A moment of Premiership-class finishing from substitute Darren Huckerby helped Norwich get the better of 10-man Ipswich in a dreary East-Anglia derby at Portman Road.

Huckerby burst through, rounded Lewis Price and slotted home from a tight angle early in the second half to hand Nigel Worthington's side only their second win of the Coca-Cola Championship season.

The Canaries had come into the game knowing that an Ipswich win by two or more goals would have sent them to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

However, after Luis Castro Sito was sent off for a dubious professional foul early on, Norwich were presented with a excellent opportunity to dominate and grab all three points. And that they did - just.

The game had started at a crawl, with both teams displaying the kind of stuttering football that has seen them endure such disappointing starts to the season.

Ipswich's Darren Currie looked lively in the opening stages, testing Robert Green with a couple of speculative shots but the first genuine chance of the game came after 15 minutes, when a swinging cross from James McEveley found its way through to the head of Sam Parkin.

However, the former Swindon man could only nod his effort straight at Green.

The hosts' chances took a massive blow only moments later though, when they were reduced to 10 men.

Sito, Ipswich's Spanish star, crudely fouled Kevin Lisbie with referee Lee Mason opting to show the defender a straight red, much to the dismay of the home crowd, and to the surprise of many in the stadium.

And suddenly the visitors, who have not lost at Portman Road in the league since 1998, were presented with a fantastic opportunity to set about dominating possession.

That they did, but with very little sign of end product.

Dean Ashton looked a forlorn figure up front for Worthington's side for much of the half and although Dean Marney came close with a looping header, the Canaries failed to seriously trouble Price.

The Ipswich goalkeeper was called into action when Youssef Safri drifted through the home defence after 38 minutes, only to see his powerful shot palmed away.

Norwich quickly made their numerical advantage pay after the interval however.

Huckerby, a half-time substitute for Marney, was sent clear by Safri and did brilliantly to get the better of Price before slotting home from a tight angle.

To their credit, Ipswich did not buckle. Far from it in fact, as Joe Royle's side embarked on an intense period of pressure.

Both Jim Magilton, at the hub of everything good in the hosts' play, and Parkin came close.

After 67 minutes, McEveley let fly from all of 30 yards with a blistering drive that tested Green to the full before Kevin Horlock wasted a clear chance from only eight yards, blazing over the bar.

It was becoming difficult to tell which side had the extra man as Norwich slowly began to retract into their shells.

But with Ipswich also running out of steam, the Canaries were able to grind out the remainder of the game for a potentially priceless win.

Sporting Life