Ipswich and Portsmouth meet at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon with just two points separating the clubs in the League One standings with kickoff at 6 pm.
Supporters of Ipswich Town would have expected their team’s results to improve under new manager Kieran McKenna. The club had collected 30 points from 14 matches under him, the second-best return in the division.
Although some of the teams above them have games in hand, Ipswich has all the momentum. Just one of the goals they’ve conceded during their current eight-match unbeaten streak came during that stretch, and their 2-0 wins over Fleetwood Town and Lincoln City were impressive.
Strike duo Wes Burns and Kayden Jackson have been instrumental in Ipswich’s recent renaissance. Over the past five matches, the pair have scored three goals each to help the Blues move ahead of their upcoming opponents.
Portsmouth FC is perhaps in the stronger position of the two clubs. Danny Cowley’s team have recorded 19 points from a possible 21, scoring as many as 21 goals in the process, and winning their games in hand would take them level on points with fifth-placed Sunderland.
Cowley will tell Portsmouth fans to take it one match at a time, especially when the South-Coast team faces playoff rivals in their next three matches.
Ipswich Town vs. Portsmouth Head to Head
Both sides have 12 games against each other, with hosts taking three wins while visitors with eight wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Ipswich 2-0 Lincoln City
- Fleetwood Town 0-2 Ipswich
- Morecambe 1-1 Ipswich
- Ipswich 0-0 Cheltenham
- Ipswich 3-0 Burton
Away
- Crewe Alexandra 1-3 Portsmouth
- Portsmouth 4-0 Accrington Stanley
- Portsmouth 3-2 Oxford
- Portsmouth 3-3 Fleetwood
- Shrewsbury 1-2 Portsmouth
Ipswich Town Team News
Host’s injury problems will see them make at least two changes for the game against Brentford, with George Edmundson suffering from an ankle injury and Sam Morsy carrying a hamstring issue. Tom Carroll is expected to deputize for the pair at center-back, while Cameron Burgess is likely to play in central midfield.
Portsmouth Team News
Hayden Carter has been passed fit to play after shaking off a calf problem, while Marcus Harness serves the second match of his three-match ban. Ronan Curtis should continue as a substitute.
Prediction and Odds
This match is shaping up to be the one of the weekends. There will be no shortage of quality on display.
- Draw
- Double Chance
- Goals Under 2.5
