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

Ipswich Town play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that they may require to remain in the top two of the Championship standings.

At a time when the home side's fate is in their own hands, the same cannot be said for the visitors, who travel to Portman Road six points adrift of the playoffs.

Match preview

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Not since the turn of the year had Ipswich failed to score in consecutive matches, but they have now achieved that unwanted feat at a crucial time of the season.

The 1-0 defeat at East Anglian rivals Norwich City felt like a huge blow to their automatic promotion hopes and drawing a blank at home to Watford on Wednesday has not necessarily helped matters.

Nevertheless, Kieran McKenna and his players have come out of that disappointing double-header knowing that ending the season with four successive wins will earn them promotion to the Premier League.

That remains a tall order with Hull City, Coventry City and Huddersfield Town all to come, but this remains a team that have not suffered a league defeat at Portman Road since August.

Ipswich are also on a run of nine wins from their last 12 outings, a period that will not be lost on Middlesbrough when they are attempting to extend their own streak without defeat.

Their run currently stands at eight matches, collecting five wins and three draws during that time, yet they are almost at the point of no return in the playoff race.

Michael Carrick's side still trail sixth place by six points with just four matches remaining, with the 2-2 draw at Hull City earlier this week not proving beneficial.

Although Boro came from behind to earn a share of the spoils, they had initially let slip a lead and Carrick and his squad know that they can ill-afford any more dropped points.

On a positive note, Middlesbrough possess the sixth-best away record in the Championship, accumulating 31 points from their 21 such fixtures.

Team News

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More rotation is expected when it comes to Ipswich's XI with Luke Woolfenden, Massimo Luongo and Conor Chaplin all pushing for recalls.

Ali Al Hamadi may also be trusted ahead of Kieffer Moore, who is on a five-game streak without a goal, while Jeremy Sarmiento could also return.

Rav van den Berg came through 90 minutes on his return against Hull and the defender may keep his place in the middle of the Boro backline.

Dan Barlaser could return to freshen up the midfield, as could Sam Silvera on the left, but Carrick is unlikely to make too many changes.

That is partly a consequence of Boro possessing one of the longest injury lists in the division.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup: Hladky; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Hutchinson, Chaplin, Broadhead; Al Hamadi

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup: Dieng; Ayling, Van den Berg, Clarke, Engel; Howson, O'Brien; Jones, Azaz, Greenwood; Latte Lath

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Middlesbrough

With Middlesbrough having put together a prolonged unbeaten run, they will fancy their chances of getting the better of a team under increasing pressure. However, we are backing the home side to get back on track in what could turn into a scrappy contest.

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