Norwich strike blow to Derby's play-off hopes

TL;DR

Norwich defeated Derby 2-1, significantly impacting Derby's chances for the Championship play-offs. Norwich remains six points away from the top six with two games left.

Key points

Norwich won 2-1 against Derby
Mohamed Toure and Liam Gibbs scored for Norwich
Derby is now four points behind the play-off spots
Norwich is six points adrift of the top six
Both teams need two wins and help from other teams

Norwich CityDerby CountyChampionship

Norwich recorded a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Derby at Carrow Road to deal a huge blow to the Rams' dreams of reaching the Championship play-offs - and keep their own slender hopes alive.

Mohamed Toure fired the Canaries into the lead just after the half-hour mark after missing an early penalty before Derby hit back when David Ozoh took advantage of a defensive mistake to equalise early in the second half.

But Norwich had the final say on 60 minutes, with Liam Gibbs curling the ball home to keep his side's season just about alive.

The Canaries are six points adrift of the top six with two games to play, with their goal difference keeping them in it, while Derby are four behind Hull and Wrexham and, like Norwich, need two wins and big favours from other teams if they are to finish in the top six.

Norwich should have gone ahead after just eight minutes after winning a penalty when Amankwah Forson was brought down by Derry Murkin as he prepared to shoot.

In-form Toure, who had set up the chance with a clever pass, had to wait a couple of minutes for his big moment as Forson received treatment, and although he produced a decent spot-kick to the keeper's left, it was brilliantly turned away by Jacob Zetterstrom.

Norwich shrugged off that setback and continued to dominate, with Forson firing inches over before Toure put his penalty woe behind him in the best possible fashion after 33 minutes.