Norwich City and Ipswich Town could not be separated after the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final this afternoon.

The first opportunity of the East Anglian derby fell to the home side, with Norwich keeper John Ruddy denying Freddie Sears from close range, before saving Luke Varney's follow-up header.

Norwich came within inches of opening the scoring when Alex Tettey's curling effort from outside the box struck the outside of the post.

Ipswich were then forced into a substitution when Varney was stretchered off after going down without any player contact, with Paul Anderson his replacement.

Just before half time, the visitors took the lead after Cameron Jerome wrestled Tommy Smith off the ball, before teeing up Jonny Howson who struck into the bottom corner.

However, deep into added time, Anderson was on hand to equalise, firing home after Ruddy parried Sears's initial shot.

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It was a quiet start after the break, and first real chance of the half fell just after the hour mark, but Bradley Johnson's shot was easily saved by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Sears came close to giving the home side the lead for the first time, but his header from seven yards out went wide of the target.

Neither side could find a winner in the closing minutes, meaning it is all to play for the when two sides face off in the second leg next Saturday.