Against All Odds: Tractor Boys to plough on at Carrow Road

Daryl Murphy has already notched 21 league goals

There's a cracking fixture on offer at Carrow Road this afternoon as promotion chasing Norwich and Ipswich meet in the East Anglian Derby...

Norwich v Ipswich
Sunday March 1, 14:05 GMT
Live on Sky Sports 3

It's been a streaky campaign for Norwich as after a bright start, they won just one of 10 league games - a run that saw manager, Neil Adams, resign not long after. Alex Neil was the man to replace him and he currently has the Canaries on a five match winning streak.

Wins at Charlton, Watford and Blackburn were added to by home successes over Blackpool and Wolves, and all that has led to them moving up to fifth in the table - just one point behind today's opponents and four off automatic promotion.

It's hard to make a case against them, but it's worth noting that their overall record in front of their own fans this term isn't overly fantastic - eight victories from 16, with half of those eight coming against clubs in the bottom half.

Ipswich Town are enjoying a fine campaign themselves as Mick McCarthy has the Tractor Boys up in third place - just three points behind Middlesbrough in second. A spell of three defeats in four - albeit one in the FA Cup - back in January would have put a few doubts in the minds of some fans, but they've seemingly put that behind them with three wins from their last four outings.

Even on the road, the Blues have lost only four times this season, with one of those coming on the second weekend of the campaign. They've recorded a recent win at Brentford and avoided defeat at both Bournemouth and Derby, so they won't be scared of a trip to Norwich.

The hosts have won the last three meetings between the pair but Town are a much improved team in the last six months. It should be a wonderful atmosphere and a cracking game, but I fear for odds-on backers. That's why, at around the 1.910/11 mark, I have to make Norwich my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet
Lay Norwich v Ipswich @ 1.910/11

2015 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 57 pts
Returned: 48.57 pts
P/L: - 8.43 pts (after commission)
(2014 P/L: + 17.34 pts)
(2013 P/L: + 3.80 pts)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)