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

The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking to record a second straight win after beating Morecambe 3-1 last weekend.

Match preview

Ipswich clinched a fifth successive victory last weekend when they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 thanks to goals from George Hirst and Cameron Burgess.

The Tractor Boys, who are now unbeaten in seven matches, have kept six consecutive clean sheets since drawing 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday on February 11.

With two points separating them from second-placed Plymouth Argyle, Kieran McKenna's side are targeting automatic promotion as they look to return to the second tier for the first time since 2019.

Having scored 70 goals in their 36 league games this season, Ipswich are the league's highest scorers, and they will be confident of adding to that tally on Saturday after racking up 17 goals in their last five home league games.

Ipswich also made light work of their reverse fixture with Shrewsbury, cruising to a 3-0 victory when the two sides met in August.

After picking up one point from two games, Shrewsbury returned to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-1 home win over Morecambe.

Luke Leahy and Rob Street gave the Shrews a two-goal lead before Dan Crowley halved the deficit in first-half stoppage time.

Defender Chey Dunkley added a third with six minutes remaining to secure his side a fifth consecutive home victory.

Steve Cotterill's charges may feel that they still have an outside chance of reaching the playoffs with eight points separating them from sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers, who have played a game more.

While they have fared well in home games, they will need to improve on their travels if they are to close the gap to the top six, having failed to win any of their last four away matches.

Ipswich Town League One form:

D

W

W

W

W

W

Shrewsbury Town League One form:

D

L

W

D

L

W

Team News

Ipswich will be unable the services of Lee Evans due to a knee injury, which is set to keep him sidelined until the end of April.

Panutche Camara and Tyreece John-Jules are progressing well in their respective recoveries, but Saturday's contest may come too soon for the pair.

After beating Bolton 2-0 last weekend, McKenna could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup for their home meeting with Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury, meanwhile, are expected to be without Killian Phillips, who is currently going through concussion protocols.

Christian Saydee missed last weekend's win with a hamstring injury, and Cotterill has revealed that a late decision will be made on the forward's availability.

Tom Bayliss is also a doubt for the visitors after being forced off against Morecambe with an ankle issue.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Walton; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Burns, Chaplin, Broadhead; Hirst

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Pennington, Dunkley, Flanagan; Moore, Winchester, Leahy, Shipley; Pyke; Bowman, Street

We say: Ipswich Town 3-1 Shrewsbury Town

Ipswich head into the weekend with a resolute defence and a forward line, which has found the net with ease this season, and we think that the hosts will continue their impressive run of form by claiming a comfortable victory over Shrewsbury.

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