Former Town skipper David Norris says his Portsmouth side will have to be in top form to beat the Blues at Portman Road this evening. Norris joined Pompey on a free transfer in the summer and has so far scored three goals in 12 games for his new club, including a stunner in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Barnsley.
Norris said: "It’ll be really tough. They’re really flying so we’re going to have to be at the top of the game.
"But we’re going there on the back of a great result against Barnsley, so hopefully we’ll go to Ipswich with a bit of confidence.”
The 30-year-old admits he has been looking forward to the match against the side he joined from Plymouth for a fee in excess of £2 million in January 2008: "When the fixtures came out it was the one I immediately looked for. It’ll be interesting going back — a bit weird. But I just have to approach it as I would any other game.
"The team’s changed quite a bit over the summer, but there are still a few lads I keep in touch with regularly. There will be some good banter flying about.
"I always look out for my former clubs and want them to do well, but you always want to beat them and this game’s no different.”
Portsmouth sit in 17th in the Championship at present, having won only three of their 11 league games, but Norris says it doesn’t take long to climb into the top half of the division: "It’s so hard in this league, but if you can get a few consecutive wins then you can really fly up the table.
"Ipswich had a bad start but are on a good run now and are up around the play-off places, so it can be done.”