Town boss Kieran McKenna says full focus can now finally turn to Sunday’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Portman Road.

The Blues boss has been quick to dismiss suggestions of having one eye on the match as the build-up for the first meeting of the season intensified over recent weeks with other fixtures still to play.

But following the 1-1 draw against Bristol City at Ashton Gate, McKenna says the players have now begun to speak about this weekend’s much-anticipated meeting with the Canaries.

“They certainly will be,” he said. “There’s not been any mentions of it before tonight but it was mentioned in the dressing room afterwards by the lads.

“We can get the journey over and I think we’ll all wake up and look forward to a really good game on Sunday, a really big game and one to really be excited for.”

This year features even more added spice in light of midfielder Marcelino Núñez’s controversial switch to the Blues from Norwich during the summer transfer window.

The Chilean international, who joined for an initial £7.5 million, started for the first time during the draw with Bristol City, and McKenna was asked whether it will be a difficult decision for him to play against his former club on Sunday.

“Not just for Núñez, we have that a lot of weeks, to be honest, because we’ve signed quite a few players from different Championship clubs,” he said.

“Sam Szmodics coming to his old club tonight, Sam Szmodics was at his old club at Blackburn. George Hirst scored last game against Portsmouth.

“When we got to Hull we’re going to have some players, when we go to West Brom, we’re going to have half a team!

“It’s not just that. Of course, you weigh it up. I don’t think anyone can have extra motivation for a derby, but any time any player’s going back to their old club, you weigh up the fact that it’s a special game for them and the fact that maybe there’s an extra half a percent that you can squeeze out of a player.

“But also the fact that you have to analyse the game and the opponent and pick what you think are the best strengths and the best partnerships for that game.

“We won’t treat this one any differently on Sunday, it’ll be about taking all things into consideration and picking what we think is the best team and the best bench.”

It has been 16 years since Town last beat their arch-rivals, a statistic that is not lost on anybody associated with either side heading into this weekend’s Portman Road meeting.

McKenna added: “We haven’t spoken about it yet, we certainly will over the next few days. I think all the players already do, but certainly the new players, they know the significance of it for the supporters.

“The club’s done some brilliant things over the last few years, but we’d like to get that derby win for the supporters and we’re going to give everything we can to get that on Sunday.”

Photo: TWTD

DifferentGravy added 23:22 - Oct 1 Town will need to play a whole lot better to get a a long overdue win v Narwich. I watched them on Sky this evening. The budgies created a lot of chances and, but for an inspired WBA keeper, would have won. Mckenna needs to sort it out.
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Dissboyitfc added 06:06 - Oct 2 Whats your point different gravy, Narwich have lost 5 on the bounce at home, a new club record! Our fans our moaning and we have lost only one all seasonl, so less credit for them and a bit more for the blues! It does concern me though, a victory for us on Sunday could seal Mannings fate, i think he is doing a great job!
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ringwoodblue added 07:53 - Oct 2 I reckon it could be a cagey game with very few goals so we need to make sure we score first, get PR rockin and then be solid in defence ie keep Sargent quiet. I’d love a thumping 4 or 5 nil but I’d happily take a 1-0 just to end the 16 yr misery
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BobbyBell added 10:26 - Oct 2 Against Coventry and Stoke, Norwich conceded more than 50 attempts on goal combined. That suggests their defence is not that solid. They got a point from each game due to poor finishing not good defending.
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blueboy1981 added 12:06 - Oct 2 NO excuses after this one please !!
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DifferentGravy added 12:40 - Oct 2 Dissboy - Think you are just looking for an argument. We did not play particularly well against Bristol City and have stuttered so far this season. I think thats a fairly reasonable assessment reached by most Town fans. Agreed, Narwich have an abysmal home record this season. However, my point was, I think those results have been misleading. They played well for long periods last night and should have won. They also have a decent away record. It is up to the manager to put the right players out on the pitch (which I dont think Mckenna has been doing), be tactically more versatile and, as a consequence, perform a lot better if we are to beat the Budgies. Hope that clears up any confusion you may be having. I await your down mark with anticipation.

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blueboy1981 added 16:18 - Oct 2 Lets not build Norwich up as current ‘world beaters please, which we know they are NOT - irrespective of this being a ‘local derby’. And is it compulsory to make Subs’ on 70 mins’ in every game this season ? - if so, my remiss I wasn’t aware of such !! Just saying ! - and HOPING for a WIN, no excuses, of poor Officials, or whatever ! Lets do nothing but deliver a WIN !!

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blueboy1981 added 16:23 - Oct 2 …… Different Gravy …… spot on with that, a fair non-biased post !
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SamWhiteUK added 16:42 - Oct 2 Lightningboy obviously didn't read the article.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:08 - Oct 2 I just wish the " hypeometer " could be turned down somewhat, I've no problems with wanting to beat Norwich, just as I want to beat all opponents. You finish the match with either 3, 1 or 0 points, just like all the others. I will say this, If someone offered me 2 defeats to Norwich this season, in return for automatic promotion, I'd bite their hand off! That being said, we are overdue a derby victory for sure.

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armchaircritic59 added 18:43 - Oct 2 Just in case anyone thinks I'm the Grinch for the post above, though I stand by it, I'll just mention the best local derby I've seen. It was at Carrow Road in 1968! We won 4-3, which included a hat trick from Colin Viljoen ( classy midfielder of his generation ). No low blocks back then!
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BlueWax added 19:31 - Oct 2 BobbyBell. Good stat research!
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shakytown added 22:49 - Oct 2 We are playing very well but just need a bit of pace and variety to our play. A long ball over the top occasionally keeps defenders thinking and not just slowly moving back into position waiting for us to eventually move the ball out of our half.
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Tedray added 11:26 - Oct 3 This is an awful fixture which I wish would not happen.Sadly form goes out of the window and a lot of emotion and worry take over. However it appears that Ipswich have the superior players and therefore it is incumbent on our manager to use that advantage to achieve that vital win. It is dangerous for both managers for a failure on either side could have serious consequences - It is payback time for Mr Mck to redeem himself with the fans after so many failures but is he capable of achieving it.........

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blueboy1981 added 11:42 - Oct 3 …… Tedray …. Subs’ at around 70 mins’ whatever, would be a far safer bet - unfortunately !!
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Linkboy13 added 12:10 - Oct 3 Home form has been decent away form has been lacking creativity and leadership since Morsy departed. Cannot rely on Davis and Philogene every week midfield has been steady but need more from them in the creation department.
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Linkboy13 added 15:59 - Oct 3 Yes armchaircritic59 i was at carrow road when Viljoen got his hatrick and when he made his debut against Portsmouth at Portman road when he scored a perfect hatrick one with his right foot one with his left foot and a header. Unfortunately we haven't got anyone near his class of player at the moment.
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armchaircritic59 added 17:55 - Oct 3 Linkboy13, it might be a bit too late in the post for you to see this, but yes, CJ was definitely a classy midfielder, would be a terrific addition to todays squad! Strangely enough I remember the Norwich hat trick better than his debut hat trick, though I was definitely there! Maybe Nunez can pick up the CJ baton and run with it, big boots to fill though.
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Linkboy13 added 14:36 - Oct 4 Don't know who CJ is possibly meant to be CV.
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