Football: NIGEL HAILS HIS OLD MASTER IWAN

CANARIES boss Nigel Worthington watched his side silence the Pompey chimes by ending the league leaders' unbeaten run - and then heaped praise on his veteran match-winner Iwan Roberts.

A classic centre-forward's header from the 34-year-old striker nine minutes from time settled this Carrow Road thriller.

And Worthington said: "The big man got in there and took his chance brilliantly.

"At 34, what he has given us has been phenomenal, I am absolutely delighted for him."

Harry Redknapp's men were searching for a club-record eighth straight victory, but found Norwich a bridge too far.

In front of a full house, Norwich had marked down Paul Merson as the Pompey danger man.

But it was Nigel Quashie who gave Norwich a scare after 15 minutes, shaving the upright with a fierce drive.

Merson it was, though, who was at the heart of virtually every Portsmouth attack, sending one shot just wide of the post.

Malky Mackay almost gifted the visitors a goal, and then Arjan de Zeeuw came to Pompey keeper Shaka Hislop's rescue after he had flapped at a Paul Heckingbottom cross.

Mackay made amends for his earlier error, blocking a Merson volley on the edge of the area, and De Zeeuw mirrored that bravery for Pompey, getting his body in the way of a close-range effort from Paul McVeigh.

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

Merson was then denied a wonder-goal by Robert Green, who brilliantly turned over another stunning volley. De Zeeuw headed just over after 75 minutes, and Hislop kept out another effort from Mulryne as both teams went for the win.

But then came the breakthrough, as the old warhorse Roberts soared to send a smart header beyond 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.

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