Two goals from Welsh international Iwan Roberts earned Norwich a well deserved victory in the East Anglian derby to dent Ipswich's automatic promotion hopes in front of a near capacity crowd at Portman Road.

Norwich went ahead after 19 minutes when a corner from Chris Llewellyn was headed out only as far as Roberts whose shot from just outside the penalty area took a wicked deflection and left goalkeeper Richard Wright helpless.

Roberts added a second on the stroke of half-time to take his tally for the season to 18 following a swift break. Paul Dalglish crossed from the right and Roberts turned defender Fabian Wilnis brilliantly before slipping an angled shot into the far corner.

Norwich were good value for their victory and the scoreline could have been worse for Town but for some wayward finishing and the agility of Wright.

In the 42nd minute Roberts sent Llewellyn clear but although he drew Wright off his line, he rolled his shot wide of the far post.

Eleven minutes before the end City had another clear-cut chance when the impressive Roberts put Lee Marshall through a square Ipswich defence but Wright was quick off his line to smother the ball.

The match marked the return of former Ipswich player and coach Bryan Hamilton to his old club after he had taken charge of the Canaries following Bruce Rioch's shock resignation last week.

And the ex-Northern Ireland boss got his tactics spot on as he played Mike Milligan sitting in front of the back four to help subdue the Town attack, whose best chance fell to striker David Johnson six minutes before the break.

Johnson collected a knock down by James Scowcroft and fired in a ferocious left-foot drive from 25 yards that Andy Marshall did well to block. Daryl Sutch was first to the rebound before Marcus Stewart - who aggravated a groin strain and took no part in the second half.

The only other time Marshall was seriously tested was in the 44th minute when he turned away a header from Johnson from a corner by Jamie Clapham.

Ipswich, one of four teams chasing an automatic promotion spot behind leaders Charlton, were booed off the field at the end of the match having now taken just two points from a possible 15.

Teams:

Ipswich: R. Wright, Wilnis, Thetis (Stockwell 73), Mowbray, Venus, Clapham, Holland, Magilton, Scowcroft, Johnson, Stewart (Naylor 46).

Subs Not Used: Branagan, J. Wright, Brown.

Booked: Scowcroft, Wilnis, Mowbray.

Norwich: A. Marshall, Sutch, Fleming, Jackson, Fuglestad, L. Marshall, Russell, Milligan, Llewellyn, Dalglish (Anselin 66), Roberts (Coote 81).

Subs Not Used: Green, Mackay, Wilson.

Booked: Anselin.

Goals: Roberts 19, 45.

Att: 21,760

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).