Norwich City 2 Ipswich Town 2.

Norwich manager Glenn Roeder praised Jamie Cureton's ''Premier League finishing'' after the striker's deft lob gave the Canaries a 2-2 draw against deadly rivals Ipswich in his first Coca-Cola Championship game in charge.

First-half goals from Ipswich strikers Alan Lee and Pablo Counago put Jim Magilton's side in complete control but John Hartson's half-time arrival triggered a rousing fightback.

First, Ipswich's talented young midfielder Owen Garvan headed into his own goal after Hartson had won a corner and Cureton then latched on to one of the Welshman's many flick-ons to brilliantly lob a leveller - before Darren Huckerby was sent off late on.

Roeder said: ''I don't think you realise how hard that chance was. To lift the ball over the goalkeeper like that was a goal worthy of the very best.

''It was Premier League finishing.''

Former Newcastle boss Roeder signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Carrow Road this week and admitted he was glad to be back in the game.

He explained: ''I really missed football over the last few months and it's very satisfying that the boys put in so much effort.

''But it wasn't satisfying that the effort didn't give us three points because I thought we were the better side throughout.

''We are in this situation and we have to accept that. This isn't the time for moaning and groaning and the crowd were tremendous."

Ex-Newcastle striker Huckerby was dismissed by referee Rob Styles in stoppage time for a high challenge on Jon Walters and Roeder admitted he wanted to see it again before deciding on a course of action.

He said: ''It looked like both players raised their boots but if I feel that it was a bad tackle I'll speak to Darren about that.''

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton felt that his side should have won the game but heaped praise on the home side's comeback.

Magilton's side looked in control in the first 45 minutes but after Hartson's introduction looked flustered and unable to deal with his threat.

Magilton said: ''You have to give credit to Norwich.

''They threw all caution to the wind in the second half and threw everything at us.

''But if we'd defended properly we would have won the game.

''It's amazing what a new manager can do to a team. It's the same group of players which have been struggling all year and I'm sure Peter Grant is sitting at home amazed by that.

''We were a bit lucky to be 2-0 up at the break but it could have been any score, there were so many chances at either end.

''Hartson did very well. He came on and bullied our back four and he's a top, top player."