Looking to put their 2024 FA Cup embarrassment firmly behind them, Ipswich Town will welcome Bristol Rovers to Portman Road for a third-round clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Tractor Boys enjoyed a share of the spoils at Craven Cottage against Fulham last time out, whilst the Gas managed a much-needed victory in League One following a change in management.
Match preview
In the midst of a highly-successive two campaigns, in which promotion from League One to the Premier League was secured, Ipswich Town endured a shocking afternoon at Portman Road in the fourth round of the FA Cup last season, losing 2-1 to National League South outfit Maidstone United.
Whilst the Tractor Boys will be desperate to avoid a similar upset this Sunday, the majority of their focus has understandably fallen on their first top-flight season in two decades, with Kieran McKenna's men fighting hard to avoid an immediate return to the stresses of the Championship.
Following back-to-back defeats to Newcastle United and Arsenal, Ipswich have enjoyed an upturn in form to conclude their festive schedule, earning four points across two top-flight battles with Enzo Maresca's Chelsea and fellow West London challengers Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Forged in the Championship, a strike partnership of Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap both made the net ripple for the Tractor Boys at Craven Cottage last time out, although a pair of penalties from Raul Jimenez forced a share of the league points on a rainy afternoon in the capital.
Earning a quartet of points from their last two matches, McKenna's troops arrive at their FA Cup-shaped pause sitting 18th spot in the Premier League standings, 10 points above whipping boys Southampton and level on points with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the relative comfort of 17th.
For the first time in a new era under the stewardship of forward-thinking Spaniard Inigo Calderon, Bristol Rovers enjoyed maximum points from a League One contest last time out, with the West Country outfit battling to a much-needed 1-0 win at the home of relegation-threatened Cambridge United.
The Gas halted a seven-game winless run in the third tier stretching back to November with success at the U's, with a maiden league goal of the 2024-25 campaign for winger Luke Thomas proving to be the decisive moment in a match between two clubs who are fighting for survival.
Bristol Rovers parted company with former boss Matt Taylor in the middle of December in a bid to distance themselves from the bottom four of the League One standings, however a difficult festive period means that Calderon's men are currently occupying 20th place, just five points ahead of Crawley Town in 21st.
Scoring only 22 times across 24 third-tier matches to date, finding the back of the net has been a real issue for the Gas this term, a problem that could be set to worsen following news surrounding leading marksman Promise Omochere, who has picked up a serious hamstring injury.
Calderon's troops have enjoyed a humble start to their FA Cup adventure this season, easing past the attentions of non-league side Weston Super Mare in the first round before booking a date in East Anglia with Ipswich courtesy of a second-round penalty-shootout success over Barnsley.
Team News
Ipswich are set to be without the services of influential winger Omari Hutchinson due to a muscle injury, with the ex-Chelsea youngster scoring against the Blues last time out at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys' options in attack are restricted further by the absence of Conor Chaplin, who is expected to be sidelined until late January because of a knee injury.
Until Ipswich complete a deal for Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene, McKenna's choices on the right flank remain limited due to the absences of Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles).
As mentioned previously, Bristol Rovers are unable to call upon the talents of four-goal Omochere, meaning that the visitors will require new solutions at the top end of the pitch.
There is better news for the Gas regarding their defensive line, though, with veteran Jack Hunt in contention to feature in East Anglia after over two months on the sidelines.
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Muric; H Clarke, Burgess, Woolfenden, Townsend; Phillips, Taylor, J Clarke, Burns, Broadhead; Al Hamadi
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Moore, Wilson, Taylor, Sousa; Lindsay, Ward, Thomas, Sotiriou, Sinclair; Martin
We say: Ipswich Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers
With last year's Maidstone nightmare in the back of their minds, Ipswich should be fully concentrated on avoiding another major FA Cup upset this weekend.
Bristol Rovers have struggled to pose an attacking threat in the third tier of late, so we find it hard to envisage the Gas pulling up any trees at Portman Road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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