SO MUCH for the handshaking campaign conducted before yesterday's East Anglian derby by the respective managers. The match was as ferociously competitive as ever.

For Matt Jackson, the home captain, it was also extremely painful. One of three Norwich players booked for rash challenges, Jackson was carried off after a 51st-minute clash of heads with his own goalkeeper, Robert Green, 19, making his debut.

With David Johnson in hot pursuit of a bouncing ball, the Norwich pair had combined to keep him out. Green, replacing the suspended Andy Marshall, came off better than his team-mate but blood still had to be wiped from his face before he could carry on.

Green dealt capably with everything that came his way. He should have been beaten when Johnson blazed over after surging on to an astute pass from Fabian Wilnis. Johnson, however, would have scored with an injury-time header but for Green's magnificent save, plunging to his left.

The point Ipswich gained took them back into the second automatic promotion spot but they are unlikely to meet any more opponents as committed as Norwich.

"They set their stall out to stop us playing," said Ipswich manager George Burley. "That shows what they think of us." No one suffered more than Jim Magilton, normally Ipswich's most creative influence.

Norwich, nevertheless, created chances, none better than when after two shots had been blocked, the ball ran loose to Phil Mulryne. But for a stupendous tackle from Wilnis, he would have scored comfortably.

Daily Telegraph