Paul Anderson's goal deep into first-half stoppage time to cancel out Jonny Howson's earlier opener has ensured that Ipswich Town and Norwich City are locked at 1-1 at the end of the first leg of their playoff semi-final.
A frenetic opening 45 minutes swung both ways, but it was the visitors who took the lead thanks to some impressive work out wide by Cameron Jerome, who burst forward to pick out Howson in a central position.
Substitute Anderson, who came on for the injured Luke Varney, levelled up the contest ahead of a bland second half which lacked any real quality in the attacking third of the field.
Relive how the East Anglian derby unfolded below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship playoff semi-final first-leg meeting between Ipswich Town and Norwich City.
The Canaries will be disappointed not to have gained promotion back to the Premier League via the automatic route following last year's relegation, having slipped up in the closing weeks of the campaign to narrowly miss out. They must now overcome their East Anglian rivals in what is being described as the biggest ever fixture between the two clubs, and Ipswich will be in confident mood on the back of one defeat in their last five outings.
Well kickoff at Portman Road is now less than an hour away, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at some team news...
TEAM NEWS!
IPSWICH TOWN STARTING XI: Bialkowski, Mings, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Murphy, Varney, Bru, Sears, Bishop
NORWICH CITY STARTING XI: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson, Tettey, Howson, Dorrans, Redmond, Johnson, Jerome
Let's start by taking a look at the home side, then, which shows two changes from the 3-2 defeat against Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the regular season. Kevin Bru and on-loan striker Luke Varney both return to the starting lineup for this mammoth clash, replacing Jonathan Parr and David McGoldrick who both drop to the bench.
McGoldrick has been nursing a thigh injury of late, although he is fit enough for a place among the back-ups, meaning that Freddie Sears, Varney and Teddy Bishop will provide the attacking threat in this Town side. Midfielder Luke Hyam has failed to overcome a knee problem, however, and he misses out on the squad completely.
As far as the visitors are concerned, Alex Neil has opted to make four changes to his starting lineup. Stephen Whittaker, Alex Tettey, Graham Dorrans and Cameron Jerome all return to the side following victory over Fulham seven days ago, while Gary Hooper, Wes Hoolahan, Elliott Bennett & Gary O'Neil drop out.
Whittaker (hamstring), Tettey (knee) and Jerome (minor niggle) were all minor doubts in the build-up to this East Anglian derby, but each have been deemed fit enough following their prolonged break to come back into the fold. The prolific Jerome will no doubt prove a threat throughout this two-legged affair, with support coming from the likes of Nathan Redmond, Johnson and Dorrans.
BENCH WATCH!
IPSWICH TOWN SUBS: Gerken, Parr, Anderson, S.Hunt, Tabb, N.Hunt, McGoldrick
NORWICH CITY SUBS: Rudd, Hooper, Hoolahan, E Bennett, R Bennett, O'Neil, Odjidja-Ofoe
So as already mentioned, McGoldrick and Tabb both drop to the bench this afternoon. Back-up keeper Dean Gerken was another one of the many Ipswich injury doubts, but he has been deemed fit enough to provide cover for Bialkowski should he be needed at any stage. There is also a place among the substitutes for Hunt brothers Stephen and Noel, who may also both have a part to play.
The Canaries have named a strong starting XI this afternoon and they have plenty of options from the bench, too. The four players to make way from the 3-2 win over Fulham last weekend - Hooper, Hoolahan, Elliott Bennett & O'Neil - each form part of the 18-man matchday squad.
Nineteen-goal striker Cameron Jerome has been deemed fit enough to play a full part in this lunchtime's huge derby meeting:
Well if you missed it last night, Brentford and Middlesbrough provided us with a highly entertaining first-leg tie at Griffin Park. It was Boro who just about did enough to win the game in the end, claiming a 2-1 victory thanks to Fernando Amorebieta's strike deep into added time.
There is still plenty to play for in next week's second leg, though, while this semi-final between East Anglian foes Ipswich and Norwich really could go either way. They say form counts for little in the playoffs, well factor in the fact that this is a derby, and you get the feeling that we are in for a thrilling and unpredictable contest.
Ipswich come into the game on the back of that aforementioned 3-2 defeat against Blackburn last weekend, which could have proved disastrous in their hopes of claiming a top-six place. As it was, Derby slid away in dramatic circumstances in the closing weeks, culminating in their shock 3-0 reverse at home to Reading on the final day. This fixture has been on the cards for months now with both sides plugging away in the playoff zone, but I'm not sure either set of supporters will be all that pleased.
One loss in their last five games - albeit in their last outing - Ipswich find themselves in good shape heading into this showdown, although it came as little surprise to see Mick McCarthy shift the pressure onto opposite number Alex Neil in the week. Of course, with Norwich finishing 10 points ahead in the league table, they have to be considered favourites to come out on top across the two legs, but that is not to say these Town supporters will be happy to simply take part at this stage - they can taste Premier League football
The key word used by McCarthy this season is "progress". There is little arguing that the experienced gaffer has done a fine job since taking over at Portman Road, finally turning this underachieving side into promotion candidates. Their prolonged stay at this level may well be coming to an end, and if they can finally get over the line over these next three games, a large part of their success will be down to the work of the former Republic of Ireland international.
Norwich, on the other hand, have spent just one year at this level following their relegation last time out. While they have been in and around the top six all season, things did look bleak at one stage under former boss Neil Adams, but Alex Neil has steadied the ship since coming in and manager to guide them to a third-placed finish. Automatic promotion was the target, although you simply have to look at the two sides who came down with the Canaries last season - Cardiff City and Fulham - to see how well they have done to even finish in the playoffs.
Norwich were in a fantastic position to grab an automatic promotion spot just a month or so ago, but a costly slip-up at home to Middlesbrough - who themselves threw away the opening of a top-two finish when it was handed to them on a plate - ensured that they had to settle for the playoffs. They come into this match on the back of five games without defeat, while going further back it is just one defeat in 11 - seven of those ending in victory.
DID YOU KNOW? Earning promotion to the top flight is the target over the next few weeks and both these sides certainly know what it is like to succeed at that level. In fact, Ipswich won the first division title back in 1962, spending 26 seasons in the top tier of English football, while Norwich - third-place finishers in 1993 - have spent 24 campaigns in all at that level.
Kickoff is now around 15 minutes away at Portman Road, meaning that there is still enough time to check out the pre-match thoughts of the Sports Mole Sofa team:
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Alex Neil himself said this week that he believes this is the "biggest ever derby" between the great rivals. Certain supporters inside Portman Road this afternoon will remember the 1985 Milk Cup semi-final - again played over two legs - which provided just as much anticipation. Norwich won 2-1 on that occasion, while overall they have claimed 38 wins to Town's 40.
That goes to show just how tight these games tend to be, although that said Norwich won both regular league meetings this season, the last of which came back in March when they ran out 2-0 victors at Carrow Road. In fact, the Canaries have won each of the last four fixtures between the pair, so the omens are looking good for them heading into the first leg.
Okay, I hope that's whet the appetite a little more with kickoff fast approaching. Before giving a prediction, let's have a look at what both camps have had to say in the build-up to this much-anticipated clash:
Mick McCarthy: "They have been outstanding since he came in and they beat us [at Carrow Road] 2-0, but we didn't really play against them. I would have thought most people, innocent observers who have no vested interest in the game, will be thinking it is going to be Norwich [who win] so happy days [for us]."
Alex Neil: "I'm excited. I like competing, whoever I'm up against, and we always play to win, whatever's at stake. It will be a tense atmosphere, it will be really vocal, it will be strong, it will be physical, and we've got to start on the front foot and try to implement our game on them. The early kickoff doesn't concern us. We played at lunch-time last week and won."
PREDICTION: Norwich may have won the last four meetings between the pair, but all signs point to a tight and cagey affair. The game cannot be won this afternoon, of course, although it can certainly be lost should one team fail to turn up. Norwich have to be considered favourites, having racked up a 10-point lead over their rivals during the regular campaign, yet I'm going with a 1-1 draw this afternoon to keep this one alive and well heading into the return tie next week.
Both sides are now out on the field, with kickoff just moments away. There is a terrific atmosphere inside Portman Road as expected, so let's hope that helps add to the spectacle in what should be an entertaining clash.
KICKOFF! Ipswich Town get us underway in this second Championship playoff semi-final, whipping the ball into the box inside the first minute for Mings to direct a header goalwards.
It is Norwich who have been on the attack over the past few moments, without being able to find a way through. The ball fell nicely for Dorrans around 15 yards from goal, but he completely fluffed his lines when looking for a spectacular volley.
The atmosphere inside this famous, old ground really is terrific. Neither side has had a great deal to shout about thus far, but already it is clear to see that this game is going to flow throughout.
SAVE! The first big chance of the game falls to the home side, and if not for a fine stop from Ruddy they would have had an early lead. Murphy did brilliantly to charge into the box and pick out Sears in a central position, who had his initial shot kept out by the City stopper. The rebound fell kindly to Varney, but he too saw his effort from close range pushed aside by the England international.
Norwich look to respond to that scare by putting together an attack of their own, which ended with Johnson screwing a shot wide of goal when teed up by Dorrans.
How big could that double stop from Ruddy prove to be come the end of the 180 minutes - or more - of this contest? It has certainly given the home supporters further hope that they can topple their rivals, despite the superior gap between them in terms of points in the league table.
Norwich have done well over the last few minutes, with Tettery working some space inside the box, but he slipped before getting a cross away to see the latest attack come to nothing.
The game has certainly settled down a little more since that double chance for Ipswich 10 minutes or so ago, which has favoured the visitors. They are seeing more of the ball, although they are not doing a great deal with it at the moment.
Murphy proves that he is far more than just a goalscorer by working tirelessly out wide, before Martin cleared away his cross. There's been a short stoppage in play over the past few moments as Chambers receives some treatment on the field after being caught a little late by Jerome.
Some fantastic defending from Luke Chambers denies Howson heading Norwich in front from close range. A cross came in from Whittaker on the right, but the Town skipper produced a fine headed clearance to ensure that this one remains goalless.
CLOSE! Well the Norwich fans can be forgiven for thinking their side had taken the lead, after Tettey's effort from range rustled the back of the net. The ball actually skimmed the post on its way through, before crashing off the stanchion behind the goal and into the wrong side of the net. Tettery just inches away from opening the scoring.
Norwich are certainly the side on top now, as Johnson heads Dorrans' cross wide at the back post. Ipswich need to find some momentum again, because the Canaries are growing more and more into the contest.
Championship correspondent Pascal Lemesre enjoying the view behind one of the goals. Norwich have been on top so far, although Ipswich have squandered the game's best chance:
IPSWICH SUB: Final change of the afternoon for Ipswich sees Parr replace Bishop. The contest has more of an end-to-end feel about it all of a sudden, meanwhile, as Martin blocks Murphy's shot.
Still Norwich are threatening to make something happen, without actually causing any danger to their rivals. We have not seen any clear-cut chances since Redmond's strike at the very end of the first half.
Ipswich seem to be happy to sit on this 1-1 draw, which is a little surprising. A draw will certainly keep the game alive heading into the second leg, but there is certainly another goal in this game if they can get some bodies forward.
YELLOW CARD! If you were going to bet on a side winning this late on, you'd put your money on Norwich. They just seem to have more energy than their opponents, as witnessed by Martin's burst forward which came to a halt when he was tripped by Anderson. The Town goalscorer earns a yellow for his trouble.
NORWICH CITY SUB: Hooper was a little unlucky to be left out this afternoon, but he will be given a few minutes here to make a further impression. Jerome is the man to make way.
Tettey catches Anderson with a high boot to the face, but he escapes a booking. There has been a serious lack of quality in this second half, which must surely come down to the nerves of competing in the playoffs. One mistake can ultimately see your whole season go down the drain.
We are approaching the time of the game in which Boro scored a dramatic late winner yesterday evening. This could prove to be a crucial period of this two-legged affair, although neither side looks remotely like scoring at the moment.
SAVE! Just as I say that, Redmond loops a header goalwards which Bialkowski is forced to tip over. It looked to be just about on target, so that was an important intervention from the Polish keeper.
We are now deep into the second of three added on minutes. The ball is in Norwich's half, as Ipswich attempt to carve out one final chance.
A nervy moment at the back for Ipswich as the ball bobbles around. Norwich could not quite get it under control, though, with the ball being cleared away.
FULL TIME: IPSWICH TOWN 1-1 NORWICH CITY
So honours even at Portman Road, then, meaning that it is still all to play for in seven days' time. All the action took place in a frenetic opening 45 minutes, which was followed up by a rather bland second period. Both sets of supporters will be happy enough with the scoreline, as attention turns to what will be the biggest East Anglian derby fixture ever this time next week.
Well that is all from me in terms of live commentary, but be sure to stick around on Sports Mole with our coverage of the 3pm Premier League fixtures now well underway. Take your pick of fixtures right here, ahead of the League Two playoff semi-final first-leg meeting between Plymouth and Wycombe this evening.
