Ipswich Town came from behind to beat local rivals Norwich City 3-2 at Portman Road.
Tractor Boys earn local bragging rights after 3-2 win over Norwich
Ipswich Town came from behind to beat local rivals Norwich City 3-2 at Portman Road thanks to goals from Alan Quinn, Giovani dos Santos and Jonathan Stead.
Relegation threatened Norwich got off to a flyer when they took the lead through David Mooney after 16 minutes but the hosts were soon level when Quinn fired home nine minutes later.
Jim Magilton's side then took the lead on 62 minutes when the inspirational Giovani converted a penalty after Kevin Lisbie was felled by visiting keeper David Marshall.
Substitute Stead then put the game behind doubt when he added a third with two minutes remaining but Sammy Clingan's penalty for the Canaries in stoppage time made for a nervy finish but the Tractor Boys held firm.
It was the visitors who started the brighter and had already gone close through Alan Gow before they took a 16th-minute lead.
Clingan whipped in a free-kick from the right and Mooney was left unmarked to send a fabulous header beyond Richard Wright and into the far corner from 15 yards.
They were unable to build on the goal however and found themselves pegged back in the 25th minute.
Equaliser
Pablo Counago turned Gary Doherty on the left touchline and fired a splendid crossfield ball to the edge of the area where Giovani showed real class to volley a deft lay-off perfectly into the run of Quinn.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder did not have to break stride as he lashed home under the body of David Marshall with his left foot.
Giovani then sent Kevin Lisbie clear with another sublime pass but the City defence scrambled it clear before Ben Thatcher was injured in a 50-50 challenge with Lee Croft.
Ipswich boss Magilton had no defenders among his substitutes so Jaime Peters was asked to do a job at left-back for the remainder of the contest.
Magilton's half-time team talk should have been to give Giovani the ball at every opportunity and the 19-year-old Mexican called Marshall into action within the first few minutes of the second half.
Peters did well to play the ball into the former Barcelona man and he wriggled past a bemused Jason Shackell before firing in a shot which Marshall beat away at his near post.
Doherty then had to block yet another effort from Giovani before Pim Balkestein fired over after the teenager's cross caused havoc in the City defence.
It appeared inevitable that Giovani would eventually create a goal and he did so on the hour mark.
Beautiful pass
After floating in off the wing he sent Lisbie clear with a beautiful pass and Marshall rushed out to narrow the angle.
Lisbie hurdled the challenge and after waiting for an age referee Niall Swarbrick pointed to the spot.
Giovani stepped up and calmly rolled the penalty into the bottom corner to the delight of the home crowd.
Norwich poured forward in search of an equaliser but it was Stead who grabbed the goal in the 88th minute.
Lisbie flicked on a long ball to send Stead clear and he showed admirable cool to side-foot past Marshall from eight yards.
Swarbrick then awarded the Canaries a penalty in stoppage time after Quinn appeared to climb on Alan Lee and Clingan fired home to ensure a nervy finale.
The result leaves Bryan Gunn's side in the bottom three one point away from safety.
