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

Two of the struggling teams in League One will compete on Tuesday when Doncaster Rovers make the journey to Ipswich Town, having the chance to possibly get off the foot of the table.

While the visitors are currently 24th in the league table, the hosts head into this game on the back of a victory and a draw, which is their best run of the season so far.

Match preview

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Despite starting the season with a draw, things quickly went downhill for Ipswich Town who were knocked out of the EFL Cup as they then went six games without a victory.

That run was finally put to an end when they defeated Lincoln City by a goal to nil with Macauley Bonne finding the back of the net to give his team their first three points of the season.

The Blues then followed up that win with a draw in their most recent outing against Sheffield Wednesday when Conor Chaplin scored a 90th-minute goal to earn the result.

With four points from a possible six, Paul Cook will be pleased with what he has seen from his team, and as they sit just one point above the relegation zone, another victory could start to push them away from those below.

Ipswich have a game in hand on many of the teams above them in the league, and Tuesday is a match that they will be eager to capitalise on, with a win having the potential to move them up to 18th.

Doncaster Rovers are one of the only teams that have struggled more than the Blues so far this season, as they currently sit bottom of the league, with just four points.

Much like their opponents on Tuesday, Rovers have been in strong form as of late, having won two of their past three matches, which included their first of the season in League Two.

Richie Wellens saw his team beat Morecambe 1-0 with a late goal from Tommy Rowe making that happen, while they followed that up by beating Manchester City's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

Doncaster then tried to take that momentum into their most recent outing against Plymouth Argyle, but despite taking the lead through Jordy Hiwula, they ended up giving away two penalties, including one in the 92nd minute to lose the game.

Rovers will be hoping to take the disappointment from that game into Tuesday, with a win having the possibility to take them out of the relegation zone with Ipswich replacing them depending on goal difference.

Team News

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Ipswich have had to deal with several injuries lately, with Hayden Coulson having suffered a groin issue that is keeping him out of action at the moment.

Both Kyle Edwards and Christian Walton have also been unavailable to the squad through other fitness problems, while Lee Evans also missed out on the game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Tiago Cukur was brought into the starting lineup for Doncaster at the weekend, and after another impressive team performance means he could end up keeping his place.

However, Rodrigo Vilca worked well when he was introduced later on in the game, coming close to scoring himself, which will provide Wellens with a difficult decision to make.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Donacien, Edmundson, Burgees, Penney; El Mizouni, Carroll; Burns, Celina, Fraser; Bonne

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Dahlberg; Rowe, Anderson, Williams, Knoyle; Smith, Close, Galbraith; Dodoo, Hiwula, Cukur

We say: Ipswich Town 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

This is an important fixture that could prove to be a true six-pointer when it comes to the relegation battle this season, which is why both teams will be desperate to take a result from the game.

However, because of the desire not to lose, this could end up being a cagey contest with the result ending in a draw because of that cautious approach.