Roberts finds good header for heights

Norwich City 1 Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp was banned from driving for six months earlier this week and, to add to his misery, he saw his Portsmouth side lose the unbeaten record they brought into this game. Redknapp was caught speeding and thus added more points to his driving licence than his team could manage here at Carrow Road, thanks to a Iwan Roberts header eight minutes from time.

The home side had shaded the second half in terms of possession but the game looked to be petering out when Steen Nedergaard sent in an accurate cross. Roberts directed his effort just inside Shaka Hislop's left-hand post and took Norwich to within four points of Portsmouth at the top of the table.

Both teams had won their respective games in midweek, but against decidedly inferior opposition, meaning this First Division clash would be a better barometer of both teams' promotion prospects.

As it was, before the interval the Norfolk folk largely cancelled out the threat of their free-scoring guests, hinting that they were better matched than the points difference between the clubs suggested.

The way both teams sloppily swapped possession gave no clues to the standard of football they have displayed so far this season. Portsmouth started the weekend unbeaten while Norwich had only lost once, surprisingly, at home to Sheffield United.

Paul Merson has enjoyed a revival of his career under Redknapp this season, but the man who caught the eye in the first half was Nigel Quashie. With his long-range shooting he presented the greater threat to Rob Green's goal than Merson's flicks and feints. Quashie's role was duplicated in the Norwich team by Phil Mulryne, but it was a mark of the defensive qualities of the sides that both players were forced to try their luck from long range.

Among the scraps, Quashie came close to breaking the deadlock after 17 minutes. Although his first-time shot from Merson's corner curled wide, anything on target would have left Green helpless. Straight away, Mulryne responded with an effort of his own, only for Hislop to save with ease. Eight minutes on, both players tried again, but neither could manage a convincing attempt.

The introduction on the pitch during half-time of some local boxers was an apt metaphor for these two teams, who, pound for pound, were extremely well-matched, even if the general standard was more bantamweight than heavyweight.

Both laboured to force a breakthrough, but the habits of the first half proved difficult to break. Merson's ability was not matched by any similar speed of thought from his team-mates, although Sveto-slav Todorov toiled to punch a hole through the Norwich rearguard, superbly marshalled by Malky Mackay.

Seven minutes after the break, the teams once again traded shots on goal, but Nedergaard's close-range effort was blocked by Hislop while Matthew Taylor, from 25 yards, saw his attempt smothered by Green.