THIS weekend's clash with Ipswich Town brings back powerful memories for Glenn Roeder of his first game in charge as Norwich Manager last November.

Roeder's first match as City boss saw the Canaries draw 2-2 with their local rivals at Carrow Road last season. Roeder told canaries.co.uk he hoped to see a repeat of the fantastic atmosphere inside the stadium experienced during his initial derby game.

"It's very important to have that atmosphere and I'm sure it will be exactly the same throughout the 90 minutes this time," said Roeder. "Since I've been here, I've experienced some excellent atmospheres inside Carrow Road but that particular game was electric. There was a buzz about the place you don't normally get at other games, even when we went 2-0 down the crowd stayed with us because they knew how well we'd played and how unfortunate we were to be 2-0 down.

"I've never been involved with a team which got a standing ovation at half-time at 2-0 down, and the fans played their part that day. We came out in the second half and really attacked Ipswich in the manner that we had in the first half and the only difference was we deservedly put a couple of goals back and in the end we were unfortunate not to have won the game."

He continued: "A win would make a big difference to fans' lives. Here in East Anglia, Norwich fans have to work alongside Ipswich supporters, and it's important for their credibility Norwich have had a victory over Ipswich to make their lives a little bit more enjoyable. It will be the same feeling running amongst Ipswich supporters, it's the whole scenario of derby football against your local rivals."

Sunday's match kicks off at the unusual time of 1.15pm due to it's live coverage on SKY TV. Looking ahead to the game, the Canaries' manager told First News a game of such importance was sure to seperate the men from the boys: "I think it's just as big a test for us as it will be for the Ipswich players, it will be a mental test for them as well. They have to come to Carrow Road and handle it in what is always a special atmosphere.

"If you are a good player this sort of game brings out the very best in you, and it's only players that don't enjoy pressure that it would bring the worst out of. We have enough players in our squad that are strong enough to take this game on and let it bring the best out in them. I think I know all I need to know about the players I have now, but you never know everything and in every game perhaps you do learn a little bit more that you didn't know before. That's not just in a negative way, you find some positive things everyday, things you didn't realise they could do and they show you they can.

"This is the sort of game as a player you should dream about playing in and I always loved playing in derby matches. There is something special about them and I think league form goes out the window - these type of games a more like a cup final."

With Sunday's match potentially the last for Leroy Lita at Norwich, Roeder was asked about the possibility of an extension on the Reading striker's loan spell with the Canaries. He replied: "I want to keep him longer, I'll have a chat with Leroy again about that and I don't see any reason why he would want to go back to Reading at the moment.

"I can see no point him going back if he's not going to be involved in first team action and only play in reserve team football, of which there isn't any in December. As I understand it from speaking to Nicky Hammond recently, I think Steve Coppell would be quite happy to leave things as they are at the moment and for Leroy to stay here because he has the ability to call him back in 24 hours if he needs to."