Holt treble piles pressure on Keane

Grant Holt's superb hat-trick turned up the heat on Roy Keane as 10-man Ipswich were thumped 4-1 in the East Anglian derby.

The Norwich skipper struck twice in the first half to cancel out an equaliser from Tractor Boys defender Damien Delaney, who was sent off in the 37th minute for a professional foul on Holt. Keane's men rarely threatened an equaliser in the second half and, after Holt completed his treble in the 76th minute, substitute Wes Hoolahan added a fourth two minutes later.

The result marked a fourth successive npower Championship defeat for Ipswich but Norwich were more vibrant throughout as they moved back into the play-off zone.

Norwich led in the 13th minute when Ipswich defender Darren O'Dea dithered on the ball, allowing Holt to rob him of possession and bear down on goal before striking past Marton Fulop with a superb right-foot shot into the far corner.

The visitors drew level in the 29th minute when Grant Leadbitter's deep free-kick was headed down by Priskin and pounced on by Delaney, who nodded in from point-blank range.

Parity lasted for just six minutes as Lansbury's delightful slide-rule pass cut the Ipswich defence apart and found Holt in space. The powerful frontman controlled the ball and drilled a low right-foot shot into the net from 14 yards.

Keane's side was dealt another blow in the 37th minute when Delaney hauled down Holt as he threatened to race clear on goal. Referee Keith Hill was left with no other option but to show Delaney a straight red card.

There were precious few scoring opportunities for either side after half-time until Holt grabbed his hat-trick goal in the 76th minute.

Martin did superbly well to find Holt inside the penalty area and he drilled home a low right-foot shot.

Two minutes later, salt was rubbed in Ipswich's wounds when Hoolahan collected another fine pass from Martin and coolly chipped the ball over Fulop with a neat left-foot finish.