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Ipswich gave their hopes of automatic promotion a massive boost by recording a hard-fought 2-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road, while Coventry must wait for another day after being held 0-0 at home by Sheffield Wednesday.
Ipswich moved into the top two, with at least a game in hand on their nearest rivals, as first-half goals from Jaden Philogene, with a harsh penalty, and George Hirst completed a long overdue double over their East Anglian rivals.
Norwich had more of the ball, but were frustrated by an impressive defensive display from the visitors, who kept the number of clearcut chances down to a bare minimum. The defeat ended any faint chance the Canaries had of making the playoffs – although the fact they are heading for a top 10 finish is still a remarkable achievement for a side who were in the bottom three at the start of the year.
Ipswich grabbed the lead in controversial fashion after 11 minutes. Anis Ben Slimane accidently caught Jack Taylor as he attempted to hook the ball clear in the area but the referee, Anthony Backhouse, decided it was a penalty and Philogene sent Vladan Kovacevic the wrong way from the spot.
Ipswich doubled their lead just before the break. Darnell Furlong’s long throw from the left was flicked on and an unmarked Hirst volleyed home to give his side a flattering two-goal advantage. Mohamed Touré then scuffed a shot wide from a decent position, before the arrival of former Canary Marcelino Núñez off the Ipswich bench upped the already frenetic atmosphere to even higher levels.
Town should have made it three following a swift counter-attack but Taylor was denied by another excellent Kovacevic save before Núñez, who had picked up a booking, was substituted for his own good after an edgy cameo. It was Ipswich’s first win at Carrow Road since 2006 and they completed a derby double for the first time since 1992-93.
Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich manager, said: “This is a brilliant result. As soon as I came here I was told how important this fixture was and that it had been so long since we’d beaten them.
“We finally got a win at our place earlier in the season and now we’ve backed it up by completing a double. I know how much this means to everyone connected with the club and I am sure they will all be enjoying it.”
Millwall had gone second overnight but their bid for automatic promotion suffered a blow after they were held to a 0-0 draw by West Brom at home. Millwall created the best chances but Josh Coburn volleyed wide from five yards and Mihailo Ivanovic hit the bar from long-range.
Coventry missed the chance to move one point from promotion to the Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw by relegated Sheffield Wednesday. Frank Lampard’s side could have been promoted if they had beaten the lowly Owls and Middlesbrough had failed to beat Portsmouth later in the day.
It was just a third point of 2026 for Sheffield Wednesday, who broke the Football League record by going 37 games without a win in all competitions in the process.
Lampard said: “We obviously created enough to win the game but we didn’t quite do it, and you have to credit the opposition for making it difficult for you … I know there’s a pressure and everyone wants to release the pressure by getting it done and now we have to move onto the next one.”
In Saturday’s other early game, QPR and Bristol City maintained their recent unbeaten runs by playing out a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road. The Robins have not lost since Roy Hodgson took interim charge, having won their first two matches after the former manager was given the role. QPR are unbeaten in five matches, but the result did nothing for either side’s outside hopes of a playoff spot.
Later on Saturday, Middlesbrough host Portsmouth in a game with implications at both ends of the table. Oxford desperately need a win at home to Watford, as do Leicester when Swansea visit.
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This story will be updated
