Preview: Bromley vs Ipswich Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Bromley welcome Ipswich Town to Hayes Lane in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

The visitors are looking to inject momentum into their campaign after drawing their Championship opener away to Birmingham City, while the hosts are unbeaten in two League Two fixtures, having taken four points from a possible six.

Match preview

Andy Woodman’s side opened their account for the 2025–26 season with a goalless draw away to Shrewsbury before registering a solid 2–0 home win over Barnet, a result built on the ruthless finishing of Michael Cheek and Nicke Kabamba.

Bromley have been defensively sound, yet to concede in their opening two outings, and have quickly settled into the tempo of the new campaign; they sit sixth in the early standings, and while a deep run in this competition is not the club’s primary objective, there is no disguising the incentive of claiming a Championship scalp under the lights.

This fixture offers a measure of redemption after last season’s early exit, when they fell 2–1 at home to AFC Wimbledon at the first hurdle.

The Ravens will be mindful of that disappointment but also emboldened by the knowledge that upsets are part of the EFL Cup’s DNA.

With home advantage and a disciplined defensive unit, they will hope to stretch Ipswich in a manner that makes the Suffolk side uncomfortable.

For a club of Bromley’s size, these occasions are about more than just progression; they are about galvanising a squad, energising a fan base, and sending out a statement.

Woodman’s charges have built their early-season success on cohesion and tactical clarity, employing a back three that offers stability while allowing the wing-backs licence to advance.

That structure will be put to its sternest test yet against opponents who, even on a rotated night, will carry technical superiority and attacking depth.

There is, of course, the question of whether Bromley can sustain the intensity required over 90 minutes against a side accustomed to operating at a higher level.

Ipswich arrive with ambitions far beyond the early rounds of the EFL Cup, yet the competition still carries significance for Kieran McKenna.

The Tractor Boys’ league opener ended in a 1–1 draw at St Andrew’s, a contest in which they looked short of the cutting edge that had been a feature of their flawless pre-season.

Wins over BW Linz, Aberdeen, Charlton Athletic and Auxerre showcased both their sharpness in attack and their ability to control matches, with 12 goals scored across those fixtures.

However, their inability to turn dominance into a decisive league victory will have been a minor frustration for a side with promotion aspirations.

The Suffolk outfit’s defensive record also bears scrutiny; they conceded in three of their four pre-season fixtures and again in the draw with Birmingham, suggesting a slight vulnerability that Bromley may look to exploit.

McKenna’s relationship with this competition is yet to flourish. Last term, Ipswich were spared first-round action by a bye but exited in the second round owing to a penalty shootout defeat to Wimbledon.

The idea of back-to-back early eliminations will not sit well, especially for a manager keen to demonstrate his ability to navigate multiple fronts.

While promotion remains the overriding goal, a productive cup run can breed confidence and test squad depth in ways the league cannot.

The visitors will be heavily favoured, but the onus will be on them to assert that dominance early.

Bromley form (all competitions):

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Ipswich Town form (all competitions):

Team News

Bromley welcome back Marcus Dinanga to the starting XI after the striker made his long-awaited return from an Achilles injury that had sidelined him for 308 days, coming off the bench in the win over Barnet.

His inclusion alongside Michael Cheek gives the hosts a strike pairing capable of troubling higher-league opponents if service is forthcoming.

Woodman is expected to stick with his preferred back three, featuring Deji Elerewe, Byron Webster and Omar Sowunmi, providing the platform for wing-backs to push on when possible. The squad is otherwise in good health, with no fresh injury concerns ahead of the tie.

Ipswich, meanwhile, remain without Conor Townsend, who suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in a pre-season friendly against Auxerre.

Harry Clarke and Wes Burns are also sidelined, while both Leif Davis and Jaden Philogene face late fitness tests to determine their availability.

Bromley possible starting lineup:

Smith; Elerewe, Webster, Sowunmi; Pinnock, Charles, Thompson, Ifill; Whitely; Cheek, Dinanga

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Johnson, O’Shea, Greaves, Young; Matusiwa, Taylor; Philogene, Szmodics, Clarke; Hirst

We say: Bromley 1-3 Ipswich Town

Bromley’s defensive resolve and home advantage should make them a stubborn proposition, but Ipswich’s superior quality and squad depth ought to tell over the course of the evening.

While the hosts may fashion chances of their own, the visitors’ attacking options give them the edge in a tie that could be closer than the divisions between the sides suggest.

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