Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna declared the long-awaited East Anglian derby with Norwich as a “great occasion” and claimed that his team were better by a “considerable margin” in spite of them drawing 2-2.
His opposite number at Carrow Road, David Wagner, meanwhile, said his first ‘Old Farm’ clash between the two sides – the first for nearly four years – was “exciting” and was what was expected.
Jonathan Rowe struck twice either side of the break for City while Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns were the Ipswich scorers.
Ipswich dominated the first half and should have been ahead by at least three goals but failed to capitalise on their superiority.
Broadhead spurned two chance to put the Town ahead. The first came when he danced round a couple of tackles to leave him one on one with Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal but he put his shot narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
Moments later he picked up a cross from Wes Burns but fired the ball just the wrong side of the same post.
Town then spurned their third good opportunity to take the lead when Burns smashed his shot over the bar.
McKenna said: “It was a great occasion in terms of the build up and the supporters did the club proud in terms of the atmosphere they created.
“I thought it was a really good performance and we were the better team by a considerable margin, created lots and lots of chances, give away very few chances and there was lots of things that we can build on from the performance.
“Of course the frustration is conceding two goals from hopeful balls that ricochet around in our box, but beyond that there’s so many positives that we can take from the performance.
“Of course, only a point and we would have loved to have given the supporters the victory, but I think the team can certainly take a lot from that game.
“We have been so clinical at home and I think that’s a 3-0 performance in the first half if I’m honest and we go in at 1-1.
“The goals we gave away were disappointing, it’s two moments of concentration in our penalty box and a little bit of fortune in both which can happen.”
Opposite number Wagner felt the game had gone as he anticipated.
He said: “It was exciting and more or less what you expect, what you like to have… a lot of battles, a lot of energy.
“The lead changes during the game as well and I’m absolutely delighted about the shift my players put on the pitch, great togetherness, great working attitude, super fighting spirit and this the reason why it’s a deserved point for me.
“Obviously if you can’t win it you make sure you can’t lose it and this is what the players have done. We take this point.
“You have seen why Ipswich is so good at home and so good in the season in general. This was their first draw, every other game they have won and this makes it a good result for us.
“It was deserved because of the fighting spirit and of the effort which they players bought the pitch and they always believed going and fighting and close the yards in between the lines.
“Technically it was a very, very good game, they are a good side. We take the draw and this is why it was a deserved point for me.”
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