Preview: Ipswich Town vs. Blackpool

Ipswich Town will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches when they host Blackpool in the Championship this weekend.

Manager Mick McCarthy is not expected to have any fresh injury concerns following last weekend's 2-2 draw with Barnsley.

Republic of Ireland international Paul Green, who joined the Tractor Boys on an emergency loan from Leeds United last weekend, could be in line to make his first start for his new side, having been named on the bench last time out.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who is yet to make his league debut for the club, is nearing a return to fitness from a hamstring injury, but would likely only feature on the bench if he is included in the matchday squad.

Ipswich head into the match sitting outside the playoff places in the Championship table, but three points on Saturday could put them back inside the top six.

By contrast, Blackpool need the win to avoid being dragged into the relegation battle.

A run of 13 games without victory for the visitors has seen them slip down to 16th in the table, leaving them 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Neal Bishop, who has been out with a hamstring injury since January, is in contention for a return to action, having played all 90 minutes for a Blackpool XI side against Rochdale earlier this week.

The Seasiders will also be keeping their fingers crossed that Ricardo Fuller is back, after he failed a late fitness test ahead of their last match.

Otherwise, Barry Ferguson is expected to have the same squad available that drew with Nottingham Forest last weekend.

When the two sides met at Bloomfield Road earlier in the season, Ipswich clinched a 3-2 win.

Recent form

Ipswich: LLWDWD

Blackpool: LLDLLD

Possible starting lineups

Ipswich: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Gree, Skuse, Hunt, Nouble, McGoldrick

Blackpool: Gilks, McMahon, Broadfoot, MacKenzie, Robinson, Angel, Perkins, Bishop, Dobbie, Keogh, Davies

Sports Mole says: 2-1