Stand-in skipper Malky Mackay scored twice and Darren Huckerby fired home his ninth of the season to restore Norwich's three point lead at the top of Nationwide Division One.

All the goals came in an improved second half display after the Canaries survived a first-half onslaught from Ipswich in a typically furious East Anglian derby.

Tommy Miller scored Ipswich's consolation from the penalty spot after they had been reduced to 10 men when Drissa Diallo was given his marching orders for a foul on Huckerby.

Norwich's most likely route to goal in the first half looked to be from set-pieces and Craig Fleming narrowly failed to find the target from Paul McVeigh's free-kick.

It was one of just a few glimpses of goal for the Canaries in the opening period as the visitors' offside trap successfully countered the threat of Huckerby.

And after 19 minutes Ipswich almost stunned the league leaders when Ian Westlake fired an angled drive against the woodwork with Robert Green beaten.

Ipswich started to gain a grip in midfield with Westlake and Jim Magilton getting the better of Gary Holt and Damien Francis and chances followed for Darren Bent and Matt Richards - who should have done better from close range.

And Town were left cursing their luck again after 35 minutes when Bent fired an angled volley against the bar.

As the half came to a close Ipswich piled on the pressure and in a frantic scramble Shefki Kuqi had a shot saved by Green before Bent's goalbound shot was bravely blocked by Fleming.

But Norwich shook off their first-half blues just five minutes into the second period.

Ian Henderson swung a free-kick into the box after he was fouled by Westlake and Mackay rose highest to nod a trademark header down into the net.

And it came as a real hammer blow to Ipswich when Mackay repeated his trick after 58 minutes to double the lead.

Henderson again won a free-kick on the right wing and when McVeigh floated the ball over Mackay was on hand to prod into the roof of the net.

Ipswich's hopes of salvaging anything from the game seemed to have disappeared completely when Diallo earned a second yellow card for bringing down Huckerby on the edge of the box.

But after 88 minutes Gary Holt bundled over Richard Naylor in the box to allow Miller to slam home a penalty only for Huckerby to have the last word when his cross was deflected past Kelvin Davis seconds after the restart.

Teams

Norwich: Green, Edworthy, Mackay, Fleming, Brennan (Shackell 45), Henderson (Mulryne 64), Holt, Francis, McVeigh, Svensson (Roberts 77), Huckerby.

Subs Not Used: Crichton, McKenzie.

Booked: Holt, Edworthy.

Goals: Mackay 50, 59, Huckerby 88.

Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis (Counago 72), Diallo, Santos, Richards, Miller, Wright, Magilton, Westlake, Bent, Kuqi (Naylor 60).

Subs Not Used: Price, Bowditch, Reuser.

Sent Off: Diallo (76).

Booked: Diallo, Wilnis.

Goals: Miller 88 pen.

Att: 23,942

Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).