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

Two sides in pursuit of the League One playoff places will square off on Saturday, as Ipswich Town welcome Accrington Stanley to Portman Road.

After a defeat for the home side last weekend, John Coleman's men sit one point and one place ahead of their hosts in 10th spot in the League One table.

Match preview

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Following a disappointing first half to the season under Paul Cook, the Ipswich Town hierarchy, who had set high expectations for the season with a strong squad, opted to replace the man at the helm with Kieran McKenna, and the former Manchester United coach enjoyed a strong start.

In his first game in charge, the Tractor Boys dug out a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers thanks to James Norwood's goal, before kicking the new year off in style against Gillingham.

Norwood again opened the scoring for his side and Wes Burns and Macauley Bonne quickly added goals before Conor Chaplin capped off a dominant away performance by converting a late penalty, but McKenna's winning start was then halted at the weekend.

The Suffolk outfit travelled to take on a Bolton Wanderers side in a five-game losing run, but goals from Kieran Lee and Oladapo Afolayan in the final 15 minutes ensured the Trotters broke their run and sent the visitors home empty-handed.

As a result, the Tractor Boys' attempt to charge up the division has briefly stalled, and, with eight points now separating themselves and the top six after the halfway mark of the term, McKenna's men will know they have little more room for error if they are to climb and meet their expectations of a playoff place at the end of the campaign.

Their visitors arrive looking to stretch a league unbeaten run to six games on Saturday, having firstly bounced back from a defeat by recording back-to-back 1-0 wins over Bolton Wanderers and former league leaders Rotherham United.

John Coleman's side then made it three straight clean sheets with a goalless stalemate away at Shrewsbury Town, before they earned a commendable point in a 1-1 draw with fifth-placed MK Dons, despite Liam Coyle being sent off for Stanley in the first half after Colby Bishop's early opener.

They hosted another promotion-chasing side last time out as Sunderland made the trip, and, with the visitors leading 1-0 heading into the final 15 minutes with Accrington defender Ross Sykes sent off, their chances of a result looked bleak.

Coleman's men defied the odds in impressive fashion, though, as Mitch Clark netted an 84th-minute equaliser to deny the third-placed side a three-point haul and stretch his team's unbeaten run to five games despite their visitors' man advantage.

That has seen Stanley leapfrog Saturday's hosts and climb to 10th place, and the Lancashire outfit will be keen to extend their impressive form and boost their chances of defying the odds and earning a playoff place this season.

Team News

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Ipswich possess impressive levels of quality throughout the pitch, and McKenna could again deploy a threatening front three with Sone Aluko supporting the duo of James Norwood and Macauley Bonne, the former of which having scored in each of the manager's first two games and the latter boasting 12 league goals this term.

Sam Morsy and Lee Evans form an accomplished midfield pair with Matt Penney and Wes Burns operating in wing-back roles.

The new boss has tended to field a back three, with Janoi Donacien, Luke Woolfenden and George Edmundson lining up in front of Christian Walton, who recently made his loan move from Brighton & Hove Albion permanent.

Accrington Stanley will be without centre-back Ross Sykes, who was sent off in the draw with Sunderland, while Liam Coyle will return to contention after serving his own suspension in that game.

Colby Bishop should continue to lead the line, having netted seven league goals so far this season, while Sean McConville offers further threat from the wing.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson; Burns, Morsy, Evans, Penney; Aluko; Norwood, Bonne

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Savin; Clark, Nottingham, Baghuelou, Amankwah; Pell, Butcher, Coyle; O'Sullivan, Bishop, McConville

We say: Ipswich Town 1-1 Accrington Stanley

While Ipswich boast one of the strongest squads in the league, Accrington Stanley have shown themselves to be resilient recently, and, on the back of an impressive run, we back them to leave Portman Road with a valuable point.

The Tractor Boys will certainly pose a major threat to Coleman's men, but Stanley have neutralised some impressive attacks and will fancy themselves to match the hosts who have struggled for consistency.

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