If Bryan Gunn had hair he would have been tearing it out by the handful as his Norwich side were nailed to the relegation places by a controversial penalty.

In a rousing East Anglian derby watched by 28,274, Ipswich were awarded a spot kick on the hour, despite Kevin Lisbie appearing to use his hand before minimal contact from Norwich keeper David Marshall sent him tumbling.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took an age before pointing to the spot and Giovani dos Santos, on loan from Tottenham, slotted the kick home to make the score 2-1.

Although Ipswich substitute Jon Stead galloped away to slide in a 90th-minute clincher, Sammy Clingan still had time to convert a Norwich penalty in added time after Alan Quinn's foul on Alan Lee.

Gunn said of Ipswich's vital goal: 'I don't want to talk about referees or Ipswich manager Jim Magilton saying even he didn't think it was a penalty.

'Kevin Lisbie wasn't even facing towards the goal.

'Minimal contact and the referee decided to give it from near the halfway line.'

Norwich know they could be down by next Monday if Barnsley win at Coventry tomorrow, Forest take anything on Saturday and they lose to Reading a week today.

It had looked like being a bad day for Ipswich boss Magilton when Norwich's Dave Mooney sent a long-range header into the right corner of the net from Clingan's 15th-minute freekick.

But Ipswich equalised soon after with a fine move when Pablo Counago gave Giovani the chance to slip Quinn in to score.

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Bryan Gunn left fuming as drop nears for Norwich City

I dont want to talk about the referee, Bryan Gunn, the Norwich City interim manager, said. Of course, he did. Neil Swarbricks decision to award a penalty when Kevin Lisbie, the Ipswich Town forward, fell under a challenge by David Marshall, the Norwich goalkeeper, provided the moment of the game. It gave the home side a lead that they did not relinquish in what may be the last Old Farm derby for a while, because Norwich are in the bottom three with two games left.

Gunns side do not play until next Monday, and if this weeks results are unfavourable, they may need to beat Reading to keep their hopes alive before a final-day trip to Charlton Athletic, who are already relegated.

While local pride was a secondary issue for the visiting team given their plight, this was an important win for Jim Magilton, the Ipswich manager, as he tries to keep his job after failing to reach the play-offs.

David Mooneys excellent header after 16 minutes put Norwich ahead but Ipswich steadied and were the more incisive and inventive team, with Giovani Dos Santos, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, a stylish puppeteer in midfield. Midway through the first half, Alan Quinn ran on to a Giovani flick and angled a fine low finish into the far corner.

Ipswich were dominant thereafter and with an hour gone, Lisbie burst through and poked the ball towards the corner flag, possibly handling as he made contact with the onrushing goalkeeper. Swarbrick, after some deep pondering, pointed to the spot. Gunn, who confronted the referee at the final whistle, said that even Magilton and Lisbie felt that the decision was dubious.

Giovani scored the kick and Jon Stead, a substitute, calmly added another in the 90th minute. Added time brought added drama as the referee awarded a soft penalty to Norwich for a foul by Quinn. Sammy Clingan scored but there was no miracle comeback. So the locals smeared themselves in schadenfreude. But they might find that they miss these feisty days, and the thrill of this victory can be only fleeting in the context of a season that promised more.

Tom Dart (Times Online)