Ipswich go to fierce rivals Norwich in a crunch East Anglian derby with the Tractor Boys top of the Championship and bidding for Premier League promotion; watch Norwich City vs Ipswich Town live on Sky Sports Football from 12pm today; kick-off 12.30pm.
Saturday 6 April 2024 11:44, UK
"There is no doubt about it, it's happening – up the Town!"
That was the message from one fan in the Ipswich club shop at Portman Road on Thursday, when I asked them how confident they were about promotion from the Championship.
Another fan was effusive about the atmosphere at recent games.
"I've been supporting Ipswich since 1953 and I've not heard Portman Road like that in a long, long time," he said.
He is referring to the noise created by the Ipswich fans when they had a euphoric moment as Jeremy Sarmiento expertly toe-poked a 97th-minute winner against Southampton in their dramatic 3-2 win on Easter Monday.
The goal felt like a pivotal moment in an enthralling title race. It returned Ipswich to the top of the table and continued an impressive run of nine wins in their last 10 league games.
But Ipswich have needed to be that good with Leicester and Leeds on their tail - both sides also showed what they can do on Easter Monday with vital wins of their own.
As I made my way to Ipswich's training ground for pre-match media duties ahead of a huge derby against Norwich, I wondered - what must the atmosphere be like ahead of such an intense period of games coming up?
When I arrived, I chatted to Ipswich and Australia centre-back Cameron Burgess and asked him what would achieving promotion to the Premier League mean?
"Indescribable," he said.
But how do you deal with the pressure, the almost… expectancy of getting promoted with six games left?
He firstly referred to their experience of last season and how they secured promotion from League One to the Championship. The way they were able to guide their way through those final games will undoubtedly give them the confidence they can do it again as they approach this important stretch of games.
Manager Kieran McKenna said similar when I asked about this in his news conference - he talked about the "ethos" he and the squad built as they achieved promotion to the Championship and how they have applied the same discipline, humbleness, and work-rate into this season - that is why they have been successful, so far.
As Ipswich prepare for the huge East Anglian derby, it does not feel like there has been a bigger derby in a long time. Partly because they actually have not played each that much due to Norwich yo-yoing between the Premier League and Championship while Ipswich lingered in League One.
Nevertheless, despite not being part of much of the derby's more recent memories, McKenna and the rest of the squad are aware of the unwanted records. No wins at Carrow Road in the league since 2006, no wins against Norwich in the league full stop since 2009.
This derby is different, though. Both sides have so much to compete for on top of the usual spice of an intense rivalry.
The Canaries, who go into the weekend sixth and looking to cement their play-off spot, could put a huge dent in their rivals' promotion hopes. So, with so much at stake, the history of this rivalry to repair for Ipswich - does that heighten expectation?
Well, I put that to McKenna and he gave a great philosophical answer. "We don't need extra motivation, but it's maybe a different kind of motivation," he said about what is at stake in this particular match.
As I reflected on my day in Ipswich, one thing is definite - in McKenna's relatively short space of time, he has made the fans, players and everyone connected to Ipswich believe once again.
While their fans will be dreaming of Premier League football, I think McKenna put his ethos across perfectly after their late win against Southampton.
"It's not our job to dream, it's our job to do," he said, and they could 'do' something incredible come the end of season by returning to the Premier League after a 22-year absence. They will take a huge step in doing so if they get past their fierce rivals this weekend.
Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket and so much more.
