By Leggi
December 5 2008
STB message boarder Leggi is back again and is once again giving us an insight into Town's opposition, on Sunday it is the small matter of the East Anglian Derby at Carrow Road. Norwich City
Sunday 7th December, kick-off 13:15
Its that time of year again, when Ipswich make the 45 mile trip up to Carrow Road, to visit our neighbours Norwich City. The Canaries, are struggling at the wrong end of the table, just 3 points and 1 place above the drop zone, 8 points behind an unpredictable 11th placed Town side. Manager, Glenn Roeder took charge of his first City game in the corresponding fixture last season, his side came from 2 goals down to rescue a deserved point. The Blues remain the Pride of Anglia though, after our 2-1 victory at Portman Road in April. Its been a very up and down season for Norwich so far, a very impressive 5-2 win at Carrow Road over table toppers Wolves in October probably their best display so far. It is indeed their biggest victory, with a 3-1 loss at Pride Park, Derby, City's heaviest defeat. Whilst Town were held 1-1 against Sheffield United last weekend, Norwich were getting beat 3-2 against United's neighbours Wednesday at Hillsborough.
So far the canaries season so far, reads: Played 20 Won 5, drawn 5 and lost 10, scored 25 and conceded 32.
Last season's Town target, Wes Hoolahan made the trip from Blackpool in the summer and he will certainly be one to watch. On loan Reading Striker, Leroy Lita could be playing his last game for The Canaries on Sunday as his loan runs out on the same day, the talented hit man will be looking to get Norwich back on the winning track after just 1 win in their last 7 outings, he remains the clubs leading scorer with 6 goals, including a hat-trick in the Wolves game mentioned earlier.
During the week, Norwich have received some good news on the injury front with defenders Adam Drury, Ryan Bertrand and Elliott Omozusi all cleared to face the Blues. However, the Canaries are definitely without long-term absentee Dejan Stefanovic, while on-loan Celtic defender John Kennedy is suspended after receiving a red card last weekend at Hillsborough.
Referee for Sundays encounter is Mr Lee Probert from Wiltshire, who has officiated 7 Ipswich Town games since 2004, most recently our televised game at Watford in August, in which we lost 2-1. In his 7 Town games he has booked 4 Ipswich players and 11 of the opposition, he is yet to show a red card in a game involving The Blues. The Premier League match officials' record this season reads Games, 14, yellow cards, 35 and red cards 2.
Norwich City will be wearing their traditional yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks whilst Ipswich will be also in their first choice colours of Blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks.
Form Table:
(7th) Ipswich Town P6 W3 D1 L2 F11 A9
(23rd) Norwich City P6 W1 D1 L4 F9 A13
Our League record v Norwich City at Carrow Road
Played: 40
Won: 15
Drawn: 9
Lost: 16
Goals:
For: 48
Against: 49
Our biggest victory is by 3 goals to nil which came in our Second Division Championship winning season of 1960/61. 'Jungle boy' Ray Crawford (2) and Ted Phillips with the goals. Our heaviest defeat is by the same scoreline (3-0) in a 1995 Premier League game. Town were eventually relegated that season. The highest attendance at Carrow Road for a local derby is 34,640 who witnessed a 0-0 draw in a Division one game in November 1972. The lowest gate of just 17,510 watched Norwich's 3-0 Premier League victory in the game mentioned above.
The first game between the two sides happened in 1902, since then and in all competitions home and away we have met 137 times, with Ipswich winning 59, drawing 27 and losing 51. Town have scored 203 goals with 176 going in our own net. Ipswich have used a total of 288 players in these games with John Wark topping the goalscoring charts with 9 goals against The Canaries. Ray Crawford got 8 and Trevor Whymark notched 6. From today's squad, former Norwich trialist, Danny Haynes is our leading scorer with 4 goals.
23 Players have graced the colours of both clubs, they include, Clive Baker, Clive Woods, John Deehan and Trevor Putney. From today's squad David Wright and Kevin Lisbie had loan spells at Carrow Road.
Leggi predicts: Forget all the recent form and League positions of both clubs, as we know, it means @#$%& all in a game like this, its a case of who wants it more on the day. Hopefully we should welcome back Jon Walters to the side, after he missed last weekends game due to injury. I would use him on the right wing though, he's wasted, up front or on the left.
Leroy Lita is a talent I like, he could be the difference between the 2 sides. I've got a feeling Jim's going to go with one striker, and it never works!!! Bit of a shock on the cards I'll predict a 2-1 win for them yeller 'uns.
(Have I got any of these predictions correct this season?)
Got a prediction for the game? Leave it below.
Kick off 13:15
BANTER! Ipswich have finished in a higher league postition than Norwich on 42 occasions, Norwich have finished higher than us, just 19 times!!

BANTER! Number of full England caps won whilst at respective clubs: Ipswich 156, Norwich 10
BANTER! Total appearences in Europe: Ipswich 62, Norwich 6
BANTER! Longest run in top flight football: Ipswich 18 seasons, Norwich 9

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