Former Blue Jason Dozzell belives Town’s Championship play-off semi-finals against Norwich City are the biggest derbies ever played between the clubs.

Ipswich-born Dozzell, 47, a derby-winning goalscorer in his playing days, says the matches at Portman Road on Saturday and then Carrow Road the following week are bigger than any of the derbies he played in.

“Absolutely, just because of what’s at the end of it, the money you get when you get in the Premier League,” he told TWTD. “By far the biggest, I would imagine.

“Just for the £120 million or whatever it is if you go up, for that alone. Massive, absolutely massive.”

Dozzell was part of a Town side which went head to head with the Canaries for a place at Wembley but he says these matches are a far bigger deal.

“I played in in the Milk Cup semi-finals in 1985, bad memories really, I was marking Steve Bruce for the second goal!” he recalled.

“We won the first leg 1-0 and I remember going up there and they basically kicked us off the park, from what I remember, and they beat us 2-0 on the night. Bad memories!”

Now working in the Blues’ academy, Dozzell says he’ll be at Saturday’s match: “You don’t even need to ask, do you?

“I’ve not stopped thinking about it since Saturday. I’m excited, buzzing about it, like any supporter.”

He expects few goals in the first leg and, while he’d prefer to see the Blues take a lead into the away game, says he’d be pleased if the first match ended in a draw.

“I don’t think there’ll be many goals in the first leg, I think it’s going to be cagey,” he added. “It’ll be like a game of chess, just working each other out.

“I would be happy with a 0-0 draw from the first leg, I’d be delighted with that, and then try and get something away from home.

“Anything can happen over 90 minutes and with the prize at stake it’s just who handles it better on both occasions.

“We don’t think we can go to Norwich with a defeat behind us. I just think that if we get a draw and go into the second leg with a little bit of confidence and with the way we’ve defended overall this season, we can try and nick a 1-0 win.

“I would have preferred a one-off at Wembley, rather than two games against Norwich. They can score goals for fun, that’s the worry but overall we’ve defended as a team brilliantly over the course of the season.”

Dozzell’s son Andre was amongst the new intake of full-time scholars inducted into the academy last Friday, the 16-year-old central midfielder agreeing a one-year professional deal on top of his two-season scholarship.

“It was all good for the lads, they watched the first-team train, met Mick McCarthy, had a bit of lunch,” Dozzell senior said.

“He’s got a lot to do but he knows that. Once he goes in there every day next year they’ll put right whatever he needs to work on because he’s going to be there every day. He’s got a big couple of years coming up for him.

“He’s got a one-year pro deal on top of his scholarship, so it’s basically a three-year contract he’s got down there.”

Although Andre won’t now break Jason’s record of playing and scoring aged 16 years and 57 days - he turned 16 on Saturday - his father says he should aim for involvement with the senior side next season.

“He’s got to challenge himself, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t get in that first-team squad sometime in the next year if he works hard,” he added.

“That should be his challenge, you’ve got to aim high, that’s what I told him. He’s got to work hard.

“Kundai Benyu has got in the squad this year, they were in similar positions in their respective years, I would say, so hopefully he’ll get in there.”

Photo: Action Images

warwickblue added 17:31 - May 6 That was my favourite ever Town shirt...
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yorksblue added 17:37 - May 6 Got a freebie 1985 Cup Final ticket via Forces FA on back of that first leg victory, and stood in with Sunderland fans, praying for them to win. No such luck.
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Mark added 18:12 - May 6 I can't say I'd be happy with 0-0 at Portman Road, as going to Carrow Road without an advantage would make it very tough to progress. Away goals do not count as a tie breaker, so it's not as though a 1-1 draw would then take us through. I am trying to be relaxed about it as getting into the play-offs was a bonus making it on goal difference in 6th place, and we're going into them with a side costing little over £100K in fees compared to a Norwich side whose strikers alone cost around £10M. However, I may not feel quite so relaxed Saturday morning!!

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Warkys_Tash added 18:15 - May 6 Warwick have to disagree, thought it was awful then & now. My favourite 3 has to be the 1981/82 Pioneer sponsored Adidas & the year we one Wembley play-off final, along this years' return to the Adidas shirt.
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wark_on_water added 19:01 - May 6 My head says we'll be edged out...however I just have a nagging feeling that because we've been scoffed at all season, and for all the reasons Mark mentioned above, we could just do it. There's always one team that people ask how they ever got up! !!!
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Gingerblues added 19:10 - May 6 Legend.....one of my greatest derby memories is this game: The atmosphere was electric and the third goal a cracker :-)
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Warkys_Tash added 20:24 - May 6 Ginger blues, good work Fella. Although Gunny was a terrible keeper was he not? Do you remember his mis-kick at the North Stand End, gifting Town a 2-1 victory & us singing for a full,20 mins non- stop, whilst bouncing in the North: ' Bryan Gunn, Bryan Gunn, Bryan, Bryan Gunn, gets the ball, scores a goal.. Bryan, Bryan Gunn!' We always had the Upper hand on those Budgies, let's hope it returns, starting on Saturday at FPR!

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jayceee added 21:41 - May 6 HAHA
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Hatman added 22:46 - May 6 Carrot Road Christmas 1992..., first local derby for 6 years, in the new Premier League, they were TOP!! We were 5th..., what an occasion!!! Kiwomya flicked in for 1 - 0, late Neil Thomson thumper for 2 - 0...!!! Dozzell celebrating with fans(incl. his brother!) on the pitch with a blue and white bobble hat on!! What a game! One of the best derbies ever. We can top that boys!!!!

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confoosed_dot_com added 03:27 - May 7 @warkys Tash - was churchmans end - was behind the goal!
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essexbluey added 08:32 - May 7 Hatman. Thanks for bringing that game up it was a crazy game. I sat in the river end that night and half the home end went crazy with ipswich fans when we scored. Ipswich fans took over the ground. It was in the days that you just got a ticket without haveing to give a customer number or post code date of birth and shoe size. Yer i will never forget tony running onto carrot road pitch and running up to the barclay end giveing it to the home fans.

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stevelincsexile added 21:35 - May 12 I remember, I believe it was Boxing Day, the only tickets my brother and I could get we're in the Barclay stand, we kept quiet all game until minutes from the end Trevor Whymark scored the only goal, we went crazy and umpteen cans of coke rained down on us, happy days.
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