Ipswich Town vs Stoke City; Sky Bet Championship
Ipswich Town vs Stoke City. Sky Bet Championship.
Portman RoadAttendance15,924.
Ipswich vs Stoke preview
Thursday 14 February 2019 18:30, UK
Bottom club Ipswich will check on captain Luke Chambers ahead of the Sky Bet Championship clash against Stoke.
The defender sat out the midweek 1-1 draw versus Derby with a foot problem, while midfielder Cole Skuse is one of several players to have been hit by a sickness bug, with Flynn Downes also set to be monitored.
Midfielder Jon Nolan came off the bench to score the equaliser against Derby, so could start. Winger Gwion Edwards (groin) is close to a return, while defender James Collins (hamstring) remains a doubt. Forwards Freddie Sears (knee) and Jack Lankester (back) plus midfielders Emyr Huws (knee), Ben Folami (Achilles) and Grant Ward (cruciate) are all sidelined.
Stoke are set to monitor defender Tom Edwards, who went off during the first half of the goalless draw at Wigan with a head injury. Benik Afobe could retain his place in attack alongside Sam Vokes, while winger James McClean impressed after coming off the bench for the final half-hour.
Sam Clucas is expected to again feature as a left wing-back. Midfielder Charlie Adam is fit again following a calf problem, but will not be rushed back into action. Stoke's 0-0 draw at Wigan made it four games without a goal and a win for Nathan Jones' men.
Opta stats
Ipswich are winless in seven league matches against Stoke (W0 D3 L4), since a 1-0 win in December 2004.
This is Stoke's first visit to Portman Road to face Ipswich in any competition since January 2008; a game which ended in a 1-1 draw in the Championship.
Since Paul Lambert's first league match in charge of Ipswich, no Championship team have taken fewer points than the Tractor Boys (10, level with Bolton).
Nathan Jones has faced Ipswich Town once previously, losing 0-2 as Luton Town manager in the League Cup first round in the 2017-18 season.
Ipswich have conceded 55 Championship goals this season - more than they conceded in three full seasons under Mick McCarthy (54 in 2013-14 and 2014-15, 51 in 2015-16 - excluding play-offs).
Stoke haven't failed to score in five consecutive league matches since February 2006.
Prutton's prediction
Ipswich were not as bad as the scoreline looked at Norwich last weekend and they did well to battle to a point against Derby in midweek. Good performances and draws are not enough for them at this stage, though.
Stoke ended their losing run with a draw at Wigan on Wednesday but they don't look that threatening in front of goal at the moment. Score draw for me.
David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
