Ipswich v Norwich: Honours even in Old Farm derby date

Mark O'Haire
21 October 2017

Ipswich have failed to win any of their last eight games against Norwich

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Sunday's Old Farm derby will be the 100th competitive meeting between East Anglian rivals Ipswich and Norwich. Mark O'Haire previews the encounter at Portman Road...

"Twelve of the most recent 15 Old Farm showdowns have seen Both Teams To Score bank and with prohibitive odds available on a repeat, it’s worth having a wee wager on the 1-1 correct score"

Ipswich v Norwich
Sunday 22nd October, 12:00
Live on Sky Sports

Ipswich regressing

Ipswich kicked-off their campaign in fine style, claiming four successive Championship victories to shoot into an early automatic promotion place. But the Tractor Boys have regressed of late, picking up only two more wins from their following seven outings, five of which have ended in defeat.

Last time out Mick McCarthy's men fell to a 1-0 reverse at high-flying Sheffield United despite in-form Martyn Waghorn and David McGoldrick causing plenty of problems for the Blades defence as Town pushed for a second-half equaliser.

With Joe Garner still rated doubtful, McGoldrick may again lead the line alongside Waghorn in attack with Teddy Bishop joining Emyr Huws, Andre Dozzell, Luke Hyam and Tom Adeyemi in the treatment room.

Norwich finding form

Nelson Oliveira came off the bench to snatch a well-deserved draw for Norwich at home to Hull at Carrow Road last weekend. The point extended the Canaries current unbeaten streak to seven (W4-D3-L0) with the Norfolk outfit now within touching distance of the top-six following a slow start.

Daniel Farke's troops have steadily improved since the German arrived with former Coventry youngster James Maddison standing out. The young playmaker has taken advantage of his opportunity to contribute four goals in his last three away games for City, scoring twice and creating two more.

Following Oliveira's impressive cameo against Hull, Cameron Jerome might lose his place in the starting XI for Sunday whilst Marley Watkins is out through suspension. Elsewhere, Alex Pritchard and Louis Thompson are both long-term absentees.

Cagey affair looms despite Canaries dominance

Norwich 2.245/4 head up the A140 with an outstanding recent record in the East Anglian derby, scoring in their last 12 trips to Portman Road since 1998 and suffering only three defeats in the same sample (W6-D3-L3). The Canaries also arrive unbeaten in their last eight encounters with Ipswich.

Town 3.259/4 have tended to struggle against the Championship's leading lights. The Tractor Boys have W2-D6-L6 when welcoming top-half teams since the start of last season and all six of their wins this term have arrived against bottom-eight sides.

Daniel Farke has warned Norwich they will have to fight fire with fire to match 'aggressive' Town and that might mean a more robust approach from the Norfolk travellers, who'll be determined not to lose away to their bitter neighbours. And so a cagey affair looms with a stalemate most likely at 3.55.

Both sides to oblige in low-scoring showdown

Derby dates are typically low-scoring duels and this contest promises to follow that pattern. Five of the last six meetings have featured Under 2.5 Goals and a similar low-scoring showdown can be backed at 2.0811/10 for Sunday's midday kick-off.

Considering Norwich's significantly improved and defensively-organised approach, plus the fact the Canaries have only scored more than a solitary strike on three occasions under Farke, opposing a goal-heavy game seems an obvious solution at a kind price.

However, 12 of the most recent 15 Old Farm showdowns have seen Both Teams To Score bank and with prohibitive 1.645/8 odds available on a repeat, it's worth having a wee wager on the 1-1 correct score at 7.206/1, a result that's landed in three of the last four East Anglian derbies.

Recommended Bets

Back the draw @ 3.55 in Ipswich v Norwich
Back the 1-1 correct score @ 7.206/1 in Ipswich v Norwich