FOOTBALL: Iwan cuts down the leaders in their Pomp

CITY silenced the Pompey chimes by ending the League leaders' unbeaten run in a thriller at Carrow Road.

A classic centre-forward's header from Iwan Roberts nine minutes from time also halted Portsmouth's quest for a club record.

Harry Redknapp's men were searching for an eighth straight win, but found Norwich far last charitable than their previous seven opponents.

Despite being placed under great pressure at times, City held firm and denied the visitors a goal for the first time this season.

And when they went for broke, their efforts were rewarded when Roberts struck the winner with only his second goal of the season.

This was the toughest test of the season so far for both teams, and it attracted a full house.

Norwich had marked down Paul Merson as the Pompey danger man, as he has been pulling the strings since his arrival.

But it was Nigel Quashie who gave the hosts a huge scare after 15 minutes with a strike Merson himself would have been proud of.

Quashie picked up a loose ball and shaved the upright with a fierce drive.

Having survived that, the home side worked hard to knock fluent Portsmouth out of their stride.

They almost did it on 20 minutes when Phil Mulryne gave Shaka Hislop something to think about with a couple of long-range drives.

Another 25-yard effort from Quashie found the target after 25 minutes, and Robert Green in the Norwich goal was mightily relieved to beat the ball away.

Merson was at the heart of virtually every Portsmouth attack and caused all sorts of problems.

The Canaries' midfield certainly didn't get anywhere near Merson as he made a rare solo burst before sending a shot wide of the post.

Malky Mackay was almost made to pay for a poor clearance on 40 minutes when he sliced the ball into the path of Svetoslav Todorov.

But the Pompey striker was ushered away from goal, and when he found Gary O'Neil the final shot was woeful.

Roberts effort a few moments later wasn't much better.

Arjan de Zeeuw came to Hislop's rescue just before the break when he headed the ball away to safety after the keeper had flapped at a cross from Paul Heckingbottom.

Soon after the restart, that man Merson was threatening the Norwich goal again, this time with a spectacular yet measured volley.

But with the ball fizzing towards goal, Mackay made amends for his earlier error with a crucial - and painful - block on the edge of the penalty area.

De Zeeuw did likewise for Pompey within a minute as he got his body in the way of a close-range effort from Paul McVeigh.

Green then saved well from the highly- rated Matt Taylor, at the end of a blistering run which was reminiscent of Ryan Giggs in full flight.

Norwich might have had a penalty when Gianluca Festa seemed to climb all over Roberts just before Mulryne fired narrowly over as the ball broke loose.

The hosts were more than a match for the table-toppers at this stage, and the big question was: Could they turn their territorial advantage into goals, and points?

But just when the Canaries were upping the tempo and the pressure, Pompey almost struck on the break - with Merson again the main man.

Instrumental in a free-flowing move, Merson was then denied a spectacular goal by keeper Green, who brilliantly turned over his stunning volley.

De Zeeuw headed just over after 75 minutes, and Hislop dived low to his right to keep out another effort from Mulryne as both teams went for the win.

Then came the breakthrough, and the winner, for Norwich.

Veteran Roberts finally got the better of Festa and De Zeeuw to send a smart header beyond keeper Hislop.

MAN OF THE MATCH PAUL MERSON

A class apart - again!

NORWICH: Green 7, Kenton 7, Drury 6, Nedergaard 7, Mackay 6, Heckingbottom 6, Mulryne 7, Holt 6, Emblen 6, (Easton 5), Roberts 6, McVeigh 6.

PORTSMOUTH: Hislop 6, De Zeeuw 7, Festa 7, Primus 6, Taylor 7, Harper 6, Quashie 7, Robinson 6, MERSON 8, Todorov 7 (Pericard 5), O'Neil 6.

MANAGERS: Worthington 7; Redknapp 7.

REFEREE: B Curson 7.

ATTENDANCE: 21,335

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