Preview: Exeter City vs. Ipswich Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The Tractor Boys are also on a four-match unbeaten streak, but ninth-placed Exeter sit just three points adrift of the playoff positions.

Match preview

Given the manner of Ipswich's 4-4 draw at Charlton Athletic, Kieran McKenna may have had doubts about the response of his side in the matches which followed.

An FA Cup tie at non-league Bracknell Town was ideal, yet it took Ipswich 66 minutes to break the deadlock before prevailing 3-0, and last weekend's home encounter with Cheltenham Town failed to produce the desired result.

Despite taking an early lead, Ipswich could only record a second consecutive share of the spoils, having to rely on Plymouth Argyle drawing their own game to remain within four points of the leaders.

From that perspective, McKenna will feel fortunate, but Sheffield Wednesday's narrow success at Accrington Stanley now means that the Owls trail second position by just one point.

With 17 points being collected from a possible 24, McKenna will still back his team to get back on track, but the pressure is rising ahead of their trip to the South coast.

Exeter have had to deal with an intense period in recent weeks, with a new manager in charge and fixtures against the likes of Derby County and Plymouth Argyle.

Nevertheless, Gary Caldwell will be satisfied with two victories and a draw from four fixtures, the solitary defeat coming by a 4-2 scoreline at frontrunners Plymouth.

Since that setback, Exeter have posted successive 3-2 triumphs over Port Vale in the FA Cup and Peterborough United in the third tier, coming from behind on both occasions to net a winner in the closing minutes.

Although conceding eight times in three outings will worry Caldwell, particularly as a former defender, continuing to accumulate points on the board by any means necessary is far more important at this stage of the season as they bid to remain in the playoff hunt.

Exeter City League One form:

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Exeter City form (all competitions):

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Ipswich Town League One form:

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Ipswich Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Sam Nombe will almost certainly be restored to the Exeter attack after netting as a substitute during the dramatic win over Peterborough.

That should see Matt Jay drop down to the bench, which could prove to be the only alteration made by Caldwell.

Janoi Donacien is a fitness doubt for Ipswich after lasting just 17 minutes against Cheltenham, although McKenna is hopeful that the defender is not facing a lengthy layoff.

Despite the frustration at only drawing with Cheltenham, McKenna will give consideration to selecting the majority of the side which started that game.

Dominic Ball and Tyreece John-Jules are long-term injury absentees after suffering knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Blackman; Key, Sweeney, Hartridge; Caprice, Collins, Dieng, Sparkes; Brown; Nombe, Stansfield

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Walton; Burgess, Woolfenden, Edmundson; Burns, Humphreys, Morsy, Davis; Chaplin, Harness; Ladapo

We say: Exeter City 1-2 Ipswich Town

With the visitors having failed to win in two matches, Exeter will fancy their chances of causing a surprise at the weekend. However, possessing the best away record in the division, we have to back Ipswich to edge this contest, potentially with a late goal.

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