No one needs to remind David McGoldrick and his team-mates that Town’s recent record in East Anglian derby games has been poor.

The Canaries have held the upper hand — no defeats in the last seven meetings — and you have to go back almost eight years to the last time Town were triumphant, winning 3-2 at Portman Road in April 2009 when a last-minute goal from striker Jon Stead sealed victory.

McGoldrick said: “I’ve been in Ipswich for four years now and everyone tells you about what the derby means and how we haven’t won for a while.

“Norwich have been in the Premiership and are still a formidable team in this league with the money they’ve spent and the players they’ve got.

“It’s going to be tough, I know that, but with the confidence we’ve got at the minute I feel we can go there and give a good account of ourselves. If we can bring anything back that would be really pleasing for the fans.”

McGoldrick was absent through injury from the teams’ 1-1 stalemate at Portman Road in August last year and was a second-half substitute for Teddy Bishop in the 3-1 play-off defeat at Carrow Road almost two years ago when Christophe Berra’s dismissal for handball paved the way for Norwich to open the scoring from the spot through Wes Hoolahan just five minutes after the restart.

McGoldrick added: “Before the sending-off I think I might have been coming on a bit earlier, but then obviously Bez [Berra] decided to play in goal! The whole day was disappointing. When was the last time we won there? We owe the fans to go and get something.

“There are a few Ipswich boys here, Tommy Smith and Luke Hyam, chirping in our ears about what this game means.

“They’ve been reminding us all that we’ve not beaten them in a long time and Luke’s desperate to be in the squad, just to travel and be a part of it.

“Tommy’s played in a few and always talks about the goal he scored against them in the play-offs, even though we lost! You can see how much it means to them.

“There are a lot of Ipswich people that work at the club and I know a lot of Ipswich people, so I know how much this game means to everybody.”

McGoldrick — and probably everyone in the Town squad — would be pleased to see Hoolahan’s name missing from the team sheet. He said: “I’m a massive fan. He’s one of the best I’ve played with.

“When we’re training with the Republic of Ireland he’s a magician. You can’t get the ball off him.

“We’re going to have to be very wary of him because in big games he does come alive. He still should be in the Premiership in my eyes because I think he’s a wonderful player. I’m not the gaffer, but for me he’s their key man.

“If you give him time on the ball and let him play he will punish you, so that is something we will have to deal with. He’s a good lad, I get on with him, but all that goes out the window on Sunday.”

Photo: TWTD

muccletonjoe added 09:04 - Feb 24 Hoolahan is the player that makes them tick and has been for several years now. If didz is in top form we will have a chance.
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JewellintheTown added 13:59 - Feb 24 ^ @muccletonjoe - Agreed but unfortunately Didz is rarely in top form nowadays, even when fully fit, so I'm hoping he's a bench warmer for this game. Too many others in the ranks with proven records in my opinion that want this win more than him at this moment in time and can put goals in the back of the net. DMcG by his own admittance isnt scoring goals and looks to me like rarely putting the shift in with any consistency. Sad, as I like him and the romantic in me wants him to win it for us.

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TrueBlue1998 added 14:44 - Feb 24 Hoolahan is a top player no doubt, just the sort of player that we want who can win a game with a bit of magic. Just completely puzzles me as to why he isn't the first name on their team sheet every week, in fact lots of Neil's decisions are peculiar and as long as he's managing them we've got a chance! Hope we go up there and take it to them, we shouldn't be afraid to play as we have been recently Come on Town!

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cat added 16:39 - Feb 24 Jewelinthetown- after watching Didz against Leeds last week, I will have to disagree with you. He was our stand out player by a mile. His one of a few who actually looks comfortable on the ball. Brave post by yourself though, so fair play to you on that one.
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