East Anglia Derby Day

On Sky

Ipswich Town travel north over the border on Sunday for the morning clash against East Anglian rivals Norwich City in front of a sell out Carrow Road crowd. This will be the 85th East Anglian derby match, and the earliest kick-off ever for it.

Vital Quotes:

Nigel Worthington:

We’ve got to go and get a bad performance out of the system from Tuesday night.’

‘Derby games are great games, the excitement it brings, the rivalry it brings and games between Norwich City and Ipswich Town are hard fought good games and Sunday will be no different.’

Joy Royle:

They will be parading their new players, Norwich, and the pressure is probably slightly more on them as the home side to get the three points.’

‘I had them down as one of the clubs likely to go up at the start of the season but for whatever reasons that has not materialized.’

‘It’s a local derby so there is pressure on us as well of course to avenge the defeat at Portman Road. A defeat we didn’t deserve and a red card that we didn’t deserve either with Sito’s sending-off. It was later rescinded but the damage was done by then.’

Norwich City Team News:

New signings Robert Earnshaw, Jonatan Johansson, Zesh Rehman will all play some part, although boss Nigel Worthington won’t reveal if they will start or come on from the bench. Youssef Safri is back from African Nations Cup duty, whilst Carl Robinson is back from injury. However, Paul McVeigh (thigh) and Adam Drury (gastroenteritis) are doubts.

Player to watch: Robert Earnshaw

Making his debut the potential record signing will be looking to make a lasting impression on the Carrow Raod fans

Ipswich Town Team News:

Ipswich midfielders Gavin Williams (knee) and Jimmy Juan (heel) are both doubts with injuries, with the former most doubtful. Meanwhile, Shane Supple, Adam Proudlock and recent Norwegian signing Vemund Brekke Skard were all sent home from training on Friday suffering with a virus. Nicky Forster is out until April, whilst Sam Parkin is gradually nearing full fitness.

Player to watch: Danny Haynes

The youngster has burst onto the first team scene at Portman Road in recent weeks, a former Carrow Road trialist always always performs well in matches agaisnt the canaries

Match Facts & Stats

The all time record shows Ipswich to have had the better of previous meetings, picking up 36 wins, whilst there have been 15 draws, and Norwich winning 33 of the 84 meetings so far. Norwich have won the last 3 clashes, although Town had a player sent off in each of those 3 matches.

The last meeting between the sides came earlier this season in September at Portman Road, when the Tractor Boys fell to 1-0 defeat in a match that was ruined by the referee. The first half dismissal of Sito for Town ruined the match as a spectacle, and although Sito’s red card was later ruled out, it came too late for the match. The teams that day were:

Ipswich Town: Price, Sito (sent off 18), De Vos, Naylor, McEveley, Garvan (Richards, 45), Magilton, Horlock, Currie, Bowditch (Peters, 67), Parkin.

ubs not used: Supple, McDonald, Juan.

Norwich City: Green, Colin, Davenport, Doherty, Drury, Marney (Huckerby, 46), Safri, Hughes, McVeigh (Henderson, 79), Lisbie (Brennan , 70), Ashton.

ubs not used: Ward, Fleming.

Bookings: Garvan, McEveley (Ipswich); Davenport, Hughes, Lisbie (Norwich).

Attendance: 29,184

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Ref Watch:

Sunday morning’s referee will be Mr Keith Stroud from Hampshire. The assistant referee’s will be Mr S Rubery and Mr M Short, with Mr K Wright as the Fourth Official.

Mr Stroud is on the National List of referee’s, and only started refereeing in 2003. He last took charge of Ipswich in their 1-1 home draw over Wolves earlier this season when he awarded Town a controversial penalty. Meanwhile, he has not previously refereed a Norwich match.

So far this season, in 26 matches, Mr Stroud has shown 101 yellow cards and 6 red cards.