Ipswich Town secured a huge win in their quest to reach the Premier League as they beat bitter rivals Norwich City 2-0 at Carrow Road.
This had been a fixture that the Canaries had dominated in the modern era, but Kieran McKenna’s side ended their unbeaten run when they beat them at Portman Road earlier in the season.
They did the double over Norwich with their win in Norfolk on Saturday, which was their first win at Carrow Road since 2006.
With Millwall drawing and Middlesbrough losing, it was the perfect weekend for Ipswich, who are now in a commanding position as they look to finish in the top two.
Kieran McKenna
Marcelino Nunez received a hostile reception on his Norwich City return
As you would expect, the East Anglian derby was a feisty affair, and it’s fair to say the return of Marcelino Nunez added more spice to the fixture.
The Chile international was understandably given plenty of stick from the home fans after moving from Norwich to Ipswich in the summer.
Nunez started on the bench, but he was introduced by McKenna in the second half, and he was quickly involved in several flashpoints.
After picking up a caution, Nunez was very fortunate to stay on the pitch as he committed two other fouls that could easily have brought a second yellow card.
Will Ipswich Town win automatic promotion to the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below.
That prompted McKenna to sub the sub, and the Norwich fans certainly enjoyed that moment as the 26-year-old walked off the pitch.
Marcelino Nunez
However, it would be Nunez who had the last laugh, as Ipswich ultimately won the game and moved closer to reaching the Premier League.
After the final whistle, the Ipswich players went over to the jubilant away end, and Nunez was heavily involved in the celebrations as they enjoyed getting one over their rivals.
And, taking to his Instagram story, Nunez shared a picture of the group in front of the Ipswich supporters, along with a message to the fans.
“Come on family, one more final won!”
That will have been an especially sweet victory for Nunez, and he will feel it vindicates his decision to swap Norwich for Ipswich, as he clearly felt they had more chance of reaching the top flight with the Suffolk outfit.
Of course, it wasn’t the best afternoon for him personally, as he was lucky to stay on the pitch, and McKenna made a very sensible decision in taking him off when he did, as, even late in the game, it could have been a nervy end for the Tractor Boys if they were down to ten men.
WhatsApp Image 2026-04-12 at 09.18.02
But, you can understand why the occasion may have been a lot for Nunez, as he was receiving plenty of abuse from the moment he arrived at the ground.
So, McKenna will recognise that, and he will still have full trust in Nunez to play a big role for Ipswich in the run-in.
This weekend feels pivotal in the race to finish second, and it’s now firmly in Ipswich’s hands, although they do have some tough games to play.
Ipswich are back in action on Tuesday night when they take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park.