A place in the third round of the EFL Trophy will be up for grabs when Ipswich Town welcome Portsmouth to Portman Road on Tuesday.

The hosts are currently unbeaten in six games across all competitions, while Portsmouth have avoided defeat in their last seven competitive matches.

Match preview

Ipswich have the chance to claim consecutive victories after they extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a 2-0 win over Exeter City at the weekend.

Freddie Ladapo opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Marcus Harness wrapped up the three points with a second-half strike.

Saturday's victory leaves Ipswich in second position in League One, but they will put their promotion push on hold as they turn their attention to the EFL Trophy.

Despite finishing level on six points with Arsenal Under 21s and Cambridge United, the Tractor Boys topped the group due to their superior goal difference.

Having already beaten Portsmouth 3-2 at home earlier in the season, Ipswich will be confident of progressing to the third round.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth are currently unbeaten in seven games in all competitions, but they would have been disappointed to slip out of the League One playoff places at the weekend.

Pompey had to settle for a point on Friday after their home meeting with Derby finished goalless, which represented their fourth consecutive league draw.

Despite struggling to convert draws into victories, Danny Cowley's have won two of their previous three competitive away games, which will inspire confidence ahead of Tuesday's contest.

They are also still yet to lose an EFL Trophy game in 90 minutes this term, although they had to settle for second place in their group after picking up six points from three matches.

Pompey have already won and lost a penalty shootout in the competition this season, and they will look to draw upon that experience if penalties are required against Ipswich.

Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon the services of Dominic Ball and Tyreece John-Jules, with the pair set to miss out through injury.

Although Kieran McKenna will be keen to progress to the last 16, he is expected to rotate his side, with Vaclav Hladky, George Edmundson and Kane Vincent-Young all set to feature.

Kayden Jackson could also be brought into the starting lineup, and he will be looking to add to the two goals that he has scored this season.

As for Portsmouth, they are expected to be without the services of Tom Lowery, Louis Thompson and Jayden Reid due to injury issues, while Joe Morrell is currently at the World Cup with Wales.

Kieran Freeman, Michael Morrison and Denver Hume could all feature in defence, with Cowley expected to make changes to his side.

After dropping down to the bench against Derby, Ryan Tunnicliffe could return to the lineup, and there may also be starting opportunities for Ronan Curtis and Reeco Hackett.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Vincent-Young, Edmundson, Keogh; Burns, Camara, Humphreys, Davis; Chaplin, Jackson; Ladapo

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Oluwayemi; Freeman, Morrison, Raggett, Hume; Tunnicliffe, Mingi; Dale, Hackett, Curtis; Bishop

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Portsmouth

Ipswich Town have won seven of their last 10 home games in all competitions, and having already beaten Portsmouth this season, we think that they will claim a narrow victory on Tuesday to progress to the third round of the EFL Trophy.

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