Still all to play for as Ipswich and Norwich draw Championship playoff first leg

Tyrone Mings, right, rides a challenge from Nathan Redmond during Ipswich's Championship playoff first leg draw against Norwich. Jamie McDonald / Getty

Ipswich Town salvaged a 1-1 draw against local rivals Norwich City thanks to Paul Anderson’s equaliser in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday.

Mick McCarthy’s side fell behind to Jonny Howson’s strike just before the interval at Portman Road, but the hosts equalised through substitute Anderson in first-half stoppage time.

With neither side able to take the lead in a tense second half, the tie is perfectly balanced heading into the decisive second leg at Carrow Road next Saturday.

The eventual winners will play Brentford or Middlesbrough, who lead 2-1 from their first leg, in the final at Wembley for a lucrative place in the Premier League.

Norwich had won the last four East Anglian derbies, including two this season, but it was Ipswich who forced the pace early on.

Daryl Murphy picked up on a loose clearance from Norwich captain Russell Martin and powered into the right side of the penalty area.

His cut-back was met by Freddie Sears, but John Ruddy was well placed to make a smart reaction block with his legs before getting up to deny Luke Varney’s header, with full-back Steven Whittaker nodding the rebound off the line at the far post.

Norway international Alex Tettey was within inches of putting Norwich ahead on 21 minutes when his 20-yard curling effort hit the outside of Bartosz Bialkowski’s left-hand post.

Ipswich were forced into a change when Varney was injured after an awkward fall and had to be taken off on a stretcher, with Anderson on as his replacement.

Alex Neil’s team swept into the lead in the 41st minute when Cameron Jerome barged through Tommy Smith for a ball on the left, with referee Anthony Taylor waving play on.

Jerome strode away down the flank before cutting the ball back across goal for Howson to arrive on cue and tuck it confidently into the bottom-right corner.

Ipswich responded impressively to that blow and drew level three minutes into stoppage time.

Martin’s header dropped to Sears at the edge of the penalty area, and he drilled in a low angled shot that Ruddy spilt and then kicked away.

Anderson was first to the rebound, lashing the loose ball past three Norwich players on the line as Portman Road erupted in celebration.

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