Ipswich vs Portsmouth predictions: Town to get back to winning ways
Ipswich have won just one Championship game this season
Portsmouth are currently 12th in the league table
Recommended bet: Ipswich to win to nil
Ipswich Town have not enjoyed the best of starts since returning to the Championship.
The Tractor Boys have claimed a single league win in five games and that was against Sheffield United, who are bottom of the division.
In comparison, Portsmouth have started the campaign positively. They currently sit 12th in the table after winning two and drawing two of their opening six matches.
That sets up what could be an intriguing tie between two teams who have had polarising starts to the new season.
The latest Ipswich vs Portsmouth odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Kieran McKenna will be without Cam Humphreys and Harry Clarke until the start of October.
Conor Townsend remains the only long-term absentee and he will not be back in the squad until the end of the season.
On a more positive note, Sammie Szmodics came off the bench for a brief cameo against Blackburn last week, so he could be in contention for a start.
Portsmouth's injury issues are a lot worse, however. Josh Murphy, Harvey Blair and Conor Shaughnessy will not return until October at some stage.
Elsewhere, Nicolas Schmid and Thomas Waddingham might not appear again this year, while Josh Murphy could return to the starting XI.
The stats
Ipswich were certainly backed as favourites to return back to the Premier League, but things have not gone quite to plan.
Across their five Championship matches, the East Anglian side have won just one game, scoring nine goals in the process, although five of those came against Sheff Utd.
Pompey may have netted only four times, but they do have a solid defensive record in the second tier, conceding just five goals in six matches.
These two sides have not met in nearly three years. That was a 2-2 draw in League One during the 2022/23 season, which ended in promotion for the home side.
Portsmouth have a winning head-to-head against Ipswich this decade, claiming three wins from eight matches.
The latest Ipswich vs Portsmouth odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
McKenna will take some confidence from the 5-0 thrashing of the Blades into this tie, even if it was against a team rooted to the bottom of the table.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace scored a delightful hat-trick in that game and he is one to watch for the Tractor Boys this season.
Add in players such as Jack Clarke and George Hirist, McKenna's side have three dynamic attacking players who can fire them towards the playoffs.
Pompey have failed to score in either of their previous two games, which included a dismal 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
McKenna's side are the favourites to take all three points from this match and if they can perform to their capabilities, it should be a straightforward victory at Portman Road this weekend.
