Norwich City 1-0 Ipswich Town: Karl Fuller on the Blues

There are no two ways about it, Saturday’s result was a kick in the teeth. Worse still was the abject performance.

It was just totally bereft of the things we have become accustomed to seeing this season. But whilst we all had high hopes, ultimately, it was par for the course against that lot.

I do not know why we struggle against them like we do. There must be some kind of curse. For all the results and performances that we have churned out to date this season, I have no idea why we could not produce another on this occasion.

Look, nothing I am about to say will make any difference to Saturday’s result. It is done. We cannot change it. We cannot forget it. Of course not.

Another derby day defeat is in the books for Town - but they are still very well placed in the table (Image: PA)
But here is what we must do. We need to draw a line under it. We need to move on in the manner that we have done for all our other five losses previously this season.

Before Saturday’s game, we knew that whatever the outcome, we would have five massive games to follow. Look at the bigger picture compared to when we first woke up on Saturday morning. We are still in an automatic promotion place.

There is a game less to go, and we still have five massive games left. Imagine we were mid-table and lost to Norwich.

Nothing left to play for in the season and the one thing we could have shouted about, evaded us. We still have plenty to look forward to.

Leeds losing at Coventry has thrown us a lifeline. We need to grab it with both hands. I know we could be sitting here looking at how much better the table would look had we beaten Norwich.

But look at how much worse it would look if Jeremy Sarmiento had not scored that dramatic winner against Southampton.

Jeremy Sarmiento's late winner against Southampton could prove vital (Image: Stephen Waller)
We do not like 12.30pm live games, do we? All six this season have seen us winless. Four defeats and two draws has been our net return. 

In total, we have now played ten live games at 12.30pm. Nine on a Saturday, and one on a Sunday.

We have not won any of the last eight, and you must go back to December 2015, when Brett Pitman scored in a 1-0 win at MK Don,s for our last victory.

We actually won both of our first two games that kicked-off at this time. The first win being against Charlton Athletic in November 2015 when a 3-0 win at The Valley came courtesy of two Daryl Murphy goals and one from Freddie Sears.

Thankfully, our two confirmed live games remaining this season both kick-off at 8pm. In five live games so far this season at that time, we remain unbeaten with three wins and two draws.

I am still going to go with the mantra of win our home games and draw the two away from home. That will give us 98 points. It might not be enough. But it is a favourable target.

We now have two huge games at Portman Road this week with Watford and then Middlesbrough visiting.

Town fans can lift their heroes with two home games this week (Image: PA Images)
Saturday’s result and performance should be the catalyst to get our boys pumping again to take all six points.

As much as they need to do their part, we need to do ours again too. We must replicate the atmosphere of the Southampton game.  We can do this.

The Player of the Year voting has now closed. Who was your vote? No doubt about it, there has been some stand out performers this season, and all worthy of winning.

Karl's player of the year is Sam Morsy (Image: Ross Halls)

My final decision was the same choice that I made last season. I went for Sam Morsy. The guy is an immense leader and makes so much happen for us. You rarely see him lose the ball, and so often, he will find the pass to create openings for us.

I would place Leif Davis as my second choice with too many to mention for third choice. But honourable mentions to both Vaclav Hladky and Cameron Burgess for their massive contributions to this fantastic season.