Norwich back on promotion track

Norwich crushed local rivals Ipswich 5-1 at Portman Road on Thursday to move up into second place in the English Championship, taking another step closer to automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Canaries - looking to become the first team in a decade to win successive promotions from the third to top tier of English football -took the lead through Andrew Surman on 13 minutes.

An own goal from Gareth McAuley doubled Norwich's lead before half an hour was on the clock.

Simeon Jackson made it 3-0 on 73 minutes and although Ipswich midfielder Jimmy Bullard crashed in a 25-yard effort, Russell Martin swept home a fourth. Substitute Daniel Pacheco made it five in stoppage time.

Norwich are two points ahead of Cardiff who face leaders QPR on Saturday.