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

After taking four points from their opening two league games, Ipswich Town will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they face Colchester United in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

The U's, meanwhile, are looking for their first win of the campaign after taking only a point from their first two matches.

Match preview

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Kieran McKenna is two games into his first full season as Ipswich boss, and the former Manchester United assistant manager has enjoyed a promising start.

Ipswich played out a 1-1 draw in their opening league match before travelling to Nailsworth to face newly-promoted Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

Marcus Harness opened the scoring with his first goal for Ipswich, while Sam Morsy doubled the advantage before the break, and although Josh March halved the deficit in the second half, the Tractor Boys held firm to see out a 2-1 win.

After picking up their first victory of the season at the weekend, Ipswich will now attempt to win at home for the first time this term on Tuesday.

They are also aiming to avoid another early exit from the EFL Cup after being eliminated in the first round in three of the last four seasons.

The visitors, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win of the season after losing 3-2 to Northampton Town in their season opener before drawing 1-1 with Carlisle United at the weekend.

Noah Chilvers gave the U's an early lead, but Kristian Dennis equalised before half time to ensure that the spoils were shared.

Colchester will now turn their attention to the EFL Cup, where they made a memorable run to the quarter-finals in the 2019-20 campaign, which included two penalty shootout victories.

Their progress in the competition was eventually ended by Manchester United, and they failed to replicate that success in the last two seasons, losing in the first round on both occasions.

In fact, the 2019-20 edition of the EFL Cup was the only time that Colchester made it past the first-round in the previous 10 seasons.

Team News

Ipswich are expected to be without the services of Corrie Ndaba, who missed Saturday's contest due to a hip injury.

Summer signing Dominic Ball was also absent at the weekend, but he may be fit enough to feature on the substitutes' bench in midweek.

With their League One campaign the main priority, Ipswich could make a number of changes, which may result in starting places for Sone Aluko, Kayden Jackson and Tyreece John-Jules.

As for Colchester, they could also make alterations to their starting for the first-round contest, with newly signed goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara in contention to make his debut.

Ossama Ashley could make his first start for the club, while there may also be a place in the starting lineup for Frank Nouble.

After dropping to the bench for Saturday's contest, Akinde may be brought back into the side to lead the line against Ipswich.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Donacien, Edmundson, Burgess; Vincent-Young, Edwards, Evans, Leigh; Aluko, John-Jules, Jackson

Colchester United possible starting lineup:

O'Hara; Tchamadeu, Chambers, Eastman, Clampin; Skuse, Ashley; Newby, Chilvers, Nouble; Akinde

We say: Ipswich Town 3-1 Colchester United

The last time that the two sides met was in November last year in the EFL Trophy and on that occasion, Ipswich won on penalties, but we expect the Tractor Boys to enjoy an easier outing on Tuesday and claim a comfortable victory over Colchester.

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