Referee forced to pause bitter Ipswich vs Norwich derby

PLAY was stopped in the East Anglian derby as what appeared to be a small spirit bottle was thrown onto the pitch.

Ipswich were in the driver's seat at Portman Road over intense rivals Norwich City when the object was thrown onto the pitch, seemingly from the home crowd.

It was the second of two stoppages made to clear projectiles from the field during the feisty game.

The first occurred in the 80th minute, when officials had to remove a lighter that had found its way onto the field of play.

The bottle would appear just three minutes later, stopping play and fuelling tensions in the ground as Norwich looked to up the tempo and find an equaliser.

Fans were perplexed by the behaviour, venting their frustrations on social media.

One fan said: "What is the point, you're 3-1 up and ruining it for your own club!!"

Another fan said: "Can't and don't condone fans throwing stuff at footballers but how on Earth has an Ipswich fan got a small spirit bottle into the ground anyway?"

Projectiles were also thrown during Saturday's Premier League clash between Spurs and Leeds United, with those instances currently being under investigation by the FA.

But in Ipswich, the incidents were the dressing on top of what was already a dramatic afternoon.

Jaden Philogene fired home a goal for the ages at Portman Road to win Ipswich their first East Anglian derby for 16 years.

Cedric Kipre had fired the Tractor Boys into a 32nd-minute lead — only for it to be cancelled out three minutes later by Oscar Schwartau.

But as the game entered first-half stoppage time, Ipswich winger Philogene picked the ball up 30 yards from goal before unleashing an absolute rocket past Vladan Kovacevic.

And with 13 minutes left Ipswich had the points in the bag when Jack Clarke fired home after Ivan Azon’s initial shot had struck the left post.

Not only did Ipswich finally earn bragging rights but they secured only their third win of the season so far.

This already fiery clash had an even bigger dollop of spice following Marcelino Nunez deciding to cross the East Anglia divide by moving from Norwich to Ipswich.

And the Tractor Boys goaded their rivals by putting Nunez on the front cover of the matchday programme.

Despite making his first league start against Bristol City, Nunez was on the bench for this one — but he did come on for the last 15 minutes, being roundly booed by the 2,000 visiting fans.

But he had the last laugh by laying on the pass for Azon to gallop through in the lead up to the third goal.

And Ipswich fans poked fun at their Canary counterparts by singing Nunez songs.

Home fans had their hearts in mouths when Cedric Kipre almost lost the ball to Ante Crnac on the edge of his own box before managing to weave his way from trouble.

Sam Szmodics wasted an opportunity when he went in round the back on the right side but fired his cross too high for Jaden Philogene to stand a chance of making contact.

Norwich midfielder Oscar Schwartau had a stern talking to from ref Thomas Kirk after trying to block Darnell Furlong.

Ipswich thought they had scored when Philogene ran through to fire past Vladan Kovacevic but Kirk ruled that George Hirst had fouled Harry Darling in the build up.

And down the other end Schwartau’s angled effort was blocked by keeper Alex Palmer.

Sindre Walle Egeli did superbly well to wriggle free to find space to cross but Hirst failed to generate any real power to trouble Kovacevic with his header.

Ipswich moved in front when a deep corner from Davis was worked back into the middle — and dropped to Kipre to smash home a half volley into the roof of the net.

But the lead barely lasted as Norwich hit back from a corner.

The ball fell to Schwartau on the edge of the box to fire home a deflected effort.

And in a breathless end to the second half Ipswich restored their lead.

Picking up the ball 30 yards out Philogene looked for options but he could not see any so instead blasted a brilliant shot past Kovacevic.

After the break, Ipswich had a golden chance to extend their lead when Hirst found space inside the box when Szmodics found him but he scuffed his effort into the grateful gloves of Kovacevic.

Then Hirst was sent galloping clear on the left edge of the box but rather than shoot one-on-one with the keeper he attempted to square a pass but it was wayward and cleared.

Philogene found space but powered his effort over the bar.

McKenna made a triple change with 15 minutes left.

Nunez, Clarke and Ivan Azon all came on and within seconds all three combined to put the Tractor Boys 3-1 up.

Azon was sent through by Nunez down the left but his effort cannoned back off the right post but Clarke was there to follow up and fire home.

Kovacevic then saved with his legs to deny sub Chuba Akpom at the death.