(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Ciaran Morrison

Sun 5 October 2025 14:45, UK

Ipswich Town enjoyed the beginning of their celebrations after being fierce rivals Norwich City 3-1 in the Championship.

The Tractor Boys beat the Canaries for the first time since 2009, to lift themselves up to ninth in the Championship table, with a game in hand on the teams above them.

Ipswich’s match at Blackburn was postponed and ordered to be replayed, meaning Kieran McKenna’s side could move into the play-off’s if they win their game in hand.

Dara O’Shea was slammed by Ipswich fans for his performance, but goals from Cedric Kipre, Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke gave the hosts a historic victory.

Marcelino Nunez celebrates derby victory against former club

The East Anglia derby was given extra drama by Marcelino Nunez, who was facing his former club Norwich, for Ipswich, for the first time.

Nunez came off the bench with 15 minutes remaining, with the midfielder helping Ipswich see the game out.

The 25-year-old has previously scored the winner for Norwich in this fixture, but that did not stop Nunez celebrating at full-time.

Nunez was pictured holding up a flag with a tweet from a Norwich podcast host saying: “Nunez – just build the statue already.”

The win is Ipswich’s 44th in East Anglian derbies, which is one more than Norwich.

Substitutes made the difference in Ipswich win

Former Ipswich and England captain Mick Mills praised the impact the substitutes, including Nunez, had on the match.

“I’m happy but we made it difficult,” Mills said on BBC Sport [5 October].

“The subs did exactly what they should. We needed a change, a player to take the ball from one half to the other. All three of them started well and ended well and that made the difference.

“The result is the most important thing. Their goalkeeper was suspect and as long as we could put pressure on him we could have got to him.”

Ipswich travel to second placed Middlesborough after the international break, whilst Norwich host Bristol City.