Ipswich Town: Post-match Marcelino Nunez antics were "the perfect ending" to Norwich City victory | OneFootball

The Chilean's switch across East Anglia only added to the tension on derby day

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Ipswich Town supporters were left basking in the glory of their club's long-overdue success against bitter rivals Norwich City on Sunday afternoon, ending a 16-year hoodoo in the process.

The Tractor Boys had failed to get one over their East Anglian counterparts since April 2009 in the lead-up to the weekend showdown. However, Kieran McKenna's side showcased exactly why they were hot favourites to come out on top, as well as being tipped to finish way above the Canaries over the season as a whole.

A pulsating encounter saw Cedric Kipre, Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke write their names into Town folklore with their strikes either side of the interval and Oscar Schwartau's initial leveller for Liam Manning's inconsistent outfit.

However, whilst the aforementioned Philogene's wonder strike, in particular, has generated plenty of headlines, it still wasn't the major talking point to come in the fallout of the 152nd East Anglian derby, with Chilean playmaker, Marcelino Nunez, well and truly in the spotlight.

Ipswich Town stance offered amid Marcelino Nunez celebrations post-Norwich City

The vast majority of conversations ahead of the game focused on Nunez, who became the first player since Andy Marshall in 2001 to move directly from Norfolk to Suffolk, joining the Portman Road club for £10m on a four-year contract.

Indeed, the 25-year-old scored the winner for Norwich in the most-recent derby prior to Sunday with a long-distance free-kick at Carrow Road back in April 2024. Unsurprisingly, his presence as a substitute in just his fourth appearance for the Blues created an even more tense atmosphere among both sets of supporters.

With his current employers running out 3-1 victors, Nunez was spotted celebrating with the corner flag in front of the Ipswich faithful at full-time after being the subject of taunts from Norwich supporters following his cameo in the final 15 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, though, Football League World's Ipswich Town fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, saw no issue with the Chilean's actions, stating that it only added to a "perfect day" for those of a Tractor Boys persuasion.

"I think in every derby day, you need a 'pantomime villain'," Wilkin claimed.

"He was very much the 'pantomime villain'.

"I think it helps get the atmosphere up, it makes it that little bit more dramatic.

"It's not like he didn't put in a performance," he added.

"He came on and provided the 'pre-assist' to the third goal which saw it out, and very much helped us see out the game and get on the ball.

"It'll get fans on board with him as well. If you're going to make that move, you've got to do something to get them on board, and the fans already love him," Wilkin stated.

"It just makes it even better to wind up the Norwich fans. I don't think it was too much at all, it was the perfect ending to a perfect day."

Ipswich Town will be full of confidence after Norwich City domination

It had been a slow-burner of a campaign until recently for McKenna's side following their relegation from the Premier League, but they are now full of confidence, and that was epitomised in Sunday's overall performance.

The strength-in-depth at the Northern Irishman's disposal was also there for all to see, with the likes of Clarke and Nunez putting in strong contributions off the bench, only adding to the threat posed by the likes of Philogene, Sammie Szmodics, Sindre Walle Egeli and George Hirst in a fluid and dynamic attacking quartet.

Ending a 16-year-long hoodoo in such a fashion - as well as Nunez's post-game antics - will have only increased the feel-good factor at Portman Road tenfold amid a four-game unbeaten run which has seen Town rise up to ninth in the Championship table.

With the standings very much congested, there is every chance that they cement themselves among the promotion front-runners in the near future.