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

League One strugglers Ipswich Town and Shrewsbury Town meet in one of just four fixtures in the third tier on Saturday afternoon.

The Tractor Boys are currently hovering above the relegation zone in 19th place with 10 points, while the Shrews are 23rd with eight points.

Match preview

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Despite some impressive summer recruitment, Ipswich have underwhelmed in League One this season and won just two of their opening 10 games.

The club's fortunes did appear to be slowly turning around in September, but they suffered a first defeat in four league games to Accrington Stanley last weekend, with Paul Cook slamming "an absolutely shocking performance".

Macauley Bonne opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys in the first half, but Stanley mounted a comeback after the break to win 2-1.

Cook then made 11 changes for the team's EFL Trophy fixture against Gillingham in midweek, which paid off as Ipswich won 2-0 with goals from Joe Pigott and Conor Chaplin.

Games at Portman Road have been entertaining affairs so far this season; Ipswich have scored the most home goals in League One (15) but also conceded the most home goals (12).

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Expect that record to continue on Saturday – at least at one end of the pitch – as Shrewsbury are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Steve Cotterill's side have also only won two league matches in 2021-22 and suffered a second consecutive defeat last weekend as they lost 2-1 against Bolton Wanderers.

The Shrews have taken only one point from their five away games so far this season and scored just twice on the road.

However, like Ipswich, Shrewsbury fielded a much-changed team against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s in the EFL Trophy in midweek and emerged victorious, winning 3-1.

The Shropshire outfit are winless in their last 10 matches against the Tractor Boys, last tasting victory against them in 1987.

Team News

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Ipswich midfielder Bersant Celina is away on international duty with Kosovo, meaning Conor Chaplin could play as the number 10 following a strong showing in the EFL Cup.

Young midfielder Idris El Mizouni also impressed on Tuesday night and will be pushing for only his second league appearance of the season. Kyle Edwards returned from injury last weekend and is now back to full fitness, making him a contender to start out wide.

Shrewsbury will assess George Nurse ahead of the game after the full-back picked up a knock in training this week.

Josh Daniels and Josh Vela are already sidelined with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Birmingham City loanee Sam Cosgrove is fighting to get his place back upfront after Daniel Udoh replaced him in the starting lineup two games ago.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Donacien, Edmundson, Burgess, Penney; Morsy, Evans; Burns, Chaplin, Edwards; Bonne

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Pennington, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre; Bennett, Davis, Leahy, Ogbeta; Whalley; Bowman, Udoh

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Shrewsbury Town

Both managers have demanded responses from their teams after defeats last weekend, which should mean a tight and fiery game is in store. We think Ipswich's attacking quality, combined with Shrewsbury's poor record on the road, will see the Tractor Boys to victory.