Norwich vs Ipswich Prediction: All aboard for El Tractico

Norwich City and Ipswich Town renew hostilities in the Championship as the Canaries try to knock the Tractor Boys off their automatic promotion perch (12:30 BST, Sky Sports Main Event & Football). The rivalry is known in some quarters as ‘El Tractico’ or the ‘Old Farm’ derby. But away from the social media merrymakers, this is one of the most bitter feuds in English football.

Read on for my Norwich vs Ipswich predictions ahead of this blockbuster Championship clash.

Team News

The injury crisis at Carrow Road has necessitated the appointment of a decorated figure from the sports-facing medical field. Dr Paul Ford MBE joins Norwich as Performance Director, having spent 15 years with the British Olympic set-up.

The good doctor has a full plate to deal with. The Canaries are missing Ante Crnac and Mirko Topic long-term with cruciate injuries. Matej Jurasek is sidelined with a foot problem. 

Ruairi McConville is out with a muscle issue while on-loan Manchester United defender Harry Amass has returned to Old Trafford following a hamstring injury that looks likely to sideline him for the remainder of the season. 

On the Tractor Boys’ side of the equation, Azor Matusiwa was hooked in the first half of Town’s 2-1 win over Birmingham City. The midfielder is not expected to play a part at Carrow Road.

Football Odds

Norwich vs Ipswich Odds

The Canaries are 2/1 to fly away with the win. Ipswich are marketed at 13/10 while the draw is up for 5/2. Five of the last 10 meetings between the sides have seen the spoils shared.

The goalscorer market is headed up by George Hirst, who is 11/2 to bag the first goal or 9/5 to net at any time.

Ipswich to win @ 13/10

Norwich are in fine form, but derbies are a different ballgame altogether. Well, they’re still football but, you know, different.

With this in mind, I expect the quality of the Tractor Boys to win out on Saturday lunchtime. While Coventry City look to be running away with the league, Ipswich are capable of planting some cursory doubt in the minds of the Sky Blues faithful.

They aren’t the only ones. Town are right to be wary of the chasing pack. Kieran McKenna’s men are second in the table on goal difference, with Middlesbrough and Millwall level on 72 points with Ipswich. Every match counts and I trust Ipswich to make the most of this chance to secure local bragging rights and a national shot across the bow at their automatic promotion rivals.

Both teams to score @ 8/11

Both sides have scored in four of Ipswich’s last five league games. Meanwhile, Norwich are coming off a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth and a 2-1 victory over Millwall. These are two sides more than capable of making BTTS a worthy flutter.

Even during Norwich’s poor early-season run of form, they netted against Ipswich in a 3-1 defeat. While they will be hoping for a different result, I feel both teams will score again at the very least. 

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