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

At a time when the Tractor Boys are clinging onto second place in the standings, Sunderland are sixth having made improvements in recent weeks.

Match preview

There is a perception that Ipswich are a team who are faltering in the promotion race having failed to win in the Championship since December 12.

While that is a fair assessment, Kieran McKenna's side have only lost once in 10 matches in all competitions, that being a 4-0 defeat at Leeds United.

Since then, draws against leaders Leicester City and an improving Stoke City side have been posted, hardly results that should be viewed as negatives.

The Tractor Boys also got back to winning ways last weekend, overcoming AFC Wimbledon by a 3-1 scoreline to progress through to the FA Cup fourth round.

With Southampton breathing heavier down their necks, Ipswich need a response, but this remains a team that are only one league victory away from getting back on track.

From the perspective of Sunderland, there will be few complaints with how Michael Beale has settled into life at the Stadium of Light.

Seven points have come from four Championship fixtures, the victories in question coming against potential playoff rivals in Hull City and Preston North End.

Nevertheless, momentum has been lost given the manner of their 3-0 reverse at home to North-East rivals Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round, the Black Cats rarely troubling their Premier League opponents.

In isolation, that felt like a huge fixture for the club, but all that Beale would have taken is that improvements must be made if they want to retain their place in the playoffs in the long term.

Sunderland are also making the trip to Portman Road at a time when Ipswich have not lost in East Anglia since August 26.

Ipswich Town Championship form:

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D

L

D

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D

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):

D

L

D

D

D

W

Sunderland Championship form:

W

L

L

W

D

W

Sunderland form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

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L

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Team News

With Sam Morsy serving the second game of a two-match suspension, Lewis Travis could be drafted into the Ipswich XI for his debut after signing from Blackburn Rovers.

Other alterations are possible, with Jeremy Sarmiento in contention after his loan switch from Brighton & Hove Albion, but the remainder of the side from the last Championship fixture may remain the same.

Meanwhile, Beale must decide whether to tinker with his Sunderland XI after being outclassed by Newcastle.

Bringing Abdoullah Ba into the team is a possibility, but Beale may not over-react to Nazarii Rusyn failing to make an impact in the final third versus the Magpies.

The likes of Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin and Patrick Roberts are expected to remain sidelined through injury.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Clarke; Luongo, Travis; Burns, Chaplin, Broadhead; Jackson

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Alese; Ekwah, Neil, Pritchard, Bellingham, Clarke; Rusyn

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland

Sunderland showed against Newcastle that they are far from the finished article under Beale and this is a fixture that they could probably do without after such a humbling. Despite Ipswich's recent form, the home side could have enough about them to get over the line in this one, kick-starting their promotion bid.

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