Preview: Ipswich Town vs. Barrow - prediction, team news, lineups

League Two outfit Barrow have not progressed into round three of the FA Cup since 2017 and to do so this season, Mark Cooper's side will have to get past Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The Tractor Boys have also not appeared in the third round of this competition since their relegation to League One two years ago, but are strong favourites this weekend against lower-league opposition.

Match preview

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Paul Cook's side would have wished for a better start to their third consecutive campaign in League One, currently sitting 11th on 27 points, seven away from the playoff positions.

Ipswich did end their three-game winless run in the league last weekend, beating Crewe Alexandra 2-1 at Portman Road thanks to a strike from Bersant Celina and an own goal from Luke Offord.

Last time out, a completely changed Ipswich starting 11 took on Arsenal Under-23s in the EFL Trophy and after the game finished 2-2, with Cook's side surrendering a two-goal lead, the Gunners progressed by winning 4-3 on penalties.

Ipswich are the second top goalscorers in League One so far this campaign, netting 36 times in 20 matches, and they will be hoping for a more straightforward tie than the FA Cup first round, when they edged past Oldham in the replay.

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Barrow are currently on a nine-game winless run in League Two, which has left Cooper's side sitting in 20th place and just four points above the relegation zone.

Last Saturday the Bluebirds just missed out on a point against sixth-placed Sutton United, who could rely on David Ajiboye's 16th-minute goal to settle the game.

Round Two is expected to be a harder challenge for Barrow, who eased past eighth-tiered Banbury United in the first round, winning 4-0 in Oxfordshire with the goals coming from Josh Gordon, Offrande Zanzala, Oliver Banks and Jordan Stevens.

Barrow's home and away form is relatively similar, suggesting that Cooper's side will not be fazed at the test of travelling to Portman Road; however, Ipswich have only tasted defeat twice in the league on home soil this season.

A win on Saturday will massively boost the confidence in the Barrow camp, and could help the side start a better run in League Two and push them higher up the table.

Team News

Cook made 11 changes to the side for their outing against Arsenal Under-23s on Wednesday, but the Tractor Boys are expected to include some more of their regular starters this weekend.

Christian Walton will continue between the posts for Ipswich, while George Edmundson and Luke Woolfenden could partner up in the heart of a back four.

Conor Chaplin is likely to start in an attacking midfield role behind Joe Pigott, who could lead the line looking to add to his two-goal tally this season.

Barrow will line up in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation with Zanzala, Stevens and Gordon expected to make up the attacking three for the away side.

Joe Grayson, Matthew Platt and James Jones will be responsible for trying to keep Ipswich from scoring as they sit in a back three, in front of goalkeeper Paul Farman.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Walton; Clements, Edmundson, Woolfenden, Burns; Harper, Mizouni; Fraser, Chaplin, Aluko; Pigott

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Grayson, Platt, Jones; Brough, Gotts, Banks, Hutton; Zanzala, Stevens; Gordon

We say: Ipswich Town 3-1 Barrow

Ipswich have not been shy on the goalscoring front this season, which is why the home team could comfortably win this second round encounter.

Barrow will make it difficult for their League One opposition with nothing to lose, but Ipswich are favourites to progress and should be able to deal with anything Barrow throw at them.

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