Ipswich fans hail ‘superb’ star who ‘bossed’ the game vs Stoke City: ‘He has to start every week’
Ipswich Town fans are adamant that they have found a new unsung hero after their 1-0 win over Stoke City in midweek.
The Tractor Boys endured a low start to the season in the Championship, but they are now sitting fourth after their latest victory, with a screamer from Jaden Philogene proving the difference between the two teams in midweek.
Football Insider revealed at the start of November that Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was interested in the Celtic job, but he has since knuckled back down and has his team on a run of just one defeat in their last 10 league games.
The Suffolk outfit have been rapidly marching up the table of late, much to the delight of their home fans, who have seen back-to-back victories this week.
Ipswich fans heap praise on Marcelino Nunez after assist vs Stoke
Marcelino Nunez’s move to Ipswich was one of the biggest stories of the summer in the Championship, as he left Norwich City to cross the divide between the two clubs.
The 25-year-old swapped Carrow Road for Portman Road at the end of August and has unsurprisingly become a firm favourite among his new supporters.
However, that hasn’t necessarily been the case with McKenna so far, as the boss has started the midfielder in just eight of the team’s 17 games since he completed his move.
Nunez was given the nod in the victories against Coventry and Stoke this week, and he rewarded his manager with an assist in both games.
The Chilean was at his creative best in the number 10 role for Ipswich in midweek, and their fans were quick to praise him for his performance on X after the game.
One supporter suggested that the former Norwich man “should be starting every game” for McKenna’s side, while another added that he “bossed” the midfield during the win over Stoke.
Other fans also hailed Nunez for his tireless workrate, which has really come to the fore for Ipswich of late.
- @Dinsdale81: “For someone who’s meant to be a luxury player, Nunez sure half puts in some graft!”
- @_kieranbl: “Last month or so, I’ve been really, really impressed with Nunez. Superb again tonight.”
- @Luke8644: “Another goal involvement from the ‘injury prone’ Nunez, bloke makes us tick.”
When is the next East Anglian derby?
Norwich City have had polar opposite fortunes to Ipswich of late, as they currently sit second bottom of the Championship.
The Canaries have won just once since the end of August, and are only looking down upon crisis-stricken Sheffield Wednesday at the 20-game mark of the campaign.
| Date | H/A | Score |
| 5 October 2025 | H | 3-1 W |
| 6 April 2024 | A | 1-0 L |
| 16 December 2023 | H | 2-2 D |
| 10 February 2019 | A | 3-0 L |
| 2 September 2018 | H | 1-1 D |
Norwich fans were seething when Nunez turned their back on them for their biggest rivals, and their rage was heightened when Ipswich beat them 3-1 in October, with goals from Cedric Kipre, Philogene and Jack Clarke.
McKenna’s side have to wait until 11 April for the reverse fixture at Carrow Road, which comes just five games from the end of the season.
Ipswich eyes will be lighting up at the potential possibility to deal more misery to their rivals at what could be a crucial stage of the season for both clubs.
Nunez hasn’t shied away from the natred that he has received from Norwich fans in recent months, and he will undoubtedly be desperate to try and score in that clash.