He has not scored in 24 games, since netting in Town’s 3-0 home win over Charlton back in December, but Tommy Smith is still hoping to come up trumps in the forthcoming play-off clashes against Norwich.
Defender Smith, whose four goals this term put him on a career tally of 20, laughed: "I know it’s been a while but I feel I’m due one. Hopefully I’ve been saving it up for the play-offs.”
But Smith was quick to praise top scorer Daryl Murphy, whose 27 goals made him the leading marksman in the entire Championship this season. He said: "Daryl hasn’t had any trouble scoring goals.
"He’s been on fire and obviously since Freddie Sears has come in he has also been banging them in. Hopefully they can carry on that form into these two play-off games.
"Daryl has really stepped it up this season and I think it comes from the work he has done with TC over the last couple of years. He’s improved massively as a player and hopefully he will carry on banging in the goals and see us to promotion.”
Smith has been aware of Town’s bitter rivalry with Norwich ever since he first set foot in Ipswich having left home in New Zealand as a youngster, firstly on trial and then to join the Portman Road academy and launch his career as a footballer.
He grinned: "It’s a big rivalry. Hate is not the right word but obviously there is a dislike towards them. I’ve grown up in the area since I was 16 and I’ve seen what it means to the fans.
"That has rubbed off on me but it’s about not getting too carried away. We obviously owe them one and it’s going to be two massive games against them.
"There have been a lot of people, Town supporters, on social media saying things. I can’t really repeat what they have been saying — but you can probably get the gist of it about doing the budgies. It’s a massive game and a massive opportunity for us to make it to that promised land.”
Norwich may have triumphed in each of the league clashes this season but Smith believes too much should not be read into these results, adding: "They got goals at vital times and we missed chances.
"Maybe luck hasn’t gone our way either. I can remember in the away game when Freddie had a shot that was deflected and hit the post. If that goes in it’s a different ball game.
"Sometimes it’s just that little bit of luck that you need. There wasn’t a massive gulf in class between the two teams so there’s no reason why we can’t beat them.”
And because the game will be decided over two legs Smith is reluctant to put too much emphasis on the outcome of the first meeting at Portman Road tomorrow.
Asked if it was vital Town needed something to take to Carrow Road on Saturday week he responded: "I don’t think it’s a vital ingredient but obviously at home you want to take as much advantage as you can going into the second leg.
"It’s a fantastic prospect. It will be a full house — we don’t get many of them — and there will be a great atmosphere around the place. The fans will be buzzing for it and I’m sure that will rub off on us.
"I really think the bulk of the pressure is on Norwich. Obviously their league position, finishing third, is going to make them automatic favourites throughout the play-offs. They have a Premier League squad — they only came down last season — but there is no reason why we can’t beat them.
"Our two league defeats hurt us. It’s always the biggest game of the season for the fans and to not give them the bragging rights around the area was a bit of a blow. But we’ve managed to recover and make our way into the play-offs and now we owe them one.”
Smith still feels the hurt of being on the losing side at Carrow Road in the Canaries’ promotion-winning season four years ago when they triumphed 4-1 and then went one better to pull off a 5-1 success at Portman Road later in the campaign.
He added: "I played in the away game and that was horrible. It was the season they went up and they did that to a number of teams but it’s never nice to lose like that to your local rivals.
"There hasn’t been a massive gulf in class this season but they just seem to have taken their chances, whereas we didn’t, and we just need to make sure we are clinical on Saturday.
"I prefer to remember a home win that I witnessed. It’s a long time ago now but I remember Danny Haynes scoring the winner at home. That’s probably the one memory that stands out for me and it would be great to see those sort of scenes at Portman Road again on Saturday.”