Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Knudsen Out to Make it Three in Three Against Canaries
Thursday, 19th Oct 2017 16:17

Town defender Jonas Knudsen is out to make it three goals in as many games against Norwich when they visit Portman Road on Sunday for the eagerly-awaited latest instalment of the East Anglian derby.

The 25-year-old Dane has only netted three times in 92 appearances since arriving from Esbjerg in 2015 — but his most recent two came against the Canaries in last season’s home and away clashes when he received his first taste of the fixture.

It would be an amazing feat if Knudsen could complete a unique hat-trick but he’s not ruling it out. “If I’m playing, yes, there’s a chance,” he said.

“Let’s just wait and see but if there’s an opportunity to shoot or get into the box on the end of something I’ll definitely go for it. There’s something about this game and me, so why not?

“I would love it to be the winner this time — beating Norwich would be brilliant. I’ve heard about how long it has been since Ipswich won this fixture so let’s do it on Sunday.

“But it’s not all about me and whether I can score again — the main thing is that we win the game and I’ll take that all day long. Then I’ll celebrate with the fans afterwards.”

Town’s long wait for a derby triumph goes back to April 2009, when Jim Magilton guided his team to a 3-2 win. Current keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, then on loan from Southampton, was on the home bench and ex-Blues striker Alan Lee, now the club’s U18 coach, was in the visitors’ line-up on loan from Crystal Palace.


Since then the sides have met on eight occasions, with Norwich winning five and the other three drawn, and Knudsen was asked how confident he was that he would be on the winning side at the weekend.

He responded: “I’m 100 per cent sure we can win the game. We had a great start to the season and a great result against Sunderland.

“We have played some decent football as well and in the games we have lost, like Bristol City and Sheffield United, we could have done better. We maybe weren’t at our best but we still had chances to get something from these games.

“It has been a long time since Ipswich beat Norwich and we want to do it for the fans. It would mean so much to them. We are not far away from the top six, which is where we want to be, and a win on Sunday would put us right back up there with some important games to come.

“The last few weeks haven’t been the best but we showed with the way we started the season what we are capable of doing. We need to get another good run going now, so let’s start on Sunday.

“It’s going to be a big game again. Last year at home it was my first derby and it was a fantastic feeling. I love it and you can see I love the passion of the occasion, the way it affects everyone who is involved.

“I didn’t really know beforehand just how big a game it was but after my first goal at Portman Road I certainly knew. It was fantastic and such a brilliant atmosphere. The gaffer talked about it before the away game at Carrow Road and I went and scored again!

“Wow, what a feeling it was and I went straight to where our fans were to share the moment with them. Hopefully I can do it again on Sunday — three in a row, that wouldn’t be bad, would it?”

Knudsen admitted that when he meets supporters his goals against Norwich always dominate the conversation.

He added: “I noticed it after the first goal and then more so when I scored the second. Someone even called me the Norwich killer or something like that — it was quite nice. You have to enjoy moments like that because it is about the power of the game and what it means to people.

“There was even a time in Denmark when someone came up to me and said ‘You scored two goals against Norwich’. I asked him how he knew about it and he said ‘Because I follow it — are you going to do it again next year?’

“It was strange because I didn’t expect it to happen back home. In Ipswich, yes, I am used to it, but I was shocked to be talking about it in Denmark. It just shows what the game means to the fans.”


Photos: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



agravenor added 16:26 - Oct 19
I'm sticking a tenner on Knudsen first goalscorer...
4

BlueHarwich added 16:29 - Oct 19
Go on Jonas! can tell he realises what it means to us.! GET INTO THEM F**K EM UP!!
2

WizardNinja added 16:31 - Oct 19
£5 on Bialkowski to score the winner in the 92 minute :)
1

tractorboybig added 16:43 - Oct 19
£10 on Norwich to whip us.
-4

agravenor added 16:48 - Oct 19
Tractorboybig - Have some optimism, this game isn't a forgone conclusion this year... we are in with a shout
2

tractorboybig added 16:59 - Oct 19
agravenor having seen three games this season I think we are further away than ever. ( Will still pray for a win)
1

Bluebell added 17:05 - Oct 19
I love his passion and the way he jumped at the crown at Carrot Road.

Hopefully he will make it three on Sunday.
3

agravenor added 17:10 - Oct 19
Tractorboybig - I can see your point of view mate. All depends what side turns up; if we play like did against Sunderland, we will get the win. Optimistic fans can make all the difference to the players on the day though!!
2

Seasider added 17:56 - Oct 19
Seems a really good guy,modest too,as said if I am playing.Lets hope he can emulate Danny Haynes ?

He seems to be really keyed up for the local derby,just like Fabian Wilnis used to be.

Mick has said previously that he is not keen on signing many foreign players,as they find it difficult to settle.He is wrong about this,just look at the above two.Then we have had Muhren ,Thijssen,Sixto Peralta,Thomas Gaardsoe,Herman,Shefki,Bobby Petta,Mauricio Taricco,Pablo and Martyn Rueser.

I know there have also been several like Sereni,Shumulikoski,Amir Karic,Finidi George;but if you look at the top club Wolves,half their team are Portugese;and our 'friends' from Norfolk have several including 3 Germans.

Just think two or three more overseas players could enhance our squad.
1

blockb_steward added 21:26 - Oct 19
Keep the faith all. This is our time.
1

patrickswell added 22:32 - Oct 19
There was a lovely stat on The Blue Monday Podcast last season which said that Knudsen was only the 7th Town player to score against Norwich home and away in the same season. The other names being Tom Garneys, Ted Phillips (who did it twice), Ray Crawford, Gerry Baker, Trevor Whymark and John Wark. Hopefully he and his team-mates will make more great derby day history on Sunday.
1

Swn98 added 07:40 - Oct 20
Go get em Jonas love your passion for the club and supporters.
No reason we can't beat them we are better than last season and we're robbed by yet another dodgy ref.
Let's nail them stuff them and send them packing up the A140
1


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024