Norris: Plymouth can be a springboard

Derek Davis

DAVID Norris believes the win over his old club Plymouth can be the springboard to success, starting with revenge over Charlton tomorrow.

Norris had an eventful return to his Home Park but the midfielder felt the three points took a lot of pressure off the Blues

He said: “We've had the investment, and that brings high expectations, especially from the fans and the media.

“We're still taking time to click, but we're getting better and, if we can turn a few of our draws into wins, we'd be right up there.

“It's a tight league and we can shoot up the table if we can string three or four wins together.

“We need to win on Tuesday. We owe Charlton one - they beat us a few weeks back at their place - and then we've got another home game on Saturday.”

The 27-year-old was sent off in the dying seconds after picking up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after earlier being booked for a foul on ex-Colchester United star Karl Duguid.

Norris said: “The red was unnecessary. There was no need to do that in the last minute. I thought it was for the foul, but he said I kicked the ball away.

“It just rolled off the pitch. It wasn't worth a sending off, but the referee was like that all game to both sides. There were a lot of funny decisions.”

Insider knowledge helped Town secure the victory and, sending off excepted, Norris was delighted with his first return to Plymouth since making the £2m switch to Ipswich.

He said: “I keep an eye on Plymouth's results, and they've done very well recently. But we knew what to expect today.

“Paul Sturrock plays a certain way, and I think we beat them at their own game.

“We closed them down, which they might not have expected from us, and we kept the ball really well. At times in the first half, I thought we were brilliant. We forced them into errors, and we got the goals.”

The Pilgrims' fans gave Norris a warm welcome before the game and showed their appreciation to their former hero.

Norris said: “I had a brilliant time here. Every season was a successful one for me, and I loved my time here.

“The Argyle fans were brilliant to me today. I wasn't sure if that would happen.

The chairman gave his views on what happened, and I don't think that helped me. I had to sign something so I couldn't put my own views across before they released my registration, so I thought I might get a bit of stick. But the fans were magnificent, and I thank them for that.”

As happy as he was in the south-west Norris is fully ensconced at Ipswich now and feels he is settled in now he is over a foot injury that disrupted the first eight months.

He said: “I don't feel that pressure any more. I feel like I've settled into the team now. I've been happy with my form over the last few games since I came back from injury, and so has the management.

“I'm delighted with the result today, I'm happy with how I played, and I'm happy at Ipswich Town.”

Norris will miss the game against Charlton tomorrow as he must serve a one-match ban for the dismissal that can not be appealed as he was sent off via a second yellow card.