DAVID Norris has warned that Ipswich are close to giving one of their Championship rivals a 'real spanking'.

Derek Davis

DAVID Norris has warned that Ipswich are close to giving one of their Championship rivals a 'real spanking'.

The Blues midfielder is making huge progress after being out with a heel injury for six months and he also feels the team in general are getting so much better that someone is in for a hiding.

Premier League Wigan visit in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, but then Crystal Palace on Saturday and fourth-from-bottom Barnsley, who arrive the following Tuesday, are the next Championship sides to come to Portman Road.

After dropping four points in the past week Norris believes Town are showing big signs of improvement and warned: “We may be dropping points now but once we do get going someone is going to get a spanking off us.

“The way we are playing, and we are getting better and better, eventually someone is going to take a hiding.

“In the meantime we keep picking up points and another three at home coming up will increase the confidence. Once we get on a run we will make all these up.”

Although Town are in 16th spot, nine points behind leaders Wolves, Norris is convinced Town can soon close the gap.

He said: “The way this league is teams are going to take points off each other.

“We have a decent squad - now it is just a matter of putting it all together.

“We have gone three games unbeaten and have two clean sheets in that so everything is there for us.”

Norris is convinced Town could have taken all three points at Sheffield Wednesday but he was denied by two outstanding Lee Grant saves.

One was tipped onto the bar, the other a reflex stop when Norris thought he had scored.

He said: “It was as close as you can get. I thought I had done enough but he has got a touch and it has hit the bar and come out.

“The other was very close too but he has saved that too. He has made a few good saves throughout the match and we won't come much closer to winning than that.”

Norris conceded that Wednesday could have gone ahead in the first half but insists it was all part of Town's cunning plan.

He said: “They have just been beaten by six so we expected a reaction and for them to come out strong and they did.

“The plan was to be solid to begin with then slowly work our way into the game, which is what we did.

“The second half was all us and we should have taken all three points.”

Norris was delighted to complete his first full match since going off injured in the 2-0 loss at home against Charlton last March and being able to impose himself in central midfield.

He said: “I was pleased at getting my first 90 minutes in six months. I feel a lot stronger this time and I don't have any niggles like I did last time.

“It was very hard being out so long because I had never been injured before but finally, touch wood, I am clear.

“I enjoy the freedom of getting round the park by playing in the middle.”