The heat is on in the Championship this week, and not just because of the weather. With four games left to go for each club, there is plenty up for grabs for the majority of the teams – none more so than Norwich, who are looking to complete back-to-back promotions and face local rivals Ipswich on Thursday.
The Tractor Boys will be desperate for revenge after a 4-1 drubbing at Carrow Road earlier in the season. Paul Jewell has got Ipswich flying, could they be about to throw a giant spanner in the works for Norwich?
Not many would have picked Norwich to go up this year, given their recent financial struggles and the fact they only got out of League One last season. However, the Canaries are now evens to be promoted after a fantastic season.
Paul Lambert has worked wonders, developing Grant Holt into the goal-machine he has always threatened to be. The 30-year-old was given the recognition his season has deserved on Sunday, when he was included in the PFA Team of the Year. Ipswich know all about Holt’s power after he ripped their backline to shreds in the corresponding fixture, bagging a hat-trick on home soil.
The Canaries are not a one man team though, with Wes Hoolahan, Korey Smith and Chris Martin all catching the eye this season. Simeon Jackson has also come into his own recently after taking the place of Martin and might be worth a look to score anytime at 7/4, with Holt at 6/5.
Norwich’s fantastic season has been down in large part to their form away from home, losing just four times on their travels all season. They have also been able to dig deep when it counts, scoring 16 goals in the last ten minutes of matches.
Since Roy Keane’s disastrous reign was brought to an end, Ipswich have been on the march – winning nine of their 18 games since Jewell took over. Town are still in with a mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs, currently sitting six points outside the top six. While they would have to win all their remaining games, a victory over their local rivals could be just the tonic they need to go on a winning run.
Ipswich have won four of the last five, although it is their form away from Portman Road that has been more impressive than recent victories over perennial strugglers. The Tractor Boys revival has been spurred on by loan star Jimmy Bullard and 17-year-old Josh Carson, who has scored three goals in his last three appearances.
Thursday’s clash between two of the league’s in-form teams is probably one of the hardest to call of the Easter weekend Championship bonanza. For that reason, the safe bet seems to be the draw at 23/10.
Ipswich will be desperate to avoid being turned over again and Norwich would probably take a point, despite the tight nature of the race for the second automatic promotion spot. For those brave few who fancy one side to win outright, Norwich are 17/10 and Ipswich are 8/5.
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