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Friday 8 February 2019 17:24, UK
Daniel Farke says the Sky Bet Championship table must be disregarded as Norwich prepare to face Ipswich in the East Anglian derby, with both sides in contrasting fortunes.
Norwich are unbeaten in their last five league fixtures, including victory against fellow promotion chasers Leeds last week, while Ipswich are eight points adrift of safety ahead of Sunday's match, live on Sky Sports.
Farke expects Paul Lambert's languishing Ipswich side to be "highly motivated" for the meeting at Carrow Road, and believes it may be the last chance for their opponents to maintain hopes of retaining their Championship status.
"Derbies are always a game you have to judge without regarding the table too much. Of course everyone expects right now [us to win], they know we are in a really good shape and pretty successful in recent weeks, even recent months.
"For that they would expect we are the favourites. If we are really honest the table for the derby doesn't count so much.
"These games are full of passion, emotion. They are special games, each derby has its own story and for that you can't predict how such a game develops. You have to judge it in a special way.
For Ipswich it is a big chance, perhaps if we are realty honest one of their last chances during this season to change their mood and be back in the relegation battle and get some self confidence back.
"Of course we are greedy to go further on and we are greedy to be successful. We are highly motivated but it will be 100 per cent a hard game because it is a big chance for Ipswich.
"Even for them you can compare it with a cup game. It's a big chance within one game to change the whole mood, spirit at the club. I am pretty sure they will come highly motivated and I expect a really difficult game for us.
Lambert has won just two games since taking charge at Ipswich in early November but Farke is well aware of the significance a first victory for their neighbours in the East Anglian derby since April 2009 could have.
"For Ipswich it is a big chance, perhaps if we are really honest one of their last chances during this season to change their mood and be back in the relegation battle and get some self confidence back," the Canaries boss said.
"For that they will try everything and 100 per cent they will try to annoy us and break our rhythm.
"We have to be prepared, handle the intensity, highly motivated opponent and the aggressiveness. It's important to play this game with flame in the heart but also cool in the head. To find this balance will be crucial."
Farke was unwilling to suggest what kind of reception former Norwich boss Lambert would receive on his return to the club he led to back-to-back promotions and Premier League football, but was full of admiration for the European Cup winner with Borussia Dortmund.
"I can't judge the relationship of our supporters with Paul," the former Borussia Dortmund reserve-team boss added.
"The only thing I can say is I am full of respect of his work. Because of his time at Borussia Dortmund he is pretty famous in Germany because he won the Champions League title.
"When he was in charge here at Norwich he was responsible for unbelievable success, with promotion, and for that I am full of respect for his work."
