Ipswich Town striker Noel Hunt has admitted he came very close to hitting an abusive Norwich City fan in the play off semi final.

The former Reading striker says he nearly punched a Canaries fan who invaded the pitch after Norwich's play off semi final win against Ipswich.

He wrote on his column for BeanBagSports: “As I walked across to applaud our fans I could hear him on the pitch shouting behind me. I thought, just give me one chance. I then thought, no, leave it.

“I walked over to our fans who have been superb throughout the season. We owed it to the fans to applaud them and I threw my shirt into them.

“As I turned around, that guy was there. He was wanting to square up to me and I thought right, just hit him, just hit him as hard as you can.

“As I go to flinch, a hand grabs me. It’s Stephen. He says just leave it. I don’t even know where he came from. That would have been the worst thing I could have ever done. Stephen stopping me was the right thing to do.”

Hunt's Ipswich couldn't beat Norwich after drawing 1-1 at Portman Road, thanks to a Paul Anderson equaliser.

He came on in the 82nd minute at 3-1 down, after Christophe Berra was sent off and conceded a penalty in the second half, which Wes Hoolahan converted.

Tommy Smith then got a shock equaliser ten minutes later after a free kick. Nathan Redmond scored after a superb shot from the right side of the box. Jerome then sealed the deal with Redmond involved again, stringing a through ball for the former Stoke man.

Ipswich accumulated 78 points and finished in sixth place this season.