Wetin dey happen for Carrow Road today na pure drama wey don leave football fans for East Anglia with plenty talk. Ipswich Town don carry three points go home after dem beat Norwich City 1-0 for one match wey full of controversy. The only goal wey decide the match come from penalty spot for 11th minute, and e don cause plenty argument since then.
Jaden Philogene na the man wey take the penalty for Ipswich. The winger show say e get strong mind as e send Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic go wrong side before e slot the ball for bottom right corner. That goal make Ipswich fans wey travel reach 3,000 dey sing for top voice as dem dey chase automatic promotion to Premier League.
But the penalty decision wey referee Anthony Backhouse give don cause plenty wahala. The incident happen when Jack Taylor from Ipswich try to collect ball from Norwich midfielder Anis Slimane inside the penalty area. Slimane chest the ball down before e try to clear am, but Taylor come from behind poke the ball away. As Slimane follow through, Taylor fall down for ground.
Referee Backhouse first wave play to continue, but after few seconds, e change im mind and point to penalty spot. Former Ipswich and England captain Mick Mills wey dey commentate for BBC Radio Suffolk talk say im opinion, e no suppose be penalty. “The Norwich player eyes dey on the ball,” Mills yarn. “Jack Taylor come from behind almost, I think e be completely and utterly accidental.”
Norwich players protest the decision well well, but Backhouse stand im ground. No VAR for Championship matches, so the referee decision na final. Anis Mehmeti from Norwich even collect yellow card for im reaction to the goal celebration, whether na for wetin e talk or how e celebrate, nobody sure.
The match wey kick off under rainy condition and cold weather for Carrow Road don live up to the derby hype. Floodlights dey on from beginning as fans from both sides create electric atmosphere. Norwich fans wave their yellow and green cards to welcome Ipswich players, with former Norwich defender Rob Newman talk say: “If Ipswich players never think say dem don enter game before, dem go know now.”
For other matches wey start by 12:30 BST, Coventry City dey play Sheffield Wednesday as dem dey chase promotion to Premier League. Coventry fans dey wait for 25 years to see their team return to top flight, and dem dey hope say today na the day. John Bennett from BBC Radio 5 Live report say: “The home fans dey already walk on air here, bracing themselves for promotion party in the sunshine.”
QPR and Bristol City dey play another match for Loftus Road, with both teams dey look for three points to climb Championship table. Bristol City interim manager Roy Hodgson dey try to continue im good start since e take over, while QPR manager Julien Stéphan want im team to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
But all eyes dey on East Anglia where this derby victory fit change Ipswich season completely. With 72 points already for their account and second position for table, this win fit help dem secure automatic promotion without passing through playoffs. Norwich wey get 58 points and dey 9th position, their slim playoff hopes don suffer serious blow with this loss.
The last time these two teams meet, Ipswich win 3-1, and today result show say dem don continue their dominance over their rivals. Travel for Ipswich fans no easy today as no direct trains dey between Ipswich and Norwich because of engineering works, but dem still manage reach Carrow Road with buses and coaches.
As the final whistle blow, Ipswich players celebrate with their travelling fans while Norwich players walk off with disappointment. The controversial penalty decision go dey talk for days to come, but for now, Ipswich dey enjoy derby bragging rights and important three points for their promotion chase.
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