Thanks to a bad hand dealt by Mother Nature I find myself sitting with home supporters on many away game jaunts. Last night, in what must be pretty close to the worst facilities at this level in English Football, proved no different.

Isolated by the width of the pitch from our own supporters, cheering the team along can be testing at times.

Admittedly, that Christmas time that we went top of the league at Portman Road, we were privileged with handshakes from many of the players, as well as Nigel Worthingon, who once occupied the popularity throne.

There have been times when those of us seated in that most obscure section of the stadium had wished that the ground would open up and swallow us.

Especially as the taunts from the home support were aimed at gleaning a reaction from the Norwich Supporters who are, already, under strict orders from Portman Road staff to be on the best of behaviour or face ejection.

Last night, during that wonderous game that saw Norwich City dominate an Ipswich side with a 5-1 victory, proved a most distracting exception to the rule.

An Ipswich supporter who praised almost every move made by the Norwich players.

It would take too much space to give a minute by minute review of his praise, suffice it to say that Norwich outclassed; out-thought; out-paced and outstood in every tactical move.

At one stage, this green supporter (obtained when mixing blue and yellow together) was telling his compatriots to watch the Norwich movement off the ball.

It was almost child like: "Look at it, look at it", was his mantra.

Now, some might choose to put a negative slant on this supporter's views, condemning his opinions to one who is mentally challenged because, why else sit where he was sitting.

To those denigrators I say, the wheels are there to do what our legs will not. They are not there to wheel empty heads about, like a wheelbarrow full of cabbages.

Such praise from an opposing supporter for your team is uncommon. The last time I ever heard it was at Turf Moor in 2004, in the game where we came from behind every time to run out eventual 5-3 winners.

As this person was about to leave, before the final whistle, he wanted to shake my hand. "Norwich deserve to be in the Premiership", he said.

Coincidence? Or conspiracy? Either way, it is looking like away support might be a more expensive game next season.

Photo: Action Images

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