IpswichIpswich Townvs.MaidenheadMaidenhead United

The Tractor Boys are looking to have a successful in the second tier this term after four seasons in League One, while Maidenhead are preparing for another term at the highest level of non-league football.

Match preview

Ipswich ended their four-year spell in League One last season by finishing second in the third tier behind champions Plymouth Argyle, hence earning promotion to the Championship.

Exciting East Anglian derbies await the Tractor Boys with Norwich City this term, however the main aim for the club will be to secure safety and cement themselves as a regular in the Championship once again.

Manager Kieran McKenna was vowed that his side will not depart from the attacking style of play which saw them net an astonishing 101 goals in 46 League One matches last term, with leading marksmen Conor Chaplin looking to build on his impressive 26-goal campaign.

The Tractors Boys have made one signing so far in this transfer window in the form of Peterborough United's Jack Taylor for an undisclosed fee - the Posh hierarchy believe the midfielder will be able to take the Championship by storm this term.

Ipswich's first pre-season fixture was a success on Saturday, with McKenna's men putting six goals put non-league Felixstowe & Walton United with no reply, although Friday's clash at Bloomfields should be a harder assignment.

Maidenhead United will now contest their seventh-straight National League campaign after finishing 20th in the fifth tier last term, placing just two points ahead of 21st-placed Torquay United who were relegated to regional football.

The Magpies nosedived towards the end of the 2022-23 season in truth, going on an abysmal run of seven games without a win following their last maximum of the term, a 2-1 win over Maidstone.

The aim now under Alan Devonshire is to push on up the National League and compete for a top-half finish - the last time Maidenhead achieved such a feat was in the 2017-18 campaign.

With Wednesday's fixture release day for the National Side revealing that the Magpies will begin their league season by hosting National League North champions AFC Fylde on August 5, Devonshire's men now have a clear goal to work towards in their pre-season schedule.

Ipswich Town friendly form:

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

D

Maidenhead United friendly form:

Maidenhead United form (all competitions):

D

D

L

L

D

L

Team News

Ipswich are likely to name two different XIs in each half as they did in the win over Felixstowe last weekend, meaning Freddie Ladapo will have 45 minutes to add to his brace last time out.

Former West Bromwich Albion man Kyle Edwards was also on the scoresheet for the Tractor Boys on Saturday, and the 25-year-old will be looking to break into McKenna's plans in the Championship this season.

Maidenhead could hand a debut to summer signing Kevin Lokko on Friday night, with the experienced defender joining the Magpies from National League South side Farnborough.

Devonshire's men will go through their pre-season paces without attacker Sam Barratt, with the 27-year-old leaving the club after 88 appearances and 24 goals over a three-year period.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Clarke, Woolfenden, Baggott, Leigh; Evans, Luongo, Camara, Morgan; Chaplin, Jackson

Maidenhead United possible starting lineup:

Walsh; Lokko, Odutayo, Asare, Massey; Adams, Smith, Kinsella, Eweka; Acquah, McCoulsky

We say: Ipswich Town 4-0 Maidenhead United

Despite making a host of changes during the game, Ipswich found a goalscoring rhythm in their first pre-season friendly and will be confident of doing the same against Maidenhead on Friday.

The Magpies have moved quickly in the transfer market as they attempt avoid another relegation battle this season, however we believe that their second-tier opponents will prove too strong in this one.

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