Ipswich Town column: Time for Tractor Boys to end East Anglian derby hoodoo against Norwich City

The derby is here. Will it be the same old story or are 16 years of hurt finally about to be vanquished? My word, I hope it's the latter.

As always I'm nervous and every sleep until the big day won't be a particularly good one. Surely this run has to end eventually? It can't go on like this forever, can it?

I was disappointed with Town’s defending at Ashton Gate on Tuesday. We'll take a point, but it does frustrate me that we can dominate a game so much, only for the opposition to need just one shot before they score. That can't happen on Sunday – that level of defending cannot be excused.

The Budgies are wobbling. All isn't rosy with manager Liam Manning and to be honest, that makes me feel worse! I've seen a few people say ‘they'll never be a better time to beat them' and whilst that may be true, this was also the case in 2023/24, where we literally finished on 96 points and 20 ahead of them!

‘Form goes out of the window in a derby’ is the saying and I think Town's luck in this fixture would suggest that.

This could be a huge day for both clubs. For them, it’s a chance to reignite their season and push for mid-table security.

For us, it could be a springboard to kickstart and begin climbing that table. Just imagine how much confidence a victory in this fixture would give us.

It’s a hoodoo that has hung over the club for far too long and ‘'m desperate for Kieran McKenna and his team to be the men to change that.

For years they were better than us. Never bigger, but better. That tide has changed. Town are on top both on-and-off the pitch and this ghastly run is the only thing they have left and it’s the only thing keeping them relevant. I'd love for that to change on Sunday – come on Town.