Wagner hails fans in bid for play-offs
NORWICH CITY 1
Nunez 39
IPSWICH TOWN 0
Star Game
DAVID Wagner heaped praise on Norwich City’s supporters after watching his side beat Ipswich to boost their play-off bid – and dent their neighbours’ chances of automatic promotion.
Wagner and his players felt the wrath of the fans during a poor run earlier in the season, but Carrow Road was rocking in the lunchtime kick-off as the Canaries reeled off an eighth-straight home win thanks to a first-half strike from Marcelino Nunez.
“The atmosphere in the ground was fantastic, the best since I’ve been here, and you could see the affect it had,” he said.
“The fans were outstanding – and so were my team. It was a top performance and the only complaint I could make was that we should have put it to bed earlier.
“Every player put in a good shift to get the win – and to keep a clean sheet against a side who score many goals was pleasing.
“From where we were earlier in the season, 17th, to where we are now speaks volumes about the spirit and togetherness in the squad. They are a group who can achieve something special, especially with the sort of backing we got – but while we will all enjoy this we know there is another big game coming up on Tuesday at Sheffield Wednesday.”
After a tight start the home side began to take the initiative, winning a series of free-kicks deep in Ipswich territory. And they made the fourth count, with Nunez edging his side in front six minutes before the break after Sam Morsy had shoved Josh Sargent to the ground some 30 yards out in a central position.
A goal looked a long shot, quite literally, but the Chilean comfortably beat Town’s two-man wall with a low curler which eluded Vaclav Hladky’s desperate dive to the left and went in off a post.
Ten minutes earlier Sargent had been brought down by Axel Tuanzebe in a seemingly more dangerous position, after being put in by a delightful Ashley Barnes through ball, but Gabriel Sara’s free-kick came to nothing. Overall, the Canaries had the better of a tight open ing period, with Ipswich looking nothing lik
