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In days gone by I used to get very nervous before Derby games but over the years It has become easier thanks largely to our long period of dominance over them. At some stage it must come to an end as all good things inevitably do, but as biked down to the ground at today I had no feeling of impending doom. Indeed, it was a fine bright morning and conditions seemed set fair for a decent game. The crowd was in good voice as the match got underway and City were the first to show, winning a corner on the left. The ball was cleared out to Sainz who could only volley wildly over the top. At the other end Town quickly won a corner of their own but it came to nothing. Both teams looked to keep things tight early on and consequently defences dominated and the was little in the way of goalmouth action. On balance the opening quarter of the game was closely fought but niether team committed much forward as the midfield play became littered with petty fouls. Both sides seemed to needlessly give the ball away and Duffy twice nearly blotted his copy book with silly passes out of defence. Ref Mr Donahue, was probably sensible not to wave the yellow cards too early but he had no choice as we approached the half hour mark and Tuanzebe took Sargent out on the edge of the box after a neat through ball from Barnes. Tuanzebe was certainly the last man but despite the howls from the crowd and appeals from the home side the card was yellow not red. Nunez tried to hit a low free kick under the wall but it was blocked for a corner. City kept the pressure on and it was Nunez again as 1p5wich got bodies in the way. Then the Town keeper had to punch away from almost under the bar and it was Sainz this time who couldn't get his shot past a mass of bodies in the six yard box. It was the best period of home pressure in the match and you felt that we needed to make it count and as Sargent was fouled centrally and about thirty yards out the opportunity came. It looked a bit far out for a shot on target but as the visitors formed a line, NUNEZ hit a swerving effort that bounced before beating Hladky and going in off the inside of the post. It was a deserved lead as City had started to look dangerous since the half hour while 1p5witch had still not managed anything resembling a meaningful shot on goal. They did start to push forward a bit more but a couple of catches by Gunn was all it needed to steer the home side through to a half time lead. CITY 1 1P5WICH 0 I thought 1p5wich might have been more up for it and for a team on top of the league I didn't feel they offered much in the first half and expected to be a bit more under pressure when the teams restarted. They had a decent bit of possession but still nothing to trouble Gunn while whenever the home side moved forward they looked the sharper outfit. A nice ball from McCallum flicked off Sainz's back and fell kindly for the little winger but he could only lift the ball over the advancing keeper but comfortably wide of the post. Barnes was alone in the middle of the penalty area and made his displeasure know in no uncertain terms. The visitors now began to lift some high balls in for Moore but Duffy was equal to it and Gunn was not stretched as a ball looped goalward. Then finally a shot came in on target but it was straight at Gunn who fielded it comfortably. As the visitors pushed further forward the gaps opened up at the back and suddenly Sargent was in a race with defenders and got of a shot that Hladky had to go to ground to save. Then it was Sargent through again only to be closed down by two defenders and from my end it looked like foul as he was upended on the edge of the box but again Mr Donahue was unmoved despite appeals. In the stands the confidence began to grow as rounds of OTBC and Yellows Yellows rang round the ground. With fifteen minutes left Barnes went off to loud applause and Gibbs came on to replace him. 1p5witch rang some changes also and although they buzzed around our area for a bit they didn't really create much danger. Stacey who had been a live wire all day, received great applause as he broke from defence and nearly ran the length of the field before being disposessed. Chaplin skyed a shot over from a neat ball from the left and then Al Hamidi went down on the edge of the box in a foot race with Gibson but again Mr Donahue wasn't buying today. Then there was a near thing as Harness found a bit of space in the box but Gibbs was on hand to scoop the ball away. Despite this late pressure I didn't feel that 1p5wich had it in them as every City free kick, goal kick and throw in was cheered to the rafters and the five minutes added time ran out without any serious alarms. As I rode home the bells of St Giles on the Hill were ringing out and I couldn't help but think how lucky we are to have witnessed this long period of dominance over the old enemy and what a pleasure it is to keep putting a spoke in their wheel. Stacey my MOM today. An absolutely towering performance. CITY 1 1P5WICH 0.

Players ran into the ground for NCFC today. Terrific all over and the amount of second balls we won was exceptional. Gibson absolutely colossal at the back, reinforced by Duffy second half. Fans terrific throughout, got behind the team constantly. Management top drawer top to bottom. Got then motivated and ready to go after a poor Leicester game. Calm and collected throughout. Gibbs substitute perfectly timed. P.s - their fans were worse than when they came down here with Lambert. They deserve to mess it up.

Half the posters on here don't even like Norwich.

I got a bit lucky with the weather today as the forecast said showers but by lunchtime it was pleasantly warm and sunny in NR1 so it was ideal for a ride to the ground. I had to look up the last time we played Plymouth at CR and was surprised to find it was way back in 2008/09 when we were in the same division for four seasons. It was also a bit of a surprise to find we had a pretty dismal all time record against them with only 26 wins and 42 losses. (thanks to Roger Smiths "Canary Companion) From the off we looked a class above and were soon dominating possession with some decent moves down either flank. Sainz neat ball in from the left deserved better than for Sargent to delay his shot and the chance was blocked away with Barnes unable to pick up the pieces. Plymouth seemed happy to contain and slow the game down whenever possible but in the tenth minute a sweeping ball out to the right gave the opportunity to swing a cross into the box. Sorensen appeared to misstime his attempted headed clearance and the ball dipped over his head to Whittaker who stooped to head low past Gunn and give the visitors a shock lead. City should have got back on level terms within a couple of minutes as Stacey poked a ball into space that left Sargent bearing down on the Plymouth goal but a lunging tackle from a defender just got a toe on the ball as the City strker let fly and the only result was a corner. Then Kenny went on a mazey run but when he had worked a shooting position, could only scuff the ball over the bar. The home attack was certainly making chances but they couldn't seem to get things in synch as half chances came and went. Sainz whipped one over but Cooper had everything behind it then Sargent went even closer as a corner came through a ruck of players only for the City striker to sidefoot against a post and a desperate defence scrambled the ball clear. McCallum was fairly lively down the left but couldn't fnd a yellow shirt with a low cross but was then caught out of position as Plymouth broke out of defence. Gibson got it all wrong when missing the ball completely on the touchline and the ball was fed on to a Plymouth striker who took it round Gunn but gave himself too much of and angle and the ball went right across goal and out by the far post. It could so easily have been a second goal for the visitors. The home defence looked jittery and Gibson nearly gave it away again with a terribly feeble back pass only for Gunn to save the day with a block after a sprint off his line. As the half moved into time added, Sainz picked up a loose ball and buzzed past a defender into the six yard box. I thought he would shoot but he fizzed it past Cooper to Sargent no more than two yards out but somehow the City man couldn't get a vital contact and a fantastic chance went begging. At the half I was thinking about our poor record against Plymouth and wondering if it was going to be one of those games that come along every now and then where it just won't go in. If we were hoping for a quick start to the second period we didn't get it as the the crowd got a bit quiet and City couldn't seem to keep any consistant pressure on the visitors goal. The livey Sainz was the main bright spark for the home side but nobody could get on the end of his low cross after a good run and even when he cut inside for a shot he was well off target. Fassnacht came on for Nunez on the hour but Plymouth seemed to be holding on comfortably enough until the sixty seventh minute when City earned a corner on the right. I thought Fassnacht's delivery was rather low but Sargent had pulled away unmarked from the nearpost and he smacked a first time shot through a ruck of defenders and into the net for a deserved equaliser. Where there had been darkness and despair there was now sweetness and light as both crowd and players began to believe. Plymouth tried to slow it down with some niggly fouls but City had now got the upper hand and you had a feeling that there was more to come. With the pressure mounting, City earned another corner on the right and this time it was Sara who whipped over a higher ball that McCallum just got enough onto to divert it past defenders and across goal into the far corner to give City the lead. Plymouth, to their credit tried to give it a go and put on a bit of pressure. After a strong run through midfield a throughball found Hardie in the clear twelve yards out but Gunn was quickly out to narrow the angle and the Plymouth striker couldn't get the ball past him. It was a nervy moment and a big points saving moment for Gunn. Wth five minutes left it should have been alll done and dusted but Sara's wonderful free kick from twentyfive yards hit the inside of post and bar with Cooper beaten and Fassnacht had the simplest of chances to nod in the ball as it bounced up but could only nod it over the bar. He will relive that in his dreams tonight and probably score. After that I was more than happy to see the minutes tick away without further major alarms. I thought Kenny was masterful today and is a cert for POTS but my MOM goes to Sainz who was wonderful in everything he did apart from one wild shot. Gunny also impressive today with some astute positioning. Onward and upward.

Delivered 4 points against Ipswich. 8 successive home wins. Has successfully delivered a superb breakthrough season for the latest big talent off the Colney production line. Has got his players giving 100% for him, showed the door to one who he felt wasn't fully committed just like Farke would have done with his no nonsense approach. Is on course for the top 6 finish which would have been the realistic expectation with Leicester, Leeds and Southampton the three relegated sides, despite losing some key players to injury, mainly the Sargent and Gunn injuries but also now the injury to two wingers, if he delivers this it will be despite zero spend on permanent transfers in the January window. He's also been creative in finding solutions, including using Kenny McLean at left centre back to maintain a balance in the side when losing Gibson. Its time to accept that Wagner is doing a good job with the resources at his disposal. As long as he does deliver the 6th with no last minute bottling, and we give the play offs a proper go with some serious fight, I vote for keeping him next season.

He's been a committed servant to the club and always given 100%. His mistakes are never intentional and dwarfed by the countless blocks, tackles and tactical stumbles. I hope that he has many games left in him, whether that be at Norwich or somewhere else.

A coach full of Ipswich supporters was pulled over for exceeding the speed limit on the way back to Ipswich after defeat in the East Anglian derby. Ironically the coach driver is now the only person from Ipswich to leave Norfolk with 3 points in 15 years

Non-Norwich related,so apologies, but I doubt you have ever seen something like this.

Thank god he didn’t end up in jail.

Understand the point you are making but I think you have to acknowledge that people who have been upset by this already include Max's mum and brother and Jamal's mum: it's not just people on the internet looking to be offended. I admire your defence of SW in the face of the wilder accusations make about him. But this is pretty straightforward - he messed up here and should apologise. You make it sound as though 'it's 2024 now' means that people's anger is just an internet overreaction, little to do with him, but you might as well say 'it's 2024, black people shouldn't have to deal with this mindless nonsense' - even if it's clumsy wording from an essentially good person, which is just about the most charitable interpretation of Webber's comments that you could make.

Firstly, huge thanks to Eddie for the past 17 years of running the Rays Funds threads. It takes an enormous amount of time to curate, keeping records of all picks, results and odds for the league tables he publishes. I had the honour of starting the thread and looking after the week once a few years ago when Eddie wasn't able to, so believe me when I say it's an unenviable task! Because of the effort, time taken and relentless support of (mainly) the CSF (but not forgetting FONCY, Sarcoma UK and our dearly departed friends - Michelle, Wooster and Lapps) I used my vote in this years "Michelle Dack Fan of the Season" award to nominate Eddie as a contender, writing a lengthy email as part of the process to explain why I was nominating him for his tireless dedication to running the Rays Funds threads over the years. I was delighted when the Club contacted me and Eddie to confirm that their panel had selected Eddie as one of this years 3 finalists and were happy to include him on all their postings and presentations surrounding the award. Very fitting given that the award is named after one of our dearly missed Pups. However, in true Eddie style - he declined the nomination, saying that he wouldn't want to stand in front of anyone else and deny them of deserving of the award themselves. He also iterated that the he couldn't accept an award for Rays Funds as the whole ethos of the thread is about the Pups, without whom the thread couldn't function - and he couldn't accept without an award for each and every one of us. I'm sure Eddie won't mind me quoting from an email exchange he had with the club - "Knowing that Kev appreciates what we’ve all done with Rays Funds is all the recognition I could need". A fine example of humility that many lack these days - you're a winner in my eyes mate and I'll miss this thread dearly. So, onto the picks For Steve (yet another Pup I've had the pleasure of meeting as a direct result of these threads) PORTO v Famalicao HOME WIN in Portugal For Wolfie - Liam Lindsay to score anytime Good luck everyone - lets hope we can add to the pot in these final few weeks! Leedscanary

My God this thread is utterly depressing. Let’s just make a few points clear. Saying that people with lower levels of life chances often end up in a life of crime is accurate. Saying that this very often comes down to money is accurate. Saying that this is often a racial issue is accurate - this highlights the issue of intergenerational wealth, and how social mobility is a multi-generational issue that doesn’t get fixed in one person’s lifetime. The disadvantage here is long standing. None of the above is racist yet. The racist bit is by linking all of this to specific individuals. The attitude of ‘lets apply all of this accurate profiling to an individual to make a judgement about that person and his situation by reference to a set of general criteria and a general statement about the general group they belong to. If he’d have talked about helping young black players in disadvantaged areas from a life of crime because of the disadvantages they often suffer because of institutional racism and the issue of inter-generational wealth and how that impacts on life chances, that would have been fine. If he’d referenced a black player that specifically had that issue (say, Jermaine Pennant, for instance), that would have been fine. BUT HE DIDN’T. He referenced 5 black players, two of whose families have already come out and said ‘they haven’t had those disadvantages. They had a stable background and lived in decent areas.’ In other words, ‘you’ve just racially profiled my kid’. And they’re right. I don’t blame people for not immediately recognising this as racism - many people are ignorant as to what discrimination actually looks like. However, it is deeply disappointing to have it pointed out to them and for them to still be arguing that it’s just clumsy, not racism. It’s proof positive that we’re still not winning the war against discrimination. As a disabled person, that leaves me pretty despondent.

This week has been the anniversary of a friend taking his own life. I've also sadly heard another friend has done the same thing. Added to that a few other people I knew in the last 10 years or so. It's so sad. I know life is **** alot of the time but PLEASE just talk to someone if you feel that way. Perhaps random to post on here and also I'm not always great with words but I'm not going to apologise for that. Just don't do it. The world would be better with Aaron, Karl, Carl, lee and Richard in it despite what they may have thought...

This sort of stuff makes me feel deeply uncomfortable. Zoe is her own person. The constant need to hold her responsible for her husbands action is at best unfair and at worst misogynistic. It would be a different case if Webber had parachuted in his wife with no relevant experience to a cushy job but she worked here before him and has an extensive career in football. The club should have been smarter about how they have structured the club and the oversight but that isn't her fault. Whether she is the right person for the job she holds is entirely unrelated to her husband's inability to keep his foot out of his mouth.

All seemed a little cursed before kick off didnt it? Away from home, playing against good side in poor weather and a team that's also trying to get into the playoffs, in the kit we never win in, Sargent rumoured injured.. And yet three points. I'll drink to that. Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone 😉

They know there’s a meal for one waiting at home…

Did Webber say something racist? 100%. Is Webber actually a racist? No-body on here really knows, even those who have met him and maybe even stroked his hand. But I think we can now definitely confirm, for anyone who was still in any doubt, that Mr Webber is an absolute bell-end. We should thank our lucky stars we are rid of this toxic individual and now have a sporting director who can maintain a degree of professionalism that was clearly beyond his egocentric predecessor. OTBC

No more joking about. The poor lass is rather ill. All the best to her and hope the treatment works.

Feel very strongly he should stay on the bench for now. If you leave out Barnes for him, then Sara has to play as the ten, where he's far less effective. He's been a revelation in that position coming in from the right. Also, the Barnes-Sargent combination works really well, not least in their defensive pressing. Obviously you'd like Barnes to score more, but with Sainz, Sargent and Sara we have plenty of goals in the team. In the first half of the season Rowe was outstanding, but he often lasted little more than an hour. Given his explosive style, and the fact he's coming back from injury, he seems the ideal impact sub, exactly what we've been missing. Really excited to have him back, but feel he can make the biggest impact in these last few games exactly as he did yesterday, coming on to terrorise a tiring team.

This. I would go so far as to call the post above this one as shameful. Hanley has been a top-level championship defender and if he’d been playing more this season I’m confident we would have been at least above WBA. Both goals Sheffield Wednesday scored this week are the sort of situation he excelled at, rising above everyone else to head the ball away.

Stuart Webber. Every time he opens his mouth, I think 'Jesus Christ' 🤦🏻‍♂️

There is no "technically" about it. It's not an English anthem. You might think it's fine. I think it's an uninspiring dirge.

Max Aarons mother has replied on twitter ,also speaking on behalf on Jamal Lewis' mother ,that those 2 would never 'have ended up in jail' ...disgraceful comments from Webber

Only the first 3.

TheGunnshow GodlyOtsemobor. Nutty. Hogesar. Ricardo Ken hairy Essex Yobocop. Sonyc LYB. Cambridge (c) TheRealBuh, Hank shoots Skylar, well b back, JohnnyJohnnyrowe, Branston, wings of a sparrow, Great mass debater, dylanisabaddog

He gets plenty of criticism, so I think Wagner gets credit for today. He set us up to slow the game down and frustrate and the players delivered that very well. In the second half, I'd been thinking to myself that I was almost afraid we might score too early and bring them back to life. When the goal did come, it did feel like Preston started coming back to life; I'm really glad it happened late, although I suspect that may have been by accident rather than design. Hooijdonk's brief cameo, for all the running around, didn't suggest to me he's really ready to do a job yet, so using him as a time-wasting sub seemed pretty good. On the other hand, Rowe's introduction for the last 20 minutes seemed to come just when they were already losing a bit of steam; the moment he was on, Preston seemed to back off immediately. As for Rowe, brilliant work rate and effect from the off. Was hoping for a draw today, so this is epic. Especially with the other results in the league. Well done, Wagner, but especially well done Team for such determined defending in the first half especially.

Our fans have had a lot of stick on here throughout the season. Fcuk did we turn up today. Binners totally overawed and the players responded accordingly. Incredible atmosphere won the game.

Bit sceptical about this, bit of mind games methinks.

I have defended the Norwich city management team for the whole of the season, but today it was simply unacceptable. Parking the bus was fundamentally the wrong approach!! Leicester were woefully short of confidence coming into the game. A defence with errors in it, and we decide to park the bus! Dreadful tactical error - it was only a matter of time, for them to score. A disgrace manager!

i spotted the hidden message: The club would like to make it clear that some of the comments in this interview do not in any way reflect the wider views of the football club. Following publication of the interview, club representatives have focused on speaking directly with Abu Kamara and Jonathan Rowe to understand their concerns and offer support. The club are also in the process of reaching out to the other named players, whilst also engaging in dialogue with Kick It Out. Norwich City is a home for everyone. We remain committed in our work across equality, diversity and inclusion to create an environment where all can feel welcome and valued. We will continue to work with The FA, Kick It Out and other authorities to help deliver a culture of inclusivity and belonging for our supporters, players and staff

The man is clearly completely brain dead when it comes to being interviewed. Singling out 5 black players by name and saying they'd have been in jail is just tone deaf in the extreme. I don't believe Webber is a racist but Christ the man isn't half as smart as he seems to think he is.

He really does seem like a fundamentally stupid man that has accidentally tripped up and found success doesn't he?

Got worried for a minute thinking you'd found my search history..

I think you put Birdie on the wrong wing. 😉

Maybe you could start venting at them instead and leave us alone for once!

Live scenes following Big Vince and Big Keith Scott's 'listen along' party...

I was working on Southampton this week so I went to st Mary’s tonight. observations on the two teams ( whilst constantly refreshing my pinkun match feed !) 1) nothing to fear if we get soton in the playoffs - they really aren’t all that 2) Russ Martin and the atmosphere… if he really thinks Carra Rd was flat when we played them then God knows what tonight could be described as ! Absolute library!!!! 3) Cov fans … fair play to them ! 10mins of singing twist and shout ! Tried their best to make some sort of atmosphere. Their team also was pretty duff. Midfield was very lightweight 4) still plenty of ups and downs left but 4 games to go and we are in better nick than Soton and 5 pts better off than Cov so let’s stay positive yarmy

15+0-0=15÷1x1=15 YEARS

He has delivered. Genuine questions with all our injuries why we didn't adapt but you could argue would we be as good as we are now with this system had we not done so? Arguable certainly. Had we not lost Sargent and several others for long periods I think we would be far more comfortable in playoffs.

You could stay and post about the football rather than your selfish hate fuelled agenda. Just an option.

Indeed. It's always a shock when you get told you have cancer but these days it's not a death sentence. There are lots of new treatments coming on line all the time. Best wishes to Kate, I hope all goes well with the treatment.

Five things have massively ruined the FA Cup for me in the last 20 or so years: Semi Finals always played at Wembley. This is ridiculous and a money-grab by the FA to to continue to pay for the white elephant New Wembley, also takes the prestige away from actually reaching the final. It was before my time, but I bet anyone who went to the Everton SF in 1989 or the Sunderland SF in 1991 would concur with this. Not playing The FA Cup Final on a stand-alone day, once all four leagues have finished. This shows complete contempt for the competition. Kick off times now moved to random times to cater for foreign TV coverage. This just damages attendances, lets be honest if a 3rd Round match is scheduled on a Monday at 8pm kick-off during the second week of January and isn't televised in the UK, no one is going to show any interest. VAR. No words needed for this one. Although how can VAR be used in some third/fourth/fitfth round matches and not others, no integrity in the standards of officiating in the competition ? and now Replays binned. As mentioned a stupid and hypocritical decision no doubt instigated by the PL clubs due to fixture congestion and travel. Yet they swan off to the Middle-East, East Asia or the USA every pre-season and jetset everywhere.

Another scandalous decision that benefits the Big PL clubs, at the expense of those in the lower divisions who will lose revenue as a result of this decision. Very sad indeed.

What a win. Brilliant performance in the second half. Wonderful goal. Seven points from a week with the derby and two away games. Fantastic OTBC NMTD

I'll probably get roasted for this but f*ck it. I'm a pretty large guy too. Maybe we can call him out for being a **** without having to resort to the weight jibes. Makes me wonder what people would say to me were we ever to meet.

Carrow Road was rocking from minute one until the team finally left the field. The way things are now I believe we can finish 5th. Beat Southampton over 2 legs and then beat WBA at Wembley. OTBC 💛💚💪

Good tweet, this: "The 1 and 5 in 1p5wich now has a whole new meaning..."

He knows.

That lasagne I sent to their hotel has obviously arrived