MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 08:04:14| >> :120:19613:19613:
[monks data]
Ipswich logo
League One | Gameweek 25
Dec 29, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Portman Road
Wycombe Wanderers

Ipswich
1 - 0
Wycombe

Norwood (44')
Morsy (8'), Penney (10'), Pigott (90+1')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Scowen (90+1')

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

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's League One clash between Ipswich Town and Wycombe Wanderers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ipswich Town will welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Portman Road on Wednesday with the hosts aiming to end a six-game winless run in all competitions.

Meanwhile, the visitors enter the fixture in fifth place in League One, and they will be looking to extend their current unbeaten run to six matches.


Match preview

Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth pictured on September 21, 2021© Reuters

Kieran McKenna will take charge of his first game as Ipswich boss on Wednesday as he takes over a side that are 10 points adrift of the League One playoffs.

Unfortunately for McKenna, Ipswich's Boxing Day trip to Gillingham was postponed, but the new manager will be pleased that his first match at the helm will now take place on home turf.

In their last outing on December 18, the Tractor Boys drew 1-1 at home against Sunderland after James Norwood's opener was cancelled out by a Nathan Broadhead strike.

That draw extended Ipswich's poor run of form that has seen them win once in their previous seven league games.

Despite losing only twice at home in the league this term, they have struggled to pick up victories at Portman Road after collecting six home draws - more than any other League One team on home soil - and one of McKenna's first tasks will be to try to convert those draws into victories.

Meanwhile, Wycombe will return to action after games against Bolton Wanderers and Cambridge United were postponed due to coronavirus cases in the respective opposition squads.

As a result of the postponements, the Chairboys have not taken to the pitch since an entertaining 2-2 draw against Wimbledon on December 11.

In that fixture, Adebayo Akinfenwa equalised after Jack Rudoni had given Wimbledon the lead, and Rudoni must have thought that he had won the game when he scored his second goal of the afternoon in stoppage time, but Joe Jacobson snatched a point in the sixth minute of added time after dispatching his spot kick.

Despite the long break between games, Gareth Ainsworth will be hoping that his side can continue their fine goalscoring form, which has seen Wycombe score ten goals in their last five matches.

As well as their success in front of goal, the Chairboys have also fared well on their travels this season having only lost twice away from home in the league, which will leave Ainsworth feeling confident that his side can collect a positive result on Wednesday.

Ipswich Town League One form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D



Team News

Wycombe's Brandon Hanlan celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on December 7, 2021© Reuters

It remains to be seen how McKenna will set up his new side, but he may opt with the 4-4-2 formation that was utilised against Sunderland.

That would allow Macauley Bonne and Norwood to continue their promising new forward partnership.

After coming into the starting lineup for the Wimbledon clash, Luke Woolfenden is expected to keep his place in defence.

As for Wycombe, they are likely to line up with a back three of Jack Grimmer, Ryan Tafazolli and Jacobson.

Despite coming on as a substitute to score against Wimbledon, Akinfenwa will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Sam Vokes will look to add to his six-goal league tally when he partners Brandon Hanlan upfront.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Penny; Burns, Morsy, Evans, Aluko; Bonne, Norwood

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Grimmer, Tafazolli, Jacobson; McCarthy, McCleary, Mehmeti, Thompson, Obita; Hanlan, Vokes


SM words green background

We say: Ipswich Town 2-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Ipswich won the reverse fixture by a comfortable 4-1 scoreline, and though Wednesday's contest should be closer, we think that the hosts will benefit from the new manager bounce to edge out Wycombe at Portman Road.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



ID:473852:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9295:
Written by
Ben Sully

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Ipswich Town win with a probability of 44.47%. A win for Wycombe Wanderers had a probability of 28.68% and a draw had a probability of 26.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Ipswich Town win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.97%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.84%) and 2-0 (8.33%). The likeliest Wycombe Wanderers win was 0-1 (9.13%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.7%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with an 12% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 1-0 win for Ipswich Town in this match and our team at Sports Mole correctly predicted the win for Ipswich Town.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Ipswich vs Wycombe

Ipswich Town
47.7%
Draw
25.0%
Wycombe Wanderers
27.3%
44
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna pictured in October 2019
Read Next:
Ipswich 'set to name Kieran McKenna as new head coach'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!