Searching for their first victory over their local rivals in over 14 years, promotion-chasing Ipswich Town will welcome Norwich City to Portman Road for a highly-anticipated East Anglian derby at Saturday lunchtime.
The Tractor Boys come into this clash as favourites for the first time in recent memory following a sensational start to the term, but the Canaries will be capable underdogs after an upturn in form.
Match preview
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After assuming the role of whipping boys in the East Anglian derby for so many years, Ipswich Town supporters will relish having a side who possess the ability to really hurt Norwich on Saturday, with Kieran McKenna's men showing their attacking prowess once again in wins at Middlesbrough and Watford over the past week.
Strikes from playmaker Conor Chaplin and Chelsea loanee Omari Hutchinson secured three points at the Riverside Stadium last weekend against Michael Carrick's Boro, before the Tractor Boys completed a comeback victory at Vicarage Road on Tuesday thanks to goals from George Hirst and enforcer Sam Morsy.
A four-game winning run for Ipswich - coupled with Leeds United's defeat at Sunderland in midweek - has allowed the newly-promoted side to establish a 10-point gap between themselves and Daniel Farke's charges, while the win at Watford also temporarily moved McKenna's team top of the Championship table for the first time since August before Leicester City defeated Millwall on Wednesday.
Ipswich's form at their Portman Road home has been simply stunning - the Tractor Boys have collected a near-perfect 27 points from 10 matches, scoring 30 times during that period, including well-worked team goals and moments of individual magic, as seen with Wes Burns's trivela finish against Coventry City on December 2.
A reasonable chunk of younger members of the Ipswich fanbase were either not alive or do not remember the last time their side were victorious against the Canaries, with Giovani dos Santos, Alan Quinn and Jon Stead all getting onto the scoresheet in a 3-1 win at Portman Road on April 19, 2009.
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With the derby day antics of cult heroes such as James Maddison and Teemu Pukki nothing but distant memories, David Wagner and the Norwich City crop of 2023-24 have a serious task on their hands to continue the success of their predecessors in this fixture and extend the club's unbeaten run in the East Anglian derby to 13 matches.
The last meeting between the sides in 2019 pitted Farke's table-topping Canaries against an Ipswich side destined for relegation under Paul Lambert, with Finland international Pukki netting a brace, Onel Hernandez finding the net and Emiliano Buendia providing two assists as the hosts toyed with their visitors from Suffolk.
A run of four wins from the last six Championship matches has moved the Canaries to within striking distance of sixth-placed Sunderland, but in the context of Saturday's fixture, Wagner's men are leagues below the Tractor Boys, who boast a 21-point advantage over their arch rivals.
Despite the majority of the signs pointing towards an Ipswich win, Norwich possess the ingredients for a derby day upset thanks to the knowhow and leadership of Ashley Barnes, as well as the trickery of Jon Rowe and Borja Sainz, with the latter netting a brilliant goal during the 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out.
The Canaries have only won three of their 10 second-tier outings so far this term but have collected points away from Carrow Road in dramatic fashion in recent times, with 84th-minute and 95th-minute strikes from forward Adam Idah earning Wagner's side victories at Cardiff City and Bristol City respectively.
Team News
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After making two changes to his forward line for the trip to Watford, Ipswich boss McKenna is expected to reinstate Burns and Nathan Broadhead into the XI at the expense of Hutchinson and Marcus Harness.
Tuesday night's matchwinner Morsy is one booking away from serving a two-match suspension - a scary prospect considering that clashes with Leicester and Leeds are up next following the East Anglian derby.
Brandon Williams was substituted at half time in Hertfordshire, with Harry Clarke being the natural choice to replace the former Manchester United man if required on Saturday.
Axel Tuanzebe started alongside Cameron Burgess last time out, but McKenna should bring Luke Woolfenden back into the side to replace the 26-year-old.
Norwich are closer to welcoming back defender Grant Hanley to first-team activities, with the former Scotland international suffering a serious Achilles injury in April.
The Canaries' backline is to be further strengthened by the impending return of Ben Gibson, who is set to participate in training at the start of next week.
Wagner could opt to rotate Sainz out of the XI as the Spaniard builds up to 100% sharpness following an ankle issue, meaning Christian Fassnacht or Cuban Hernandez could be handed a starting berth at Portman Road.
Youngster Kellen Fisher only lasted 45 minutes during the Wednesday match and should make way for summer arrival Jack Stacey at right-back.
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Clarke; Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo, Burns, Chaplin, Broadhead; Hirst
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, McLean, Giannoulis; Sara, Nunez, Rowe, Barnes, Hernandez; Idah
We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Norwich City
Saturday afternoon will provide Ipswich with their best opportunity to beat Norwich since that glorious day in 2009, although we cannot envisage the East Anglian derby being light work for the Tractor Boys despite their lofty league position.
The Canaries might have to swallow their pride and try to grind out a result on the weekend, but regardless, we expect that their long-standing unbeaten spell in this fixture will come to an end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
