish in the 59th minute proved the difference, after Yanic Wildschut had charged forward and Marco Stiepermann had picked out the youngster on the edge of the box – during Daniel Farke’s first experience of the local rivalry.
Sun, Feb 18, 2018 – Norwich 1 Ipswich 1
It looked like Town had finally brought an end to their misery when captain Luke Chambers headed in a corner in the 89th minute – but it wasn’t to be.
Great desire from Grant Hanley kept a loose ball in play and his cross allowed defensive partner Timm Klose to power in an injury-time equaliser and spark wild scenes of relief at Carrow Road, as the famous “oh no, when are Ipswich Town ever going to beat them?” cry went out on BBC Radio Suffolk.
Sun, Sept 2, 2018 – Ipswich 1 Norwich 1
Farke was under pressure after a shaky start to his second season but Moritz Leitner came up trumps with a fine strike in the 71st minute, to cancel out Gwion Edwards’ opener for the hosts.
Sun, Feb 10, 2019 – Norwich 3 Ipswich 0
By the time the teams met again City were chasing promotion and Lambert was trying to keep Town in the division – but a hammer blow was suffered on a feisty occasion, with the Scot sent to the stands.
Onel Hernandez slotted the Canaries ahead in just the second minute and a Teemu Pukki double in the second half broke the stubborn resistance of the Suffolk boys, who did their best to ruffle the feathers of the eventual champions.
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