Derby Hero Haynes Backing Blues Thursday, 7th May 2015 21:07 East Anglian derby legend Danny Haynes believes the current Blues side can take a leaf out of his book and beat their greatest rivals Norwich City in the play-off semi-finals. Haynes, 27, was a regular thorn in the Canaries’ side during his time at Portman Road, netting four goals to see the Blues to famous derby victories at first-team level, as well wins with the reserves and at U18 level. “I’m confident Town can win and I’m going to get down and watch Saturday’s game,” Haynes told TWTD. “I believe that they can do it. I think they need to go for the win in the first leg, I don’t they will try and play for a draw, they have to go for the win. “They’ve got the home crowd behind them, they’ve got the advantage of the first game being at home and I think that can play a vital part because Ipswich will feel comfortable playing in front of their own fans and they could get a few goals and put some pressure on Norwich going to Carrow Road.” Haynes is in no doubt which of his derby goals was the sweetest - the infamous 88th minute ‘Hand of Haynes’ winner in Town’s 2-1 victory at Carrow Road in February 2006. “It’s got to be the first one, that was my first derby against Norwich,” he recalled. “Joe Royle put me on early doors and then I scored in the last couple of minutes with my hand to win the game. “It wasn’t deliberate, I just put my body on the line to get there because I remember Gary Doherty put his foot up. It was an unbelievable feeling and doing it at their ground made it even more special. “It was right in front of the Ipswich supporters. My belly went, everyone was jumping on me. I remember the boots I wore, silver and blue ones, I remember everything about it. I remember the warm-up, everything about that day. It’s one of the greatest days of my career.” Haynes was subsequently on target twice having come off the bench in the 3-1 home victory that November and then forced an own goal and scored the winner in April 2008’s 2-1 win at Portman Road. “I remember there was one which was on Sky at Portman Road and I came on with 15 minutes to go and scored two within a few minutes of coming on,” he remembered. “That was unbelievable. The first one was from a Gary Roberts cross and the second one was from Matt Richards’s pass. That was wicked as well, a great feeling, especially as it was on Sky. “Then there was another game at Portman Road when I scored one and Alex Pearce scored an own goal.” Haynes, a member of Town’s 2005 FA Youth Cup-winning side having joined at 16 following his release by Charlton and coincidentally having had a one-game trial with Norwich, has very fond memories of his time with the Blues and still keeps an eye on their results. “I always follow Town, that’s one club I really can’t let go,” he admitted. “There have been clubs where I haven’t really looked back for the results to see how they’ve done, but Ipswich is still in my heart and I look and see how they’re doing and this season has been unbelievable. “I think 2007/08 when I had a good season under Jim Magilton was the one where Ipswich were closest to the play-offs until this year. I think we finished eighth that season, if I remember rightly. That was the last time Town were in or around the play-offs.” He added: “It was definitely one of the best times of my career, Joe Royle and Ipswich Town gave me that chance and I played more than 100 games there and I haven’t done that since I left. “I just wish I could go back now because I wouldn’t have left. I was sold to Bristol City when Roy Keane came in.” Since that July 2009 switch to Ashton Gate the Londoner has had spells with Barnsley, a return to Charlton and a stint with Notts County, prior to loan spells with Hibernian and Crewe, before a March move to Cheltenham, which he says didn’t go to plan. Now out of contract, he’ll be looking for a new club in the close season: “I got paid up from Notts County [in December] and I went to Cheltenham and that wasn’t a good experience, it didn’t work out for me there. In the summer I’m a free agent so I’m looking for a club.” He believes some managers have signed him as a frontman when he feels his best role is wide on the right: “I’ve got to get my head down because with what’s happened with my career I think everyone sees me as a striker, a lone striker, but I’ve never, ever been that type of player. “When I was at Ipswich I was a winger doing well on the wing and that was how I made my name. But over the years everyone has tried to convert me into a striker. “If managers say they want me to play in a certain position I’ve got to do it, but my preferred position is the right wing. “I’m still only young, I’m only 27, so I just need to get my foot in at a club, get my head down and play the position I love to play in, which is on the right, and do well, which I know I can do.” Moving back to Saturday’s home play-off derby, he admitted: “I’m nervous, to be honest with you, I really want Ipswich to get promoted. “I was hoping that there’d be an Ipswich-Norwich Wembley final, that would have been even bigger but these are still massive games, especially if one of them goes up. "Norwich had their time in the Premier League and now it’s Ipswich’s turn, that’s what I feel.” Haynes will be amongst the guests on Saturday’s special pre-derby Life’s a Pitch on Radio Suffolk (9am-11.30am).
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