please log in to view this image Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final 2nd Leg please log in to view this image Norwich City (4) 3 - 1 (2) Ipswich Town FT 90' + 6' HT 0 - 0Hoolahan 50' (pen)Smith 60'Redmond 64' Jerome 76' Attendance: 26,994 Date: Saturday 16th May 2015 Venue: Carrow Road Kick-Off: 12:15PM KIO's not606 Match Preview Tomorrow it's 'Farmageddon' as Norwich City welcome Ipswich Town to Carrow Road in the 2nd Leg of this season's Championship Play-Off semi-final. With the sides tied at 1-1 it's all to play for and although the Canaries are considered favourites by many, over 90 minutes anything could happen it is akin to a 'cup-tie' after all. Having took the lead at Portman Road in the first leg courtesy of a well worked Johnny Howson goal, City were pegged back to 1-1 when Paul Anderson equalised with virtually the last kick of the first half. please log in to view this image Johnny Howson celebrates opening the scoring with Cameron Jerome and Bradley Johnson Both sides then flattered to deceive after the break with City just edging it in the possesion stakes the game finishing in a stalemate. If the Canaries play to their full potential then they should be too strong for Town but the final outcome is by no means a foregone conclusion. Town defended admirably in the first leg and were always dangerous on the break and will undoubtedly once again be a tough nut for City to crack. Alex Neil's Match Preview please log in to view this image Alex Neil in determined mood “This hurdle for us is the one we need to overcome to make sure we get to the final and ultimately get to Wembley. “We know exactly what’s coming and we know exactly how we’re going to go about trying to win the game. Now it’s just about performing on the day and making sure we’re completely focussed." “We’re really determined, really focussed, and now we just can’t wait for it come.” “They (the crowd) will be huge, I’m hoping we can create some noise for the players to get them fired up – they won’t necessarily need that, but every little bit helps,” he said. “The more noise we can create, to hopefully put a doubt in the Ipswich players’ minds, the better." “If they get the real backing of the fans, who desperately want it as much as the players are, then we’re all in it together, and certainly if we go down that route we’ve got a better chance.” “I do expect it to be a slightly different game. I think their approach will be slightly different, the fact that they’re away from home." “That’s only natural because although you might go in with the same game plan, it never really pans out the exact same away from home compared to when you’re at home." “I think our approach will be slightly different as well so it should be an interesting match.” Ipswich Town Midfielder Cole Skuse's Match Preview please log in to view this image Cole Skuse “It’s the biggest game of my career and I’m looking forward to it. We all are,” “It was a fantastic atmosphere at Portman Road last week. There was a moment after we scored and we got a corner and a massive roar went up and it took me back a bit. I’ve not experienced that before." “The game last week had something extra over the two league meetings we’ve had. There was that extra spice to the occasion. I’m sure it will be the same on Saturday. They will have their fans right behind them but we will have our own Barmy Army and they will be making plenty of noise." “Norwich will be favourites and the pressure will be on them. They were favourites before we kicked off last weekend and their fans will be expecting them to beat us again but we’re confident we can go there and get the result we need." “There is a massive prize at stake for the winner. If I was offered automatic promotion at the start of the season, I obviously would have taken it but the next best thing is to go up via the Play-Offs at Wembley in front of a big crowd and millions watching on TV and we have a chance of doing that.” Betting Norwich are the 3/4 favourites to win the match with Sky Bet and 2/5 to reach the final at Wembley. Ipswich are 18/5 to win in 90 minutes and 7/4 to advance to the final. Either team to win on penalties is an 11/2 shot while Cameron Jerome and Gary Hooper are 4/1 to score first and Daryl Murphy is rated the visitors’ best shot to break the deadlock at 6/1. Images from today's game please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image OT please log in to view this image C
Apologies for the shorter match thread than usual guys, I've had to cobble this together at my desk during my lunch hour. Will continue to update it as and when.
Nice one KIO. I love Skuse's hedging when referring to the Town fans as 'Barmy Army'. I could think of a few other ways of describing them...
I thought it was well known that in spite of being an Ipswich fan, Mr Kipling makes exceedingly good cakes.... Oh dear, am up far too early. Nerves kicking in. I've gathered the Norwich City Bahrain supporters together for this one. All two of us. KIO!
Off to Ireland this morning- will get the Catholic side of the family to pray like feck-( not that I think it has any influence) and will be drinking lucky pints of Guinness whilst watching the canaries soar to victory - please God, Mary Jesus and joseph
You certainly would not want to get on his wrong side Guru. San Miguel for me, about 52p a bottle here, and much better than the Spanish version.
Winning game is winning it in 90 mins. Making the final includes winning in 90 mins, 120 mins, or on pens.
