Ipswich vs Norwich: Mick McCarthy determined to avoid more pain in Championship play-off derby showdown

Local sides come together in first leg on Saturday lunchtime

Mick McCarthy (GETTY IMAGES)

The play-off system has not been kind to Mick McCarthy, but the Ipswich manager remains a fan nonetheless.

McCarthy has lost Championship play-off ties while in charge of Millwall, Sunderland and Wolves and on Saturday he will embark on another attempt to win promotion via that route. What gives this semi-final first leg extra spice is that East Anglia rivals Norwich are the visitors to Portman Road.

Norwich narrowly missed out on automatic promotion, finishing third, eight points in front of sixth-placed Ipswich. The Canaries also defeated McCarthy’s team in both league matches. But McCarthy hopes there will be no complaints from the Norfolk side if Ipswich prevail over the two legs.

“I’m a big fan of the play-off system,” said the 56-year-old. “My record in them is not great, in fact I was the first to suffer disappointment when they were introduced. But I still think they’re brilliant.

“It strikes me that it works perfectly well. If you finish third and you feel a bit peeved that you’re playing the team that finished sixth and however many points behind you, well you knew that at the start of the season.

“Finish second or first and then you don’t have to whinge about the rules,” McCarthy added.

“I had to accept them 20-odd years ago when I was at Millwall and we finished third. We lost to Derby, having finished loads of points clear of them. I got on with it, though. You’ve got to.”

There are a number of other Football League play-offs semi-finals this weekend. In League One, Preston take a 1-0 lead into their home leg against Chesterfield tomorrow. On Monday, Swindon are 2-1 up on Sheffield United going into their home leg.

In League Two, Plymouth are at home to Wycombe in Saturday’s semi-final first leg, while Stevenage host Southend on Sunday.