Honours were even in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road. Dickson Etuhu put the Canaries ahead after just five minutes, but Ipswich equalised on 61 minutes when former Canaries loan player, defender David Wright, scored from a narrow angle.

Honours were even in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road today.

Norwich City drew first blood when midfielder Dickson Etuhu scored the only goal of the opening stanza, after just five minutes, heading home Darren Huckerby's cross at the near post.

Etuhu came close to doubling the score line five minutes later when he got his head on to Mark Fotheringham's corner only to see his effort go narrowly wide.

Etuhu was controlling affairs for Norwich, who were rampant in the early stages. Huckerby was enjoying plenty of freedom down the left flank and on 16 minutes came close with another on his specials, cutting into the edge of the area and firing just over with a right foot thunderbolt.

Ipswich were struggling to find a rhythm and apart from a long range effort by Francis Jeffers, rarely troubled Tony Warner in the Norwich goal.

But it was a different story after the break with the visitors on top for long spells.

Ipswich equalised on 61 minutes when former Canaries loan player, defender David Wright, scored from a narrow angle.

Wright - who enjoyed a loan spell with the Canaries in 2005 - reacted first to poke a loose ball home midway through the second-half to seal a deserved point for Jim Magilton's side.

Norwich boss Peter Grant had been given a huge boost before kick-off with the news that Robert Earnshaw and Huckerby were fit to start in attack.

Huckerby missed the 3-0 defeat at Burnley last Tuesday after injuring his back in the warm-up while Earnshaw was making his first start since since a 4-1 win at Tamworth in the FA Cup on January 6 after recovering from a torn groin.

The pair have scored 26 league goals between them for Norwich this season and it was the pace and trickery of Huckerby which created Etuhu's opener in the fifth minute.

Magilton's side offered little attacking threat in a drab first-half display.

Jaime Peters' header from a corner, which was easily held by Tony Warner, was the nearest they came to an equaliser.

HT: Norwich 1, Ipswich 0

But the Tractor Boys started the second half in brighter fashion and former England striker Francis Jeffers went close to levelling 10 minutes after the break.

Gary Roberts beat Andy Hughes to the dead-ball line and his looping cross was headed over from 10 yards by Jeffers.

It was a wake-up call to Grant's side and substitute Chris Martin should have made Jeffers pay for his miss with a gilt-edged chance on the hour mark.

Again Huckerby was the architect and, after a twisting run, his driven ball across the area was met by the flying Martin but the 18-year-old could not keep his volley down.

And just 90 seconds later Ipswich were level through an opportunist finish from Wright.

Roberts got beyond Norwich captain Adam Drury and, after his low cross was blocked by Dion Dublin, Wright nipped in unmarked at the near post to poke beyond Warner.

Alan Lee then flashed a header inches wide from Owen Garvan's ball as Ipswich turned the screw before Williams brought a flying save from Warner.

A packed Carrow Road was enjoying the best 10 minutes of the game and Earnshaw was next to threaten with a firm header which sailed wide from Martin's teasing cross.

The former Cardiff man really should have sealed all three points for the home side in the 83rd minute after yet more stunning play by Huckerby.

Wright was run ragged by the flying Huckerby, who cut inside and fed Earnshaw with a great pull-back but his strike partner could only guide a volley wide from six yards out.

On the balance of play, a draw was only fair.