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

Ipswich Town will be bidding to continue their fine start to the season when they play host to Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup first round on Wednesday.

A day before the Tractor Boys defeated Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Bristol Rovers earned a solid 1-1 draw at Portsmouth in League One.

Match preview

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After last season's promotion-winning campaign from League One, Ipswich are viewed as one of the dark horses to progress into the Premier League during 2023-24, and they lived up to their billing on Sunday.

Goals shortly after half time from Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst earned Kieran McKenna's side a 2-1 victory against last season's playoff semi-finalists.

Although Sunderland netted a late consolation, Ipswich were deserved winners, and McKenna will hope that his players can build some momentum in this competition.

While McKenna has not made mass signings this summer, he has a crop of players at his disposal that will all feel that they will get opportunities should they make an impact when provided with a chance.

This fixture will be seen as ideal to assess whether his backup players are currently at, a result of Bristol Rovers having enjoyed their own solid start to the season.

Joey Barton's side are viewed as one of the outsiders for the playoffs in League One, a tag justified as they posted a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park at the weekend.

However, it could have been far better for Rovers, with Luke Thomas's 24th-minute goal having been cancelled out by a 91st-minute equaliser for Portsmouth.

Nevertheless, Barton will be relatively content with avoiding defeat against a possible rival on the opening day, giving them the platform to kick on over the coming weeks.

When these two sides met in the third tier during 2022-23, Ipswich recorded a 2-0 win at Portman Road before being held to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture in February.

Team News

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Harry Clarke and George Edmundson may potentially come into the Ipswich defence after injuries restricted their involvement during pre-season.

The assumption is that McKenna will make mass changes, with goalkeeper Cieran Slicker in line to be handed a senior debut between the sticks.

Omari Hutchinson could be provided with an opportunity on the flank, with Jack Taylor making his Ipswich debut in midfield.

While Barton may not be willing to make the same level of alterations as his opposite number, he will still freshen up his starting lineup.

Assuming that he goes with an extra midfielder for this contest, Josh Grant, Antony Evans and Scott Sinclair could all be included in the centre or flank.

Goalkeeper James Belshaw may start, as could Connor Taylor and Tristan Crama in the middle of the defence.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Slicker; Clarke, Baggott, Edmundson, Leigh; Ball, Taylor; Jackson, Harness, Hutchinson; Ladapo

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Hoole, Taylor, Crama, Gordon; Grant, Finley, Evans; Thomas, Marquis, Sinclair

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Bristol Rovers

With both teams, particularly Ipswich, expected to rotate their squads, this could prove to be an entertaining tie. However, McKenna has more players at his disposal that will want to impress, and we feel that they may edge this contest by the odd goal in three.

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