They were dead and buried on their last visit to Portman Road two years ago, but this Easter, Norwich City will make the trip to Ipswich Town looking to rise again – right into the Premier League.
When Norwich left Portman Road on 19 April 2009, they were heading out of the Championship through the League One trapdoor after a 3-2 defeat to Jim Magilton’s Blues. Depending on the result of Thursday’s East Anglian derby, the 3rd-placed Canaries could be set to leave the division again, only this time, they’ll be climbing out the other side. Paul Lambert might not believe in miracles, but should his side follow last year’s League One title with an unprecedented second successive promotion this year, he could well be overseeing one of the greatest stories ever told in the Canaries’ history.
But Ipswich head into this match looking to complete a resurrection of their own. The last meeting at Carrow Road in November was a farce of biblical proportions for Town, with their 4-1 defeat officially the heaviest in East Anglian derby history. Since then though, Paul Jewell has proven to be the saviour of Portman Road, rescuing Town from the threat of emulating the Canaries’ fall of two years ago to lift them back into the top half with 31 points from 18 games; a ratio good enough for a top six finish if maintained throughout next season, although whispers of a last-gasp playoff push this year have yet to be silenced. Even if they have left it too late though, claim revenge over the old enemy on Thursday night and the Blue half of East Anglia will enjoy a very Good Friday indeed.
For more on this game, why not check out our extended preview – ‘The Acid Test‘.
Ipswich v Norwich is live on BBC Radio 5 Live from 19:45 on Thursday.Vital Quotes:
Ipswich Town Chief Executive Simon Clegg is marking two years since his arrival at the club when Norwich City come to Portman Road. The former British Olympic Association chief admitted that the Blues could well have been competing with the Canaries in the Championship’s top six had Paul Jewell been appointed earlier in the season.
‘It will be a fantastic occasion and one where we are looking for a positive result,’ Clegg told local reporters. ‘A change of manager has had a major impact and if Paul Jewell had been here from the start of the season the stats show that we would be up there with Norwich.’
‘I’m full of confidence and full of belief and there’s no reason under Paul why we should not be where Norwich are now in 12 months time.’
Meanwhile striker Connor Wickham, who missed November’s 4-1 defeat at Carrow Road due to injury, is keen to make his presence felt in the return fixture on Thursday, where he is hoping to reach a season-long target.
‘I netted six times last season and I’ve told the coaches all along that I want to reach double figures this time around,’ Wickham told the East Anglian press. ‘The sooner I can get there the better.’
‘We know Norwich will be tough opponents, but we are a confident group with plenty of banter and a bond that has built up around the squad.’
Ipswich Town Team News:
Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell is waiting on the fitness of midfielder Grant Leadbitter ahead of the visit of Norwich. Leadbitter was stretchered off after being knocked unconscious in an aerial collision during Town’s 1-0 win at Bristol City last weekend, though the former Sunderland man was discharged later that evening and may yet be included in Thursday’s lineup. Mark Kennedy is also a doubt having missed that match with a hamstring problem, whilst Lee Martin is definitely out as he begins a three match suspension following his sending off at Ashton Gate, meaning forward Jason Scotland could be recalled to the starting lineup. Meanwhile teenagers Josh Carson and Connor Wickham could be given their first taste of derby action against the Canaries, whilst local boy Arran Lee-Barrett will hope to do his hometown proud should he keep his place in goal following another fine display on Saturday.
Player to watch: Connor Wickham
He’s been the centre of attention for much of the season, but maybe Connor Wickham can cement a place in Ipswich folklore once and for all against Norwich on Thursday evening. The striker was left out of Jim Magilton’s squad when the Canaries last came to Town and was injured for the trip to Carrow Road earlier this season, so this will be his first chance to shine in the East Anglian derby. The 18-year-old is eager to make the most of that chance too as he looks to extend his tally of 8 league goals for the season. Fellow starlet Josh Carson has somewhat outshone Wickham in recent weeks, but the England U21 international did score in the Blues’ last home outing against Middlesbrough. Grab another home goal against the old enemy and surely the roar at Portman Road will be louder than ever.
Norwich City Team News:
Norwich manager Paul Lambert is facing a worrying wait over whether Grant Holt will be fit to face Ipswich on Thursday. The striker is still struggling with a hamstring injury he picked up in the 2-2 draw at Watford nine days ago despite playing all 90 minutes of City’s home win over Nottingham Forest last Friday. Indeed, he is not the only one suffering from a hamstring problem; fellow frontman Chris Martin is doubtful having been sidelined since February whilst defender Leon Barnett is unlikely to feature again this season. Tom Adeyemi and Aaron Wilbraham are also ruled out.
Player to watch: Grant Holt
It’s small wonder that the fitness of Grant Holt is such a concern for Norwich ahead of this game. Not only is he the top scorer for the Canaries this season with 22 goals in all competitions, but few will forget the sight of the striker grinning under his ‘Movember’ moustache as he rattled in a hat-trick to fire his side to their 4-1 win against the Blues at Carrow Road earlier in the season. It’s not just goals the visitors will be missing if he isn’t fit – Holt is also their leading assister having set up 13 goals for his team-mates this campaign. Keep your fingers crossed that he doesn’t play, and if he does, keep your eyes closed…!
Last Meeting
FLC – (8th) Norwich 4-1 Ipswich (13th)
28 November 2010
(Click here for Match Report)
Goalscorers
Norwich: Holt 13, 35, 76, Hoolahan 78
Ipswich: Delaney 29
Teams:
Norwich: Ruddy, R Martin, Barnett, Ward, Crofts, Surman (Hoolahan 64), Lansbury (K Smith 80), Fox, Lappin, Holt (Jackson 85), C Martin
Ipswich: Fulop, Delaney (s/o 37), T Smith, Zuiverloon (Fallon 69), O’Dea, Leadbitter, Edwards, Norris, Colback, Scotland (Healy 42), Priskin (Brown 81)
Match Prediction:
Since when do we play on Thursday evenings?! This is the first East Anglian derby to take place on a weekday evening in 13 years, and with a crowd of nearly 30,000 expected at Portman Road, the timing could bring its own problems should any fans leave the pubs a little worse for wear. Whether it will have any impact on the match itself however is difficult to predict, but hopefully it can’t make it any worse for the Blues than it was last time!
I think most Town fans would be expecting a significantly improved performance against Norwich this time around. The atmosphere and attitudes around the club have changed considerably since Paul Jewell replaced Roy Keane, and with all the pressure on the visitors to take the points, we could well have our revenge. Even so, I’m still not particularly confident; the Canaries have proven very tough to beat this season with just 4 losses on the road – the joint-lowest in the division – and we will have to be at our best to get the better of them. In any case, if experience has taught us one thing, it is unlikely to be a dull affair.
Prediction: What’s banter without a little bravado? Ipswich 2-1 Norwich.
Make your prediction for this match by joining the Vital Ipswich Prediction League! It’s a bumper programme this Easter with three rounds to be played over the course of the weekend. Click here for details or here to post your entry for the first round of fixtures. (Entries must be posted by 7:30pm on Thursday.)
Next Fixtures:
25/04 FLC Swansea City (A)
30/04 FLC Preston North End (H)
07/05 FLC Leicester City (A)
For more build-up to the game, why not take a look at our interview with Vital Norwich in ‘From the Other Side‘.
And you can join in all the pre-match chat by signing up to our club forums:
