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Match Previews

Preview: Ipswich Town

22 February 2022

Match Previews

Preview: Ipswich Town

22 February 2022

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Cheltenham Town make a first ever Football League visit to Ipswich Town's Portman Road on Tuesday evening (kick-off: 7.45pm).

The match will be only the second ever meeting in the EFL between the Tractor Boys and Robins after they last clashed back in August.

That first EFL clash at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium saw Cheltenham come out on top on a memorable night, and Tuesday's game is sure to be another huge challenge against an Ipswich team desperate to get back into the Championship and with a chance of getting into the play-off positions.

Michael Duff's squad go into the contest after an unforgettable afternoon at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, which ended in a 5-5 draw. Alfie May was on target four times at the game in Buckinghamshire and is in red hot form ahead of Tuesday's visit to Suffolk.

Team news

There are no fresh injury concerns following Saturday's game at Wycombe. Sean Long (pictured) is close to being ready to be involved again while midfielder Conor Thomas is also making progress on his return from a calf injury.

The likes of Ellis Chapman, Charlie Brown, George Lloyd and Dan Nlundulu all miss out though because of injury.

Media talk

Assistant manager Russell Milton addressed the media ahead of Tuesday's fixture.

"We were fortunate enough to get by them at home 2-1. They're obviously on a really good run of form at the minute and at home they're a real test," he said.

"We're going to have to play well. It's a totally opposite test to Saturday in terms of the football game itself and they've got a number of very good players who they can chop and change.

"We've got to go there and give a good disciplined account of ourselves. The boys will be ready."

Watch Milton's full pre-match press conference on iFollow.

Opposition

Having recorded three wins and a draw from their last four, Ipswich are a team building momentum in the final third of the season as they target a play-off spot.

They're currently four points off the top six and boosted their chances with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Burton Albion on Saturday in front of a crowd of 20,516 at Portman Road.

Their squad is rich in quality and experience. Their forward line boasts the likes of Macauley Bonne, Kayden Jackson, Conor Chaplin, Joe Pigott and James Norwood. In wide areas there's an attacking threat carried by former Robins loanee Wes Burns, the highly experienced Nigeria international Sone Aluko and tricky Kyle Edwards.

Solidity is provided in midfield by Egypt international Sam Morsy and Wales international Lee Evans, while at the back former Rangers man George Edmundson and youth product Luke Woolfenden are supported by ex-Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper Christian Walton.

This is their third consecutive season in League One and as a club with a long history they're determined to travel back up the pyramid. In 1981 they won the UEFA Cup, beating AZ Alkmaar in the final, while they're also one of a number of clubs in League One to have played regularly in the Premier League.

The manager: Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna's appointment in mid-December saw the 35-year-old take on his first managerial position having taken the decision to leave Manchester United where he was serving as first team coach and assistant manager since July 2018 having previously moved to Old Trafford two years before that.

Prior to that he had worked at Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest in their academies while also studied at Loughborough University.

The Northern Irishman had played youth football at Spurs but had to retire due to a hip injury, subsequently taking a route into coaching having also played for Northern Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level.

Previous meeting

There's been only one previous fixture in the Football League between the two clubs and it took place earlier this season back in August.

Matt Penney drove the Tractor Boys in front after just nine minutes at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium in an opening 45 minutes completely controlled by the away side. They should have made the most of their dominance, and Macauley Bonne particularly spurned a massive chance to double their lead.

In the second half Cheltenham hit back. A Ben Tozer long throw was cleared but picked up by Will Boyle who crossed to the back post for Callum Wright to head in.

Boyle then clinched a famous three points when he turned in inside the box after Ipswich failed to deal with a Tozer long throw.

Tickets & travel

Ticket sales for the game end online at 9am on Tuesday. You cannot buy on the night at Ipswich so please do not travel unless you have purchased a ticket.

Fans who have bought online but not collected their tickets can do so from Ipswich on the night from outside the away turnstiles.

The fans who are booked on the Travel Club coach are reminded that it departs from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 1.30pm.

Coverage

Watch live: Purchase an iFollow match pass for £10 to watch the game in full online with iFollow

Social media: @CTFCofficial on Twitter will have updates throughout. You can also check out the latest on the club Facebook and Instagram

Listen: Tune into live match commentary with an audio match pass on iFollow. It's available for £2.50. Fans in Gloucestershire can tune into commentary on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

Website: The match report will be available to read on the club website with full reaction from the press conferences too after the game

Highlights: Watch extended highlights on iFollow plus shorter highlights will be available on Sky Sports and YouTube


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