Accrington vs Ipswich preview: League One clash live on Sky Sports Football

Watch live on Sky Sports Football from 11.30am on Sunday; Kick-off is at 12pm

Friday 18 October 2019 12:02, UK

Accrington face Ipswich in Sky Bet League One on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football.

Team news

Accrington boss John Coleman will hand late fitness tests to a number of players. Right-back Callum Johnson remains doubtful after missing last weekend's loss at Rochdale due to a groin injury.

Coleman is hopeful of having defender Jerome Opoku and midfielder Sam Finley available after the pair trained following unspecified problems. Winger Sean McConville, who has missed Stanley's previous two league games due to a shoulder issue, will be assessed on Saturday.

Ipswich boss Paul Lambert is waiting on the availability of injured trio James Norwood, Kane Vincent-Young and Flynn Downes. Forward Norwood is recovering from a groin operation, while defender Vincent-Young also has a groin issue and midfielder Downes suffered a hip problem on international duty with England U20s.

Defender James Wilson serves a one-match ban after being sent off in the 1-0 win at Fleetwood before the international break. Jack Lankester (back), Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears (both knee) remain sidelined for the unbeaten Tractor Boys.

Recent form

Accrington have had a difficult start to the season and have won just one of their last six games, although they have also drawn three in that time. They have 11 points from 12 games so far.

Ipswich are still unbeaten at the top of the League One table, and will remain there this weekend whatever happens elsewhere. They have won their last four games on the bounce.

What the managers said…

Accrington boss John Coleman: "We generally do well against big teams on the TV. They've started the season unbelievably well, there's not too many teams that get relegated and bounce back the way they have done. That's credit to the manager and the players.

"It should be a cracking game, we don't try and shut up shop, we try and score goals and we try and win games. "It should be a really good game, certainly for the neutral, but hopefully more so for our fans rather than theirs."

Ipswich boss Paul Lambert: "We changed the team and we expected the lads to step up, and it never happened," the Ipswich boss said about their defeat to Accrington in last season's FA Cup.

"And credit to Accrington because they won the game. But for us, it wasn't good enough. But in this moment we're a different team."

Talking point: Relegation a blessing for Ipswich?

No club or fan base would ever be happy to see their club relegated, but it appeared that Ipswich had gone stale in their last few seasons in the Championship so maybe relegation has been a bit of a blessing in disguise.

The club are still unbeaten in League One and pushing for promotion is a damn sight more fun for supporters than watching their team scrap for mid-table and to avoid relegation finishes every year. Ipswich are heavy favourites to immediately bounce back to the second tier, and if they do there will be a fresh impetus around Portman Road.

Opta stats

This will be the first ever league meeting between Accrington Stanley and Ipswich Town, though the Tractor Boys did visit the Wham Stadium in the FA Cup last season, falling to a 0-1 defeat.

This will be Accrington's first league game played on a Sunday since a 1-1 draw with Southend back in December 2013; indeed, they haven't lost any of their last four matches in all competitions on a Sunday (W1 D3).

On the final day of the Championship campaign last season, Ipswich recorded their first win on a Sunday in any competition in 18 games (D9 L8). They haven't won back-to-back such games since April-May 2009.

Accrington Stanley have only won one of their last seven League One games (D4 L2), and haven't won at home in the competition since August.

Ipswich Town, still the only unbeaten side in the EFL this season, are looking to win five straight league matches for the first time since October 2003.

Prutton's prediction

Accrington haven't had the best of starts to the campaign but survival is their only real aim at this level under John Coleman with the budget they have.

Ipswich are flying. They are still unbeaten and will be top whatever happens by the time this one kicks off on Sunday. They have won four on the spin and I fancy them to make it five.

David Prutton predicts: 1-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)