Boss Mick McCarthy says a huge prize awaits the winners of the Championship play-off derby between the Blues and Norwich City. Perhaps the biggest ever East Anglian derbies were set up after Town finished in sixth, despite a final day defeat at Blackburn, while the Canaries beat Fulham 4-2 at home to grab third.

“There’s a huge prize for both teams,” McCarthy said. “One of us in two weeks’ time is going to be absolutely thrilled and the other is going to be talking about having a really bad season and it’s a disgrace, and yet we’re both in the play-off semi-finals.

“I just hope it’s us that’s going to Wembley and we’re all happy. But, you know what, if you go to Wembley and get beat against whoever else is in there, it doesn’t matter, you’ve been beaten. I want to win, I’m not bothered who I’m playing against.”

McCarthy, whose side will face either Middlesbrough or Brentford at Wembley on Monday 25th May if they defeat the Canaries, is no stranger to local derbies in Championship play-off semi-finals having faced West Brom while Wolves manager in the 2006/07 campaign.

Wolves, who had finished fifth, were beaten 1-0 away at the Hawthorns in the first leg, then lost the home game 3-2.

“I was there with Wolves against West Brom, that’s equally as big again, and Wolves and West Brom will think it’s bigger than Ipswich and Norwich,” the Town boss recalled. “I’m looking forward to it, it’s great.”

McCarthy has taken part in six play-offs as a manager but has won only once, the 2002 World Cup games against Iran when he was in charge of the Republic of Ireland, with whom he previously lost to Belgium for a place at the 1998 tournament.

At Championship level he has faced defeat in the semi-finals with Millwall (1993/94) and Sunderland (2003/04) as well as Wolves.

Looking back at the derbies during his playing career, he added: “I’ve had some big ones, even in Lyon, against St Etienne that’s pretty spicy.

“West Ham and Millwall, Newcastle and Sunderland, Barnsley-Huddersfield, Barnsley-Sheffield Wednesday, I hated everybody when I was at Barnsley. I’ve learned to like a few people since I was at Barnsley.”

Did he feel there was anything from the performance at Blackburn he could take into the play-offs? “The way we keep going, our determination, effort and spirit, always.

“We’re always going to have mediocre days or bad days. We’ve just got two more games where we need to have good days.”

He says he was periodically aware of developments elsewhere during Saturday’s game: “At half-time I was, 75 minutes I was, I knew it was 2-0 [to Reading].

“It was with eight minutes to go that we got our second, I still wanted to get that goal but I was aware [Derby] were 3-0 down and the crowd let us know.

“Our crowd didn’t start cheering until it was 3-0, so they didn’t trust Reading, did they? They had to get to three before they started to get excited and they knew it was going to happen.”

He says he remained composed on the sidelines despite the stress: “I wasn’t calm, but strangely enough I was more calm at 3-1 down because there’s not a lot you can do then, you rely on other people and all you’re trying to do is get back in the game.

“And I think that happens with players because you’re not worried about conceding a goal, it makes no difference, you’ve got to get back into the game.

“And I think, bizarrely enough in the last 10 minutes, they ended up being nervy and don’t want to cost themselves the win. It’s just that emotion and that mental state that swings from side to side.”

He says he tried to keep everyone relaxed in the days running up to the game: “All week we’ve kept a really calm disposition or demeanour about us.

“Why wouldn’t you because there’s nothing you can do about it until Saturday anyway, not stress the prize, what’s at stake.

“You’ve got to get them roused on the Saturday, not on the Monday. We started great, we scored a great goal.

“Then there’s that psychological state [you get into], Blackburn start chasing it, we probably think we’ve got something to hold onto and we don’t play well.

“Where does it all come from? There’ll be a whole load of psychologists ringing me, they can all piss off. You can put that as well, that’ll stop them doing it!”

He says he has no need to tell his players what these games mean: “You don’t actually go around telling players. I get astounded at times when I get asked ‘What do you say to them?’.

“Do you think they’re not aware we can get to the Premier League, do you think they’re not aware that a win or a draw is going to do it?

“If I go around saying that to them, they’d think ‘Is he a pillock or what?’. Talk about the master of stating the obvious. I think you can give people negativity by going round them, so I don’t do that.”

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer singled out former England international David Dunn for praise in his final game for the Lancashire club.

Asked whether the 35-year-old’s farewell provided additional inspiration for Rovers, McCarthy added: “Possibly, he played well Dunny, he’s been a good player around the place. I have no idea, but it doesn’t really matter because we’re in the play-offs!”

Meanwhile, Norwich boss Alex Neil is also eagerly anticipating the games against the Blues, the first matches between the sides other than regular league games since the League Cup semi-finals in 1985.

"I’ve been told this will be the biggest derby between Norwich and Ipswich, and these are the games you want to be involved in,” the Scot said.

"We’re really looking forward to it, and we’ll get ourselves fully prepared. It definitely adds something, an extra spice, because the fans are desperate to get one over their rivals which makes it an emotional occasion.

"We know exactly what it means to everyone, and it means a hell of a lot to myself and the players as well. Ultimately, we've got to rise to the challenge and get ourselves past Ipswich to make the final."

Photo: Action Images

IndianTractorBoy added 06:15 - May 4 COYB...time for pay-back :)
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LegendofthePhoenix added 06:34 - May 4 Well the Texaco Cup Final was a pretty big deal at the time, a 2 legged final in the same order as this play-off. I was at both, best day ever at Carrot Rd, and we took the Barclay Stand. Anyone else there?
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bluefeast added 07:15 - May 4 Over recent seasons we have not played well vs norwich , i think that is the mentality of the current players ,i.e. in pressure situations we under perform. We also spend 80 minutes of a game chasing ,closing down etc , that is a very tiring tactic. This play off is a complete contrast of styles . Who reacts better under press will win
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muccletonjoe added 07:32 - May 4 They have the better player's. Not doubt about that. If we can come up with a tactical plan to negate that then we stand a chance with our work rate. But everyone needs to be on their game
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jas0999 added 08:34 - May 4 Massive games. Massive. Good luck boys!
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ChrisFelix added 09:25 - May 4 Football is a funny old game, so who knows what will happen against Norwich. However if we play like we did on Saturday then it's curtains
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roytheboy added 09:34 - May 4 With Mick behind them, our boys can definitely do it, it won't be easy but I have great confidence in them, I hope we will be solid in defense and also take the games to Norwich by attacking throughout, that in my opinion is the recipe for success, COYB we're right behind you all.
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bluefeast added 10:11 - May 4 Whilst it would be great to win the first leg 3.0 It would not be the end of the world to draw 0 0. Its then half time and if we can score 1st in the away leg we have a great chance ,i have to say if we make the final i fancy us vs Brentford or Boro.
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clint_eastwood added 10:22 - May 4 Do they (Norwich) have any injury report or suspension come Saturday?
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havinit69 added 10:25 - May 4 Any chance we can get Danny Haynes on a months Loan ?!
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blue_movies added 10:56 - May 4 We have no chance. We've bottled every big game for the last 10 years, Blackburn being the latest example. We are also playing the worst football in the last 40 years with the most over rated manager in the football league in charge. If you can't put three passes together is isn't football and no amount of hoofing will change that.
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Bluetone added 10:57 - May 4 "McCarthy has taken part in six play-offs as a manager but has won only once, the 2002 World Cup games against Iran when he was in charge of the Republic of Ireland, with whom he previously lost to Belgium for a place at the 1998 tournament. At Championship level he has faced defeat in the semi-finals with Millwall (1993/94) and Sunderland (2003/04) as well as Wolves." Oh dear I was nervous enough already - I would have preferred not to know that.

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battyblue added 10:57 - May 4 Still need team changes it wont go away Mick.
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hucks216 added 11:25 - May 4 I think Alex Neil is a much better motivator of the fans and players. Before both local derbies this season he was talking up the games whereas MM talked about it just being another 3 points. And there is already a difference in how they are talking about the upcoming play-off games... Alex Neil - “I have been told this is the biggest derby between the clubs and we are really looking forward to it. It definitely adds something because a derby is an emotional occasion. We know what it means to the fans and I can assure everybody it means a hell of a lot to me and my players. We'll be ready to go to get us two results.” MM - “I just hope it's us that's going to Wembley and we're all happy. But, you know what, if you go to Wembley and get beat against whoever else is in there, it doesn't matter, you've been beaten... ....“We're always going to have mediocre days or bad days. We've just got two more games where we need to have good days.”"

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blue_movies added 11:26 - May 4 Will that thigh strain ever mend??
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irishtim added 11:29 - May 4 Ipswich V Brentford Final. Well better to be the optimist.
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Chicago_Blue added 11:39 - May 4 I think we should go for it - and that means no Parr or Tabb in the starting 11 for me. The former was dreadful on Saturday. He is a full back, playing in midfield though. A strange one that, for me. Would rather have Ando and Hunt in there. Plus would love to see Bru start, but at the expense of who? - Bishop? (That'd be unfair on Bish).
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NITFC added 11:52 - May 4 It's going to take a minor miracle in my opinion but back in August I would have used that phrase if anyone had asked me about our chances of reaching the play offs. Mick has done an outstanding job so bluemovies you need to get real
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TimmyH added 11:55 - May 4 Have to say the omens don't look good - Mick has won only once in 6 in play-offs couple that with Town only getting through to Wembley once in 6 attempts!...and Norwich generally since the New Year playing better than ourselves and getting more points. As said we need to come up with some plan to beat them but for sure will have to take an advantage from PR if we are to go through.

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Jimmy86 added 11:59 - May 4 We will need to be absolutely on top of our game for both games to get to Wembley. In a way though the play offs are like the national in horse racing, form goes right out the window and it's who performs best on the day, It's a lottery. Shame we don't have any out and out wingers we can use to stretch the opposition. Both Wolves and Blackburn smashed us out wide, with pacey, direct wingers. Can only hope that we win the home leg and just don't lose the away one. Got everything crossed though, COYB

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LegendofthePhoenix added 12:16 - May 4 Clint, I'm pretty sure Lewis Grabben is suspended for both legs
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mkbobby added 12:22 - May 4 Morning people just wondering where's a good place to have a drink before the game on Saturday I usually do,nt get to the ground till kick off but am travelling down by train so will be there early as I am flying back from a works meeting in Barcelona late Friday night
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bayleycr added 12:34 - May 4 We will need to be top of our game for sure as I agree Norwich have the better players on balance. Saying that, with Murphy and Sears we always have a goal threat with Saturday a great example. Sears was just getting his misses out of the way before he buries them against Norwich ;) I agree we should go for it rather than try to absorb Norwich pressure - play to win rather than play not to lose. I cannot agree with Stephen Hunt playing though as he was shocking on Saturday. Maybe he thought we were playing in blue?! My 11: Bart Chambo, Berra, Smith, Mings Varney, Skuse, Bishop, Parr Murphy, Sears Bring on Ando, Noel Hunt and Bru from the subs bench to freshen it up from 60mins in. COYB

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clint_eastwood added 13:13 - May 4 LegendofthePhoenix, thanks for the info mate. Hoping more of their important players get injured during training right before Saturday.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 13:26 - May 4 Bayleycr - Spot on the team seclection, that will be the starting 11 barring injuries. If needed we could then go: Bart Chambo, Berra, Smith, Mings Bru, Skuse, Bishop, Varney, Murphy, Sears with just one substittution and that's pretty potent for a 433. I havn't heard it mentioned much but Bishops footwork to win the penalty was astonishing, That's twice this season he's produced world class assists.

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