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

After losing at home last weekend, Ipswich Town find themselves in ninth position in League One, and they will be looking for a positive response when they welcome Gillingham to Portman Road on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Neil Harris began his reign as Gills manager in impressive fashion as his side edged out Crewe Alexandra in midweek, and they now have the chance to claim back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Match preview

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Following consecutive victories, Ipswich's playoff push hit a bump in the road last weekend as they fell to a narrow away defeat against Sheffield Wednesday.

Marvin Johnson's sixth-minute strike was enough to condemn the Tractors Boys to a 1-0 defeat, leaving them nine points adrift of the top six.

After two consecutive away games, Ipswich will be grateful to return to Portman Road at the weekend, with the hosts aiming to extend their unbeaten home league run to five games.

In fact, they have proven to be a tough nut to crack on home turf, losing just twice at Portman Road in the league this term.

They are also looking for their third win over Gillingham this season after winning 2-0 in the EFL Trophy in October before thrashing the Gills 4-0 in January.

Gillingham, meanwhile, have the opportunity to claim consecutive victories after they beat Crewe 1-0 on Tuesday.

A Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick spot kick ensured that Harris began his reign with a victory and it was a win that ended a 14-game winless run.

Despite the midweek victory, the new Gills boss knows that his side require a monumental effort in the second half of the season if they are to avoid the drop.

Sitting in 23rd place and eight points adrift of safety, Gillingham will need to improve in a number of areas to escape the drop zone, but in particular, their away form needs to be addressed.

They have won just once on the road in the league this term, and Harris will be fully aware that a winless away run that has spanned eight league games needs to be brought to a swift end if the Gills are to have any hope of survival.

Team News

Sam Morsy is unavailable for Ipswich Town as he serves the third game of his four-match suspension, while a groin issue means that Lee Evans is a doubt for the weekend fixture.

The Tractors Boys will welcome Kane Vincent-Young back into the squad following his one-match suspension.

After missing the last three games, Matt Penney will also be available for the hosts, and he could come into the starting lineup for Saturday's contest.

As for the Gills, they could give deadline day signing Ben Thompson his Gillingham debut at Portman Road.

Aaron Chapman was preferred in goal on Tuesday, with Pontus Dahlberg dropping to the bench, and Harris is expected to opt for Chapman once again for the trip to Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Lloyd-McGoldrick will be looking to score in a third consecutive game when he starts on Saturday.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson; Burns, Bakinson, Celina, Carroll, Penney; Norwood, Bonne

Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Chapman; Masterson, Ehmer, Tucker; McKenzie, Thompson, Lloyd-McGoldrick, Lee, Tutonda; Kelman, Oliver

We say: Ipswich Town 3-1 Gillingham

Although the Gills will be buoyed by the midweek win, we think that they will struggle to compete with an Ipswich side that is stacked with quality, especially as the Tractors Boys usually fare well at Portman Road.

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