Ipswich Town head into Saturday's Championship fixture with Swansea City looking to strengthen their hold of second place in the standings.

At a time when the Tractor Boys hold an eight-point advantage over the chasing pack, Swansea are down in 14th spot despite an improved run of form.

Match preview

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Failing to win in three games has been relatively unheard of for Ipswich under Kieran McKenna, yet that is the scenario that has materialised in recent matches.

A 3-1 home defeat to Fulham in the EFL Cup has been followed by successive 2-2 draws away at Birmingham City and Rotherham United, clubs that they would have expected to overcome.

Those stalemates have concluded in contrasting fashion, with Ipswich having to come from two goals behind to earn a share of the spoils at St Andrew's last weekend.

However, in the rearranged meeting with Rotherham, the Tractor Boys witnessed their hosts score an equaliser in stoppage time, preventing them of going 10 points ahead of Leeds.

While McKenna will not be too concerned, he will also be aware that momentum can be everything in this division, and the Ipswich boss will not want to head into the international break without a win since October 28.

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From the perspective of Swansea, supporters can be delighted with how their players have shaken off a slow start under Michael Duff to move into the mid-table spots.

Recent back-to-back defeats to Leicester City and Watford were disappointing, yet they have responded by collecting four points from games against Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.

In total, 16 points have been accumulated from eight matches to progress into 14th place, six points adrift of the playoffs and eight points clear of the bottom three.

With Hull City and Leeds United to follow - two other teams in the top nine - after the international break, Swansea could do with a positive points return over their upcoming triple-header to gatecrash the race for the playoffs.

Team News

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McKenna will be tempted to freshen up his Ipswich XI after two away fixtures over the past week.

Jack Taylor - who scored as a substitute against Rotherham - and Omari Hutchinson could each be handed chances in midfield and on the flank respectively.

If George Hirst is handed a rest from attacking duties, Freddie Ladapo is more likely to get the nod over Dane Scarlett, while Luke Woolfenden may return to the middle of the backline.

Swansea will be forced into at least one alteration with Charlie Patino serving a ban for his dismissal against Sunderland.

Jay Fulton is most likely to come into the midfield in his place, but Duff may opt to keep the rest of the starting lineup.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Taylor; Hutchinson, Chaplin, Harness; Hirst

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Rushworth; Ashby, Darling, Humphreys, Tymon; Fulton, Grimes; Cullen, Paterson, Lowe; Yates

We say: Ipswich Town 3-1 Swansea City

With Ipswich enduring their first major blip of the campaign, Swansea will fancy their chances of causing a surprise at Portman Road. However, Ipswich will be motivated to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters, leading us to predict a maximum haul for McKenna's side.


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