Town defender Christophe Berra believes the pressure is on Norwich City, who the Blues face in Sunday’s East Anglian derby at Portman Road, to make an immediate return to the Premier League. Berra, who views the Canaries as promotion favourites, says their season would be a “massive failure” if they’re not up there challenging.

“It’s going to be a tough game on Sunday,” Berra said. “Everyone was talking about Newcastle being the favourites, but if you look at the squads, me personally I’d say Norwich could be the favourites.

“They started well and they’ve got experience throughout their whole squad, experienced in the Premier League and the Championship, so it’s going to be a tough game.

“But it’s a derby game and anything can happen. It’s on our home turf and we want to keep up our winning form at home.”

He added: “No disrespect to Newcastle, when you watch them on the telly they’re trying to play a different type of football.

“But I think Norwich know the Championship and know it’s a mixture of both nice football and it can be helter skelter and physical and you’ve got to see games out.

“The Norwich squad have been together two, three, four seasons, they’ve been building, so for that reason I think they’ve got the experience, they’ve got the players, they’ve got the know-how to do it and people who are proven in the Championship, who have been promoted.

“And they’ve got maybe that extra bit - Steven Naismith and Wes Hoolahan - that little bit of magic sometimes.

“They’ll be one of the teams who you think will be up there. If not, it’ll be a massive failure for them. The pressure will be on them to go back up, the same with Aston Villa and Newcastle as well.

“Newcastle have come down and everyone said they’re going to be favourites and they’ve struggled so far. But the Championship’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon and there’s a long, long way to go.”

Berra was sent off for handling a goalbound shot on the line in the 3-1 play-off semi-final second leg defeat at Carrow Road at the end of the 2014/15 season but the Scotland international quickly put that behind him.

“It was just one of those things,” he reflected. “I said at the time I didn’t deliberately do it, it was just instinct.

“My leg went up, the ball was in that kind of area, my arm was out the side, but that’s football. If I dwelled on things, I’ve made plenty of mistakes in the past, it’s part and parcel of being a defender.

“You’re going to go through the season and be at fault for goals, but that’s the job as a defender in the back four.

“Strikers can play crap for 90 minutes and score a winner and that’s all they’re remembered for, or miss a sitter and it’s never mentioned in the paper.

“But then a defender makes a mistake, gives a penalty away and it’s all doom and gloom. It’s part and parcel of the position, you’ve got to be thick-skinned and just get on with it.”

In addition to games against Norwich - so far without recording a victory - Berra has featured in derbies in the Black Country for Wolves against West Brom and also in his home town.

“I remember them fondly, obviously I’ve been at Hearts and I was a local boy in Edinburgh, so that probably meant the most, coming from the town, playing Hibs,” he said. “They were great occasions.

“I think the atmosphere will be from the fans because it’s a local derby and the players need to go out there with cool heads and treat it like any other game.

“We’ve got to go out there and play our game and do the best we can do and make sure we perform on the pitch.

“As long as we can give 110 per cent and try and do the right things, that’s all you can ask, so hopefully on the day we’ll get that bit of luck and maybe the rub of the green and maybe we might outplay them, but it’s going to be a difficult game.

“We know Norwich are a top team and they’ve got a big squad, they’ve got money, having been in the Premier League and they’ve got that experience.

“The last time they came to us it was 1-1 and it was a tough game for both teams, so they won’t look forward to coming to Portman Road.”

He says players learn to ignore the pre-match media hype: “It’s the build-up that’s the main thing. I think by experience you don’t read the papers, you just get on with it.

“It’s another game for us players. You can’t treat it any differently. Obviously you have that adrenaline in the build-up and the atmosphere’s going to be pumped up, but you go out there and you do the same things you try and do, like we did at Wolves, and hopefully we’ll come out on top and get the points.

“It’ll be a tough game and it’ll be the fourth league game, so it’s a long, long season to go.”"

Photo: TWTD

Benters added 06:09 - Aug 18 Rather then worry about preasure on Norwich how about getting the once proud ITFC back up to "The promised land " ?
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 06:29 - Aug 18 Dreading this game as I hate to say it but I think we're going to get hammered.. How many fit senior players have we got now? We definitely need a few signings; at least another goal scoring striker (if not two) and at least another winger and central midfielder. We could also do with two new full backs if MM isn't going to use Emmanuel and Kenlock. Skuse and Douglas against Hoolahan and Howson....not good. I want him to play the hungry and passionate Ipswich youngsters as they'll have a sense of pride and how big of an occasion it is but a) I know he won't and b) I'm not even sure if it's a good idea! I wouldn't be surprised to see the same team as Tuesday night start.

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muccletonjoe added 06:59 - Aug 18 Close them down. Work hard when theyve got the ball and we will win the game .
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ArnieM added 07:12 - Aug 18 the reason scum "know the Championship "( whereas Newcastle dont), is because scum ARE and always have been, a Championship outfit. They may get promoted periodically but unlike many other clubs that get promoted, they are incapable of staying up because they (unlike other clubs) are unable to attract players if true PL pedigree - hence their yo-yo club status. They are nothing more than a highly spending, strong Championship Club. They can "big" themselves up as much as they like, but the facts are they are a Championship Club and nothing more.

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planetblue_2011 added 07:56 - Aug 18 Berra it would of made up for Saturday's dismal performance if we won at Wolves. To be honest the Norwich game is in our own hands if every town player is up for it we should win the game, but if we play with no pride or passion Norwich will win as simple as that. We need to put in a great team performance & send us fans home happy!! I'm sure we will get behind them so it's up to them at the end of the day. We can turn the screw on the scum with a win or loose again!!.

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planetblue_2011 added 08:13 - Aug 18 Or it might be a draw!
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iaintaylorx added 08:21 - Aug 18 I do hope that we shut up those budgies and get one over on them. It is derby and like Berra said, anything can happen, but what I do hope, is to watch some promising football over anything else. Keep the ball on the floor when we can and give it the big lump if and when we need to mix it up. We do have players to hurt Norwich and I really don't think they are THAT good. I'm always a lot more confident with Bart in goal and also play a system which suits the players at our disposal. COYB!!!

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cornishblu added 08:56 - Aug 18 Winning form at home.....no wonder we lost the Stevenage game...seems as though some can't even remember it happened !!!!! As said in previous comments as much as it pains me lets not focus on this next one as a season breaker ....win it and I shout as loud as anyone ...loose it shake ourselves down and then crack on....the budgies have money ...we have little ....what I want to see is passion , let's show that wearing the blue and white delivers more passion than the sick yellow, green or the "bird poo" shirt .....debate ability after we have run ourselves into the ground....first minute to last COYB

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Mullet added 08:59 - Aug 18 Well played Christophe, very smart indeed.
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tractorboybig added 09:11 - Aug 18 await MM s excuse for the forthcoming defeat with intrest. looks like the players already accept it.
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Ferguson added 09:15 - Aug 18 Stop their wing backs and the boys could do it. Make some Noise Tractorboys and let's sing them Budgies off the park !
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BlueMachines added 09:20 - Aug 18 Let us just concentrate on what happens with our own team, not them lot up the road!!
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TCisdynamite added 09:30 - Aug 18 oooooo I see what Cb is doing here, playground tricks. aware he was a part of a clean sheet back 4 on Tuesday night. however I would drop and play smith- slightly more mobile against the power and pace of Jerome. also has been with the club for years now so will know what this game is all about. COYB !
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bohslegend added 10:15 - Aug 18 Crafty comments from Cristophe. Really loking forward to this. I've a sneaky suspicion this might be a long overdue win against the scum. Pity though that even comments from a senior player ahead of such a big game are picked at by the usual moaners determined to find something negative to say. What would be wrong with letting him answer the questions being put to him and looking forward to the Old Farm Derby as a huge game without feeling the need to have another pop?

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battyblue added 10:33 - Aug 18 McCarthy will set up and play for a 0-0 just like he always does,,our backs will get skinned alive want us to win but just can't see it some how,,suppose miracles do happen once in a decade so hope its this Sunday.
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BrettenhamBlue added 10:53 - Aug 18 Crafty comments from Christoph, but really hope we get a result. I managed (somehow) to get my 2 nephews to come to the game as they have never seen us more than draw against Norwich. They are seriously scared of being humiliated yet again and I only hope that if we do go down we go down fighting. Initially they were really reluctant to go. Just really hope we can get a good result against them. A Hoolahan own goal in the first minute will set up things nicely. I used to look forward to these games but now I just look at them with dread. Please no own goals. Little to no hoofball. Don't give away penalties. Another world class performance from Bart. COYB

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paulcooperisgod added 11:31 - Aug 18 Instead of bringing out the same old obvious statuses about how the pressure is on Naaarwich why don't you concentrate on your own game? We are a poor mid table championship club and if we get a draw I'd be happy cos we could honestly get a right tonking Sunday we are that far behind them and always will be while dinosaur MM is the manager
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BackTheBlues added 11:54 - Aug 18 Shame Hyam is injured! Teddy has to start! Dozzell needs to play a part! All local boys it means something too! For me Smith should also start - that celebration in the away 2nd leg - he is almost one of our own! But heavens sake - please compete! I'm fed up of seeing them beat us, I'm fed up of seeing 30 yard worldies against us because we haven't closed down, or letting them waltz through without a tackle! I want my team to come off the pitch shattered because they gave me everything they had in return for my attendance support and money - after that the result can be applauded either way!

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rinkydinkpanther added 12:13 - Aug 18 Fair enough Cristophe, but this doesn't take away from the fact that there's also pressure on us not to be really sh1t.
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lightingblue added 12:46 - Aug 18 I've a feeling that this is the start of the excuses coming out of ipswich before even a ball has been kicked. Not a good vibe around the club at present. Not competitive in the league, and the present olympic ticket issues with mr Evans along with fans getting disgruntled. We are not in a good place at present. Don't misunderstand me me i am grateful for the amount of money has put in the club and McCarthy saving us from league 1 football. Both guys have fulfilled their roles at the club. Close this chapter and let's progress. Lets forget about the financial fair play thing as in fairness it will never be a fair play thing. Palace will never compete with man city and Rotherham will never compete against Newcastle. Rant overand god save the queen

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jjhbruno added 12:50 - Aug 18 Bout time there was pressure on us going back up
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StowTractorBoy added 12:59 - Aug 18 Not looking forward to this at all and fed up of being in their shadows. I agree with Berra that they have the best 'Championship' equipped squad on paper and should get promotion. We must somehow snuff out Hoolahan and win the midfield battle which I think will mean MM will play the same midfield as at Wolves. Be a bonus if Pitman is fully fit as badly need some potency up front. Sears has been a huge disappointment of late and if fit Pitman will surely play. If we can't win lads please make sure that we don't lose otherwise no About Norwich or Look Norwich for me on Monday.

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Lathers added 13:06 - Aug 18 The only way we can win is to play like the away side, pack the middle of the park and look to nick a goal from a set piece. If we try to play 'entertaining' football they will open us up like a can of beans. MM is a creature of habit though and because we got a draw on Tuesday night he will play the same 11 from Wolves.
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bluearmy4life added 13:31 - Aug 18 Can't make any excuses Berra we need and Must win! If we raise our game and play to the best of our ability and all of the boys blue give there all blood,sweat, tears give us something to cheer about and remember for years to come! Is that to much to ask for?
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GiveusaWave added 14:11 - Aug 18 For all those that are frightened/spoiling themselves/terrified. WE HAVE TO PLAY THEM AT SOME POINT if we are to turn round our record against them. This is our opportunity to FiNALLY pay them back for all the times they have defeated us in the last few years. This is where we hold them. This is where we fight. Now is our time. Let's get behind the team and absolutely batter them. Fight until the very end of the match.

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