IPSWICH TOWN: ‘Our fans deserve a boost’ is the message from Blues manager Roy Keane on the eve of tomorrow’s crunch Championship derby against Norwich City at Carrow Road (kick-off 1.15pm).

Keane and Town supporters have been on a collision course since he criticised them after a section of the Portman Road crowd cheered a Barnsley passing sequence in the last home game.

Ipswich are on the back of a three-game losing run that has seen them drop into the bottom half of the table, and Keane said:

“Our fans deserve a boost – it’s been a frustrating few weeks; a frustrating few years for them.

“We need to give them something to shout about and we will try and do that. It’s a great opportunity for us.

“Whether we need to win back our fans I’m not sure.

“I don’t know we had lost them, but enough has been said about that and we must now focus on the game.

“Of course our fans will get behind us at Norwich.

“We may look daft but we know what we have to do, and look to hang on in there while not quite at it and with under full strength teams.

“The right result tomorrow and fans will forgive our little bad run that. This is the game for them.”

Keane is looking to his new loan signings to make an impact at Norwich admitting that right back has been a troublesome position for him this season.

“We persevered with Jaime Peters but he’s not a natural right back and Tom Eastman did well but he now has a thigh problem,” added Keane.

“Gianni Zuiverloon is a recognised right back who can raid forward for us. He’s technically gifted and comfortable with the ball.”

Having cost West Brom over �3million Town are unlikely to keep the Dutchman after his loan runs out in early January.

But they could do striker Rory Fallon with Keane saying that he will wait and see with the Plymouth player who is initially on loan until January 22.

“Rory will give us an aerial threat and attack the ball in the box,” said Keane. “To be fair to the boy we should not expect miracles. He’s the type of player I’ve had my eye on for a while.”

Tomorrow’s likely squads

Norwich City: Ruddy, R Martin, Barnett, Ward, Lappin, Crofts, Lansbury, Surman, Hoolahan, Holt, C Martin, Rudd, Nelson, Askou, Fox, McNamee, Daley, Johnson, Jackson.

Ipswich Town: Murphy, Fulop, Zuiverloon, Delaney, Smith, O’Dea, Brown, Peters, O’Connor, Edwards, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Livermore, Townsend, Healy, Civelli, Priskin, Fallon, Scotland, Murray.

Referee: Mr K Hill (Hertfordshire)

Ipswich Town league record at Carrow Road

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