Good morning all and thanks for joining us as we bring you live Championship coverage as Norwich City take on local rivals Ipswich Town in the Old Farm derby at Carrow Road. Both these sides sit level on 44 points in the middle of the table, knowing that a victory either way today could help mount a last-ditch push for the playoffs this term.

NORWICH CITY STARTING XI: Gunn; Zimmermann, Hanley, Klose, Reed, Lewis, Tettey, Leitner, Maddison; Murphy, Oliveria

NORWICH CITY SUBSTITUTES: Pinto, Vrancic, Watkins, Stiepermann, Hernandez, Srbeny

IPSWICH TOWN STARTING XI: Bialkowski; Iorfa, Carter-Vickers, Chambers, Webster; Knudsen, Gleeson, Skuse, Connolly; Waghorn, Garner

IPSWICH TOWN SUBSTITUTES: McGoldrick, Celina, Spence, Ward, Hyam, Crowe, Carayol

So the major news for the hosts is that skipper Alex Tettey has been declared fit to play despite a rough tackle sustained last time out in the Championship. Timm Klose also starts regardless of some recent injury trouble.

Following Tom Trybull's absence, Moritz Leitner has retained his place in midfield despite pressure from Mario Vrancic. The Canaries also have key man James Maddison starting and he will be providing support for strikers Josh Murphy and Nelson Oliveira.

As for the visitors, Mick McCarthy continues with Martyn Waghorn and Joe Garner up top. There is still no starting place for Tristan Nydam, but Town have been boosted by the return of David McGoldrick who is back on the bench.

Coming into this game, only goal difference separates these sides and this could be the last chance for either team to push their way into play-off contention.

Things have been both up and down for the Canaries all season, but it appears that they have just started to find their feet consistently since the turn of the year. Daniel Farke's Norwich now head into this derby clash having lost just once in their last eight league games, winning five of them.

The club have managed to go unbeaten in their last three league fixtures, coming into this clash following a 1-1 draw against Derby County last time out.

Farke has done a pretty decent job at Carrow Road, when you take into consideration their limited budget and the fact they also lost Alex Pritchard to Huddersfield Town. It seems like the real turning point for the club came thanks to that 2-0 win against Birmingham on Boxing Day, which seems to have kick started a positive run for the Canaries.

Central to their upturn in form has been playmaker Maddison, who starts here today. The youngster has won more points courtesy of his goals and assists than any other player in the Championship this season - a whopping 20 of them. The midfielder has nine goals and five assists this term, having also also created the most goalscoring chances in the division.

Despite being level on points, Town come into the game following a rather tepid showing this term, especially when considering how they started the campaign with four wins on the bounce. Since the turn of the year, however, Ipswich have managed to score just five times in six league games. Across their last five, Town have two wins, two draws and a loss. That defeat came against leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers and one of the draws came last time out against bottom-placed Burton, which perhaps indicates the kind of season McCarthy's men have been having.

Going forward has been an issue of late for Town. Apart from Garner's five goals in from 10, only Man City loanee Bersant Celina and Callum Connolly have scored for the club. Waghorn's form has dropped off considerably too. The frontman has not scored in 12 games despite a strong start to the season.

Looking at the history between the two sides, Ipswich haven't won an East Anglian derby match since a 3-2 victory in April 2009, leaving Norwich undefeated in their last nine matches against Ipswich in all competitions.

One troubling stat for the away side is that the Tractor Boys have not been able to beat Norwich at Carrow Road since February 2006.

Sunday has proven to be a fruitful day for this fixture. Since the year 2000, the Old Farm derby has been played 18 times on a Sunday. Three of the last five derby games between these two sides have ended in 1-1 draws.

PREDICTION! Right, just five minutes to go until kickoff and it's time for a prediction. The form table has Norwich arguably pipping this one and given Town's lack of goals it is hard to see past Farke's men pinching all three points at home. This should be a hard-fought and industrious encounter, but I'm backing the Canaries to come away with a close 2-1 win. Maddison will likely be the difference...

We've already got a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium as the ground starts to swell, the players are now coming out of the tunnel and we should be underway shortly.

Just a quick recap of the team news...

NORWICH CITY STARTING XI: Gunn; Zimmermann, Hanley, Klose; Reed, Lewis, Tettey, Leitner, Maddison; Murphy, Oliveria

IPSWICH TOWN STARTING XI: Bialkowski; Carter-Vickers, Chambers, Webster; Iorfa, Knudsen, Gleeson, Skuse, Connolly, Waghorn; Garner

The players are now in their huddles, it's time to go!

KICKOFF! The home side get us moving, Norfolk and Suffolk going toe-to-toe here...

A fast start from the visitors, who are getting straight into Norwich from the off. Some good pressing earns Town a corner early on, which is sent into the middle where a scramble eventually sees City smuggle the ball away from danger after a deft flick from Iorfa.

Norwich respond with their first spell of possession. The hosts aim to make inroads down the right channel, but the through-ball into the path of Murphy is overhit and Ipswich get the goal kick.

A tight opening even by derby standards and the midfield is looking rather cluttered, which could prove problematic for Maddison as he looks for space to weave his magic. Nothing too much to report thus far, two teams conceding very little ground.

Maddison finally gets some room to make something happen, as he pulls the strings on the edge of the away box. The youngster goes for a one-two with Leitner, but the latter's return beyond the defence is overhit and Ipswich are spared.

CLOSE! Town should have the lead really... Gleeson gets his head up in a deep position and switches the ball towards the back-post for the run of Knudsen, who beats his marker only to head wide of the target from close range.

SAVE! A good spell for the visitors. Tettey gives possession away poorly on the edge of the area, where the ball is eventually fed into the feet of Waghorn. The playmaker opens up his body and bends one towards the far post, where Gunn gets down low to tip the shot away.

McCarthy will be delighted with this start. Town have pressed Norwich superbly and have arguably broken up any rhythm that the hosts want to impose on this game.

Murphy comes alive for the first time this afternoon, as the frontman bursts across the back line in order to receive a pass down the flank from Klose. Luckily for the visitors, Iorfa gets across just in time to cut out the danger.

Glimmers of something from Norwich now. Maddison picks out a delightful chipped ball over the defence for Oliveira who breaks in behind. The frontman's first touch is a poor one, though, taking the striker away from goal. His eventual cross back into the area evades everyone and Ipswich are able to clear.

The home side are starting to gain a foothold after a blistering start from Ipswich in the early exchanges. Farke's side are sharing a lot of the ball and are starting to move things about nicely.

Norwich almost come up short when Zimmermann is caught dawdling in the middle. The ball is shifted for the run of Waghorn, who only has Hanley to beat. The home defender does brilliantly, however, to battle back and dispossess the striker inside the home box.

Lewis is penalised for a 50-50 tackle with Garner, giving Town a free kick down the right channel in a dangerous crossing position. The ball is whipped in by Waghorn, only to be headed away by Tettey.

Oliveira has been bright with his movements so far and this time he picks up the ball from deep, before driving towards the box and lashing a shot from range. The effort is not troubling Bialkowski, though, who watches the ball sail wide without any danger.

Norwich get the chance to break on the counter through Tettey, who aims to slip Murphy in with his pace down the channel. Carter-Vickers, who has been excellent so far, has other ideas as he comes across to shut out the danger.

Murphy's speed is starting to pose a few questions for Town. The winger breaks away one-on-one down the left, only again to be thwarted by Carter-Vickers who is able to get across and make a vital tackle.

Town have been solid and compact in the first half, which has just about kept Maddison in check, although the youngster has been able to showcase a few moments of brilliance. This has been an industrious first half, as you might expect.

Murphy is able to win a free kick off Carter-Vickers, leaving the hosts with a set piece in a dangerous position around 30 yards from goal. Maddison bends one into the danger area, but Ipswich have a good, high-line and are able to prevent anyone from attacking the danger in the box.

CLOSE! Hanley gives away a cheap free kick, leaving Connolly to strike from distance. Gunn saves but spills a rebound, leaving Garner to follow up before being ushered out under pressure from Hanley despite shouts for a penalty from the away fans.

SHOT! Murphy drops into a pocket of space on the edge of the Town box. The winger comes inside on his right, although his curling effort has just a little too much on it and creeps wide of Bialkowski's goal.

Just a reminder that this is a derby from Garner, who crashes into the back of Lewis as he is attempting to see the ball out for a goal kick. The referee has a quiet word with the Ipswich man and common sense eventually prevails.

Norwich have to do a little more to impose themselves in the middle. The hosts are doing well to evade the first press but nobody is gambling to move forward in the middle, with both Tettey and Leitner sitting deep.

Town keep the ball alive and Waghorn drives an effort towards goal. The ball takes a deflection and pops up to Connolly, who finds himself beyond the defence. The youngster heads towards goal, leaving Gunn to make a good save. The linesman eventually raises his flag, however, giving Connolly offside.

CLOSE! Silly from Klose now who drags Waghorn down in a dangerous position right in front of the referee. Waghorn is given the ball short from the set piece and he lets fly from distance on his left. The shot takes a deflection but Gunn is still able to get across and make an important diving save down low.

Iorfa shows great feet and is able to drive inside the box. The wing-back goes down under pressure only for the referee to wave play on. The Norwich players are begging for a yellow for a dive from the Town man. Replays suggest that they are probably right too.

That was certainly an interesting half of football. Town will be the happier of the sides and McCarthy's men have carried more of a threat. The away side have caused Norwich a number of problems, but Gunn has been on hand when required.

The visitors have pressed intently and have got in the faces of Norwich, who have been unable to really implement their usual passing game. That said, Town have found themselves doing well in these derbies before, only to be undone by a sucker punch in the second half.

Maddison has offered glimpses of his brilliance in the middle, although Ipswich have done brilliantly to fill the gaps and remain compact when defending. They will need to be careful of Murphy in the second half too, who has provided moments of danger with his pace on the break.

Farke will be calling for more from his midfielders after the break. They have had few answers to Ipswich's combativeness so far. Despite holding lots of the ball, the hosts have been able to do very little with it going forward either.

Ipswich are back out on the pitch, we're just waiting for Norwich now and we'll be back moving again...

SECOND HALF! Off we go then. Town kick off the second period. No changes for either side.

SAVE! Maddison draws a free kick off Carter-Vickers right on the edge of the box, giving Norwich a perfect chance to have a go. The youngster takes the free kick and bends a wonderful shot over the wall towards the top corner. Bialkowski gets up well, though, leaving the keeper to tip over the bar.

CHANCE! Norwich should open the scoring. The resulting corner is cleared, but Norwich send the ball directly back into the box. Somehow Klose finds himself free five yards out from goal, leaving the full-back to miscue and spurn what is arguably a tap-in from close range.

Town are having to respond to some intense pressure from the hosts early in the second period. They have just about scraped through untouched!

Maddison has been pushed up the pitch and it's causing all sorts of issues. The youngster almost bustles beyond the defence, although Carter-Vickers does well to cut out the midfielder's run. The Canaries are approaching this period with a lot more energy than the first 45 minutes.

YELLOW CARD! Garner hasn't stopped running for Town and he picks up a booking following a number of late tackles, the final straw coming from a collision with Maddison.

Just what Town need at the moment as Iorfa shows some great determination to win a corner despite being outnumbered over on the right. The ball into the middle is safely collected by Gunn, though, as Ipswich waste a chance to get their defenders forward and attack the corner.

YELLOW CARD! Leitner goes into the book now for a cynical foul on Knudsen.

Oliveira picks up a pocket of space on the edge of the area and he aims to find Maddison with a ball over the top. The final pass is missing the required quality, though, allowing Webster to clear.

SUBSTITUTE: Garner is taken off in place of McGoldrick up top.

SHOT! Maddison has really come alive in the second half. The youngster drives and drives towards goal and is eventually forced a little too wide inside the area. The playmaker still goes for goal but is undone by a bobble as he lashes his shot high and wide.

YELLOW CARD! Maddison causing issues again as he turns and breaks in the middle. Skuse has no chance and ends up bringing the playmaker down before being handed a card for his exploits.

The free kick is sent into the middle by Leitner for Klose, who arguably has his shirt pulled under pressure in the box. The defender makes nothing of it and that might just have cost him a penalty there.

SUBSTITUTE: Another change for Town, as Luke Hyam takes the place of Gleeson.

YELLOW CARD! Connolly comes a cropper against Maddison on the edge of the box and takes a card for his troubles.

SAVE! What does Maddison have to do to score? The youngster bends another free kick towards the top corner, where Bialkowski is equal to things again as the keeper makes a strong save to prevent Norwich from taking the lead.

This has been a perfect match to drop the "game of two halves" cliche. Town have been able to offer nothing going forward after the break, with the Canaries now appearing the more confident side in the ascendancy.

Norwich continue to press for a winner. A quick corner allows Maddison to find Murphy, who sees his effort blocked in front of goal by Carter-Vickers on the slide.

SAVE! Murphy and Oliveira combine brilliantly, allowing the latter to strike a brilliant effort from the edge of the box down low. Bialkowski is at it again and is able to produce a standout save to stop his side from going behind.

The pressure is growing and McCarthy is cutting a slightly worried figure on the away bench...

SUBSTITUTE: Town make their final change now as Jordan Spence comes on to replace Iorfa at right wing-back.

YELLOW CARD! Waghorn goes into the book now after taking down Klose in the middle. Likely payback for a nut-meg just moments before from the Norwich man.

Can somebody find the goal to earn a vital three points here? Norwich look the most likely, but could we be in for a shock final 10 minutes or so?

SUBSTITUTE: City make a change as Dennis Srbeny is brought on for Murphy in attack.

Ipswich have the chance to launch something in the vital moments, with Waghorn standing over a free kick deep inside the Norwich half.

CLOSE! The ball comes in at pace and evades the first defender. City get a little likely, however, allowing Reed to swipe clear.

Wow! What a finish. Town win a corner which is turned into the middle towards Chambers. The centre-back holds off Tettey with standout strength and is able to head beyond Gunn, who can do nothing about it.

Five minutes of added time. Town are so close to something special here!

With seconds remaining, they have somehow found a leveller. Klose shows his own strength this time to head into the net from Hanley's cross!

What an earth have we seen here? Ipswich were so close to ending a terrible run in this clash. Norwich did not deserve to lose this tie and maybe Klose's late goal was somehow deserved.

The goal was all down to Hanley, who kept the ball alive down in the corner. You have to admire City's resilience, but Town and McCarthy will be kicking themselves.

That draw leaves the clubs in much the same position and neither side is totally out of a playoff push. They both face huge clashes midweek now, as Norwich take on Wolverhampton Wanderers and Town face Cardiff City. That's going to be all from me this afternoon, thanks for joining us...