Kipre delighted to make impact in Ipswich derby win

Cedric Kipre began his career in England with Leicester City more than a decade ago

Ipswich Town's Cedric Kipre says he is relishing the competition for places in defence after scoring his first goal for the club in the East Anglia derby win over Norwich City.

The Frenchman was preferred to Jacob Greaves in Kieran McKenna's starting XI for the game at Portman Road and gave Town a first-half lead when he hammered a shot into the roof of the net.

"I used to be a striker," said the 28-year-old, who was signed in the summer from Reims on a season-long loan.

"To do it in this derby is amazing. It's the type of moment you dream of. It was a good finish - the ball was there for me to hit it."

Kipre also shone at the back, given the task of marking Norwich top scorer Josh Sargent, as they went on to win the game 3-1 - their first derby victory since 2009.

"We've got a few centre-backs, all of them are very good, so it's a fair competition," Kipre told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"If I have a chance to play, I have to make sure I grab it and show the manager he can trust me and I can play week in, week out. I hope I sent a good message."

The game against Norwich was only his second start for The Tractor Boys with Greaves having been preferred as Dara O'Shea's partner against Bristol City in midweek.

And the goal was his first in English football since scoring for West Brom against Southampton in a play-off game in May 2024.

Kipre said Ipswich were a "very confident group" and not feeling under additional pressure, although the scale of the occasion did surprise him.

"It's been 16 years, a long time coming so we are very happy that we are the group that won," he said.

"We trust each other and each other's quality. We knew if we did what we know to do on the pitch, everything would go well and it did.

"The arrival (at the ground) was a very special. There were a lot of people, and the blue smoke, it gets you pumped. Motivation is there straight away.

"All this week we'd been talking about it, we've seen a few images and videos so I was expecting it but not as big."

Ipswich's next game is away to second-placed Middlesbrough on Friday, 17 October, following the international break.