Ipswich Town v Norwich
Saturday 16th December 2023 – 12:30
Portman Road
Pre-Match Thoughts - Frosty
Just a fun fact which I read on the BBC earlier when I was reading the Leicester/Millwall match report:
A 17th win of the season also means the Foxes are the joint-quickest side to reach 50 points in a Championship season, tying with Ipswich, who had reached the landmark in their 21st game.
There have been comments on the forum (with much merit) about the Leeds and Leicester fixtures that follow being more important in the context of a promotion push, but for me, the games against the budgies are always going to be the highlight of my season.
It’s strange as I have sadly never been able to attend in person our local derby, but even from 11500 miles away its still a fixture that I really look forward to with excitement when it approaches. It is one of the top 3 things I want to achieve on my ‘bucket list’ before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
The reality is for the past 14 years the Championship matches have been full of drama, what ifs, tight contests, but at best an honourable draw, or far too commonly, defeat to Norwich.
Painful reading but below ………… the results going back to 2010.
11/02/19 CHA Norwich City 3 - 0 Ipswich Town
02/09/18 CHA Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Norwich City
19/02/18 CHA Norwich City 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
23/10/17 CHA Ipswich Town 0-1 Norwich City
27/02/17 CHA Norwich City 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
21/08/16 CHA Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Norwich City
16/05/15 CHA Norwich City 3 - 1 Ipswich Town
09/05/15 CHA Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Norwich City
02/03/15 CHA Norwich City 2 - 0 Ipswich Town
23/08/14 CHA Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Norwich City
22/04/11 CHA Ipswich Town 1 - 5 Norwich City
29/11/10 CHA Norwich City 4 - 1 Ipswich Town
We maybe 20 points ahead of them on the table and based on form the better side, but we all know that you can throw the stats out the window when it comes to this fixture.
Overall for the season Norwich are a really mixed bag, 9 wins / 3 draws / 9 losses, which is fantastic if you are aiming for a mid-table finish. They have undoubtably had improved results recently, but Cardiff aside, the have been against lower placed sides.
Forgetting the rivalry, this should be a 3 point target regardless and I would prefer to play 1st and 3rd either side of Christmas having gone 5 wins on the trot. As we all know confidence is a fragile thing.
For those of you who are attending on Saturday (I am bloody jealous), but enjoy the moment, its going to be special, and I really think we can win! COYB’s!!!!!!!
The Opposition – Norwich City - Honours
League
Second Division / Championship
Champions (5): 1971–72, 1985–86, 2003–04, 2018–19, 2020–21
Runners-up: 2010–11
Play-off winners: 2015
Third Division South / League One
Champions (2): 1933–34, 2009–10
Runners-up: 1959–60
Cup
Football League Cup
Winners (2): 1961–62, 1984–85
Runners-up: 1972–73, 1974–75
The Manager – David Wagner
League Table as at 14.12.2023
Form Guide
Ipswich Town
25 Nov West Brom 2 - 0 Ipswich Town
29 Nov Ipswich Town 3 - 1 Millwall
2 Dec Ipswich Town 2 - 1 Coventry City
9 Dec Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Ipswich Town
12 Dec Watford 1 - 2 Ipswich Town
Norwich City
25 Nov Norwich City 1 - 0 QP Rangers
28 Nov Watford 3 - 2 Norwich City
3 Dec Bristol City 1 - 2 Norwich City
9 Dec Norwich City 0 - 0 Preston
13 Dec Norwich City 3 - 1 Sheffield Wed
Head to Head
Match Referee – Josh Smith
IPSWICH TOWN 1 NORWICH CITY 0