Play-Off Progress Still In The Balance

A few former Town players, such as Kieron Dyer and Jason Dozzell, had said prior to this one that a draw at Portman Road would not be such a bad outcome. Perhaps they are right?

The reasoning behind this claim is that if the blues had a lead to take with them to Carrow Road, the chances are they would try to sit on it and that in itself could prove to be very costly.

Now Town know exactly what they have to do and going into this one as clear underdogs will not do their chances any harm at all.

Clearly Norwich will believe that this home game is nothing more than a formality – after all, they have already beaten us in the league both home and away and with a partisan crowd baying for blood, it will be nothing more than lambs to the slaughter!

Their manager Alex Neil is a little more guarded however. He suggests that the Canaries should not be considered as hot favourites as the game as it stands is very much in the balance.

I am quite convinced though that this is not what he really thinks but it is a good way of taking the heat out of the situation and implying that his players know the job is only half done.

Complacency is probably the reason why Norwich failed to get an automatic promotion spot and Neil knows that if his players believe that the job is already done they will approach the game with an entirely different mind-set which would play into Town’s hands and could cost them dear.

Normally you would argue that the game next week in Norwich should be a formality and under normal circumstances it probably would be but this is a derby game and a great leveller and we all know in an atmosphere such as this, literally anything can happen!

If the blues could make a good start then things might get a bit interesting. Neither Sears or Murphy found much space at Portman Road to work in but they should find a lot more as the home side has to push forward in order to try to take the lead. Neither scored at home so they are due a goal or two!

The return leg promises to be a fascinating encounter and I have a feeling that this game is not done and dusted quite yet.

Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor know what they have to do and there are no grey areas anymore here. The blues have to win – simple as that and even if it goes to penalties and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that it just might, then Town must win them!

Any dreams I have about the outcome I shall keep to myself from now on because sadly dreams rarely become reality – otherwise I would have been a lottery winner a very long time ago!

This play-off success is still within our grasp and I have an inkling that Noel Hunt might just play a pivotal role in the end!