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

Ipswich Town will welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Portman Road on Wednesday with the hosts aiming to end a six-game winless run in all competitions.

Meanwhile, the visitors enter the fixture in fifth place in League One, and they will be looking to extend their current unbeaten run to six matches.

Match preview

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Kieran McKenna will take charge of his first game as Ipswich boss on Wednesday as he takes over a side that are 10 points adrift of the League One playoffs.

Unfortunately for McKenna, Ipswich's Boxing Day trip to Gillingham was postponed, but the new manager will be pleased that his first match at the helm will now take place on home turf.

In their last outing on December 18, the Tractor Boys drew 1-1 at home against Sunderland after James Norwood's opener was cancelled out by a Nathan Broadhead strike.

That draw extended Ipswich's poor run of form that has seen them win once in their previous seven league games.

Despite losing only twice at home in the league this term, they have struggled to pick up victories at Portman Road after collecting six home draws - more than any other League One team on home soil - and one of McKenna's first tasks will be to try to convert those draws into victories.

Meanwhile, Wycombe will return to action after games against Bolton Wanderers and Cambridge United were postponed due to coronavirus cases in the respective opposition squads.

As a result of the postponements, the Chairboys have not taken to the pitch since an entertaining 2-2 draw against Wimbledon on December 11.

In that fixture, Adebayo Akinfenwa equalised after Jack Rudoni had given Wimbledon the lead, and Rudoni must have thought that he had won the game when he scored his second goal of the afternoon in stoppage time, but Joe Jacobson snatched a point in the sixth minute of added time after dispatching his spot kick.

Despite the long break between games, Gareth Ainsworth will be hoping that his side can continue their fine goalscoring form, which has seen Wycombe score ten goals in their last five matches.

As well as their success in front of goal, the Chairboys have also fared well on their travels this season having only lost twice away from home in the league, which will leave Ainsworth feeling confident that his side can collect a positive result on Wednesday.

Team News

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It remains to be seen how McKenna will set up his new side, but he may opt with the 4-4-2 formation that was utilised against Sunderland.

That would allow Macauley Bonne and Norwood to continue their promising new forward partnership.

After coming into the starting lineup for the Wimbledon clash, Luke Woolfenden is expected to keep his place in defence.

As for Wycombe, they are likely to line up with a back three of Jack Grimmer, Ryan Tafazolli and Jacobson.

Despite coming on as a substitute to score against Wimbledon, Akinfenwa will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Sam Vokes will look to add to his six-goal league tally when he partners Brandon Hanlan upfront.

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

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Grimmer, Tafazolli, Jacobson; McCarthy, McCleary, Mehmeti, Thompson, Obita; Hanlan, Vokes

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Ipswich won the reverse fixture by a comfortable 4-1 scoreline, and though Wednesday's contest should be closer, we think that the hosts will benefit from the new manager bounce to edge out Wycombe at Portman Road.

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