How many times has that happened?

Ipswich Town get us all excited - and then fluff their lines.

We went along on Saturday full of expectation after the excitement against Sunderland, but were brought crashing back to earth with a very large bump.

So, this season is already forming a very clear pattern.

We’re good enough to see off the struggling sides without too much difficulty, but we don’t have the quality to challenge the top teams.

Which, if it stays that way, will mean... another mid-table finish.

But, if you think that’s frustrating, there is a silver lining. And that’s in the entertainment value.

Just consider the stats.

In the first ten league games of the season, Town’s games have seen 36 goals - 20 for the Blues, 16 for our opponents. Only Hull fans have seen more goals.

For a Mick McCarthy side, that’s bordering on crazy.

The last three games have been even more extraordinary. The aggregate score in those is Ipswich 8 Opposition 8. That’s entertainment, as they say.

Now, I realise it’s stretching the truth to describe the ball flying into our net as ‘entertainment’ but the ever-present possibility of goals at both ends at least keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Compare that to the grinding boredom of last season. I know which I prefer.

So, yet another tedious international break now, but it does give us the opportunity to get our walking wounded fit.

Let’s hope McGoldrick’s injury is only trivial.

It was good to see Webster back on the pitch and hopefully Huws will be back very soon.

When the action starts again, it’s a tough trip to Sheffield United, and then we welcome our neighbours to Portman Road.

The Canaries are suddenly looking quite formidable, especially defensively.

Surely our time has come to beat them? It’s ridiculous that we don’t have a win against them since Jim Magilton’s last game as a manager.

But we will have to break the mould for that to happen, because I’m pretty sure Norwich will end up as play-off contenders.

On a more parochial level, wouldn’t it be good to have cross-border bragging rights for the first time in absolutely ages?