Preview: Ipswich Town vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Two of the Championship's form sides meet at Portman Road on Tuesday as Ipswich Town play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers with three points separating them ahead of kickoff.

Both teams have lost just once in their last six games, with Wolves currently occupying fourth place in the table and the Tractor Boys eighth.

Kenny Jackett's side were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham City at the weekend, but the probable return of striker Bakary Sako could well prove enough to get them back to goalscoring ways.

Leon Clarke is likely to drop to the bench to accommodate Sako's return to the first XI, despite impressing while deputising for his fellow forward.

Ipswich's charge towards the upper reaches of the league slowed to a crawl following a spree of draws in recent weeks, but it gained momentum again on Saturday when they defeated Blackpool 2-0.

Manager Mick McCarthy could well opt for the same side that defeated the Seasiders after lavishing praise on them in his post-match interview, although goalkeeper Dean Gerken may be assessed ahead of kickoff after sustaining an injury during the warm-up for the Blackpool game.

Bartosz Bialkowski will deputise for the 29-year-old between the sticks should he fail to recover in time to face Wolves, while defender Tyrone Mings is expected to keep his place in the team.

Recent form

Ipswich: LDDDWW

Wolves: WDDLDD

Possible starting lineups

Ipswich: Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings; Hyam, Skuse, Bishop; Murphy, McGoldrick, Sammon

Wolves: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Rowe; Evans, McDonald, Henry, Edwards, Sako; Dicko

Sports Mole says: 1-1