Ipswich star Conor Chaplin on Norwich City derby day clash

Chaplin set up Wes Burns to score the equaliser in the second half of the December clash which finished 2-2, but the overriding emotion surrounding that game was one of frustration. Chaplin wants to put things right at Carrow Road.

“Watching it back and analysing it, I think we had a lot of chances that we missed in the game,” he said. “I thought we played really well, for a derby game as well, which is tough.

“Derby games are tough to have a really good, strong foothold in the game, which we did. We managed to create at home, and it’s not easy to get that in derby games. It’s usually very frantic, which it was at the start, but I thought we got control pretty early in the game.

“We were pleased with that, and we were probably a bit disappointed off the back of the game that we didn’t get all three points.”

Chaplin acknowledges this is a different City side to the out-of-form one they faced in Suffolk.

“I think they’re a really good team anyway,” he said. “They’ve got really good players, they set up well, they’ve got great athletes in the team as well.

“I think they’re a good team, no doubt about it, but we’re a good team as well. We’ll be looking to go there and impose ourselves on the game.”

Chaplin has little time for the obvious match stat - that Ipswich haven’t beaten the Canaries since 2009.

“All stats like that are ones for the fans,” he said. “I don’t think it can be any of our motivation or focus, I think it sidetracks from what’s really important to us if you start believing and focusing on things like that.

“I think it’s just part of preparing for the game like any other game, that’s where all our energy is going.

“It’s probably the same as every game. The closer you get to the end of the season, every game is an occasion, or it’s built up that way in the press and with the fans – and rightly so.

“From the fans’ point of view, it’s such an enjoyable moment and part of the season. For us players, it’s our job to treat each game in isolation and prepare as best as we can do.”