Ipswich Town will be looking to return to winning ways in League One when they welcome an in-form Morecambe outfit to Portman Road on Tuesday night.

The hosts will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 loss to Oxford United on Saturday, while Morecambe were last in action on January 7, recording a 2-1 victory at home to Cheltenham Town.

Match preview

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Ipswich have picked up 51 points from their 27 League One matches this season, which has left them third in the table, seven points behind second-placed Sheffield Wednesday and 10 from leaders Plymouth Argyle.

The Tractor Boys are actually in their fourth straight season at this level of football, having been unable to bounce back into the Championship since their relegation in 2018-19.

Ipswich are in a strong position to challenge for promotion this term, with Kieran McKenna impressing since his arrival as head coach in December 2021.

The home side brought a five-game unbeaten run into Saturday's contest with Oxford United, but they suffered a 2-1 loss in Oxfordshire, with Cameron Brannagan deciding the match, which ended in extremely foggy conditions, in the 83rd minute.

Ipswich will be determined to bounce back on Tuesday ahead of an FA Cup fourth-round clash with Championship leaders Burnley next weekend, and they have been strong at home this season, picking up 26 points from 13 matches, suffering just one defeat in the process.

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While Ipswich have been impressive at home this term, Morecambe have been poor on their travels, boasting the second-worst away record in the division, having picked up just seven points from 12 matches.

A difficult campaign to date has left the strugglers in 21st position in the table, claiming just 24 points from their 25 matches courtesy of a record of five wins, nine draws and 11 defeats.

However, the Shrimps will bring a three-game winning run into this contest, having beaten Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town in their last three League One fixtures.

Derek Adams's side have not actually been in action since January 7, though, as their last two matches, due to be against Cambridge United and Port Vale, have been postponed.

Morecambe were promoted to League One through the League Two playoffs in 2020-21, and they will be desperate to make it three straight campaigns at this level of football.

Team News

George Hirst made his full Ipswich debut against Oxford on Saturday, but the on-loan Leicester City striker could drop down to the bench for this game, with Freddie Ladapo potentially returning to the XI.

There could also be another change in the final third of the field, with Nathan Broadhead battling to start.

Head coach McKenna will resist the temptation to make wholesale alterations from the loss to Oxford, though, as he blamed the heavy fog for his side's defeat in the latter stages of the match.

Morecambe, meanwhile, have not reported any fresh issues since their 2-1 success over Cheltenham, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field here.

Midfielder Jensen Weir is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with eight, and the 20-year-old will again feature in a 3-5-2 formation.

Kieran Phillips scored the winner against Cheltenham last time out, and he is again expected to start in a front two with Caleb Watts.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess; Burns, Morsy, Evans, Davis; Broadhead, Ladapo, Chaplin

Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Rawson, Bedeau, Delaney; Cooney, Weir, Gibson, Shaw, Maylor; Watts, Phillips

We say: Ipswich Town 2-0 Morecambe

Morecambe will have taken confidence from their recent run, and they will certainly be the fresher of the two sides heading into this match. Ipswich have picked up 26 home points this season, though, and we are fully expecting the Blues to secure all three points on Tuesday night.

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