Ipswich Town v Portsmouth: McKenna and Cowley's pre-match views, team news, predicted XIs, referee, form guide & Key stats

Here’s all the stats and big-match details ahead of the Portman Road game (3pm).

What’s been said

Kieran McKenna via East Anglian Daily Telegraph

‘They (the Cowleys) have definitely improved the team and they are probably where we expected them to be.

‘They’ve got a really good squad with a good manager who knows the level and has had a few seasons there now, so he’s built and improved the team as he’s gone on.

‘They’ve had a positive start so they’re going to be a tough opponent. We’ve spent the week analysing them and where they’re strong, making sure we’re ready for that, but they’ve had a couple of weeks to have a look at us so I’m sure both teams will be ready.

‘Both teams will want to impose themselves on the pitch.’

Danny Cowley

‘I think they (Ipswich) are a very good team.

‘It’s a very good club, a very good team, they’ve got some of the best players in the division, I think they’re very well coached.

‘They’re probably doing it in a different way from us. They’ve had the opportunity to be able to recruit some of the best players from their rivals – you know, they’ve taken Marcus Harness from us, who was a key player last year.

‘It wouldn’t have been our preference to sell to one of our rivals but when we looked at the finances involved and the rewards for us, we decided to focus on us rather than worry about our opponent.

‘It was a really good piece of business for us and it allowed us to improve as a team.

‘So, Ipswich, they’ve got some real good players – not just top players in this division but they’ve been able to take top players from the division above as well.’

Ipswich team news

There’ll be no Pompey reunion for Ipswich’s Gassan Ahadme at Portman Road today.

The former Blues loanee has been ruled out of the top-of-the-table game with a fractured foot.

The 21-year-old picked up the injury while coming on as an 81st-minute substitute during the Tractor Boys’ 2-1 defeat at Plymouth last time out.

Ahadme has featured three times for Kieran McKenna’s side following his surprise deadline day move from Burton for an undisclosed fee.

And despite each of those run-outs coming from the bench, the Ipswich boss believes the former Pompey triallist’s absence represents a blow, with McKenna considering the forward an important player moving forward.

‘Unfortunately Gassan Ahadme picked up a small fracture in his foot around the Plymouth game, so he’s currently in a boot and on crutches,’ said the Northern Irishman.

‘Thankfully it’s a very, very small fracture but he’s going to need some time off-loading the foot and is going to be out for a while.

‘Obviously, very disappointing for him as he was just settling into the team.

‘Disappointing for the squad because he was an addition for us and was going to be an important player and I’m sure will have a part to play again.’

The forward joins Panutche Camara (groin), Sone Aluko (knee), Cameron Burgess (facial surgery) and Greg Leigh (leg fracture) in the Ipswich treatment room.

However, Wes Burns is available following his return from international duty with Wales.

Predicted XI: Christian Walton, Luke Woolfenden, Janoi Donacien, George Edmundson, Leif Davis, Lee Evans, Sam Morsy, Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin Marcus Harness, Freddie Ladapo.

Pompey team news

Pompey have been handed a triple injury boost ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ipswich.

Boss Danny Cowley has confirmed Tom Lowery, Joe Rafferty and Michael Jacobs are all available for the top-of-the-table game at Portman Road.

They’ve trained all week following injury setbacks in recent weeks and are under consideration for the eagerly-anticipated head-to-head.

Lowery, who has quickly established himself as a key player in the Blues’ midfield following his free transfer from Crewe, has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up during the 2-2 draw with Plymouth at Fratton Park last time out.

The results of a scan showed he suffered a grade one tear in the first half against the Pilgrims. But he’s ready to battle it out with Joe Morrell, who is back from international duty with Wales, for an engine-room place alongside Marlon Pack.

Right-back Rafferty has missed the past two games with a stomach injury, with left full-back Connor Ogilvie impressively deputising in his absence.

The former Preston man’s return will give Cowley a selection headache, with Clark Robertson also standing out at left-back as part of the recent defensive reshuffle.

Meanwhile, Jacobs’ groin – which has also forced him to miss the games against Plymouth and Burton – is back to put pressure on an attacking unit that will devoid of Ipswich loanee Joe Piogtt’s presence, who sits out the match under the terms of his loan.

Predicted XI: Josh Griffiths; Connor Ogilvie, Michael Morrison, Sean Raggett, Clark Robertson; Owen Dale, Marlon Pack, Tom Lowery, Ronan Curtis, Colby Bishop, Dane Scarlett.

Matchday odds (Bet365)

Ipswich: 17/20

1-0 13/2, 2-0 8/1, 2-1 15/2, 3-0 14/1, 3-1 14/1, 3-2 251

Pompey: 7/2

1-0 12/1, 2-0 20/1, 2-1 14/1, 3-0 40/1, 3-1 33/1, 3-2 40/1

Draw: 12/5

0-0 9/1, 1-1 11/2, 2-2 14/1, 3-3 50/1, 4-4 200/1.

Officials

Referee: Charles BreakspearAssistants: Damith Bandara and James VallanceFourth official: Anthony Da Costa

Key Stats (all competitions)

Ipswich

P13 W8 D3 L 2

League Position: 2nd

Top goalscorer: Conor Chaplin (6)

Most Assists: Wes Burns, Janoi Donacien and Freddie Ladapo (all with 2)

Discipline: 25 yellows cards, 0 red cards

Pompey

Record this season: P12 W7 D4 L1

League Position: 3rd

Top goalscorer: Colby Bishop (6)

Most Assists: Michael Jacobs/Marlon Pack (2)

Discipline: 16 yellows cards, 0 red cards

Form guide

Ipswich

L 2-1 Plymouth Argyle (A) – League One

W 2-1 Arsenal under-21s (H) – Papa John’s Trophy

D 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday (A) – League One

W 2-0 Bristol Rovers (H) – League One

W 2-0 Accrington (A) – League One

Pompey

D 2-2 Plymouth Argyle (H) – League One

W 2-0 Burton Albion (A) – League One

W 2-1 Peterborough (H) - League One

D 2-2 Crawley (A) - EFL Trophy

W 1-0 Port Vale (H) - League One

Other fixtures (3pm kick-off unless stated)

Accrington Stanley v Morecambe, Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City, Burton Albion v Forest Green Rovers, Cambridge United v Derby County, Charlton Athletic v Oxford United, Cheltenham Town v Shrewsbury Town, Exeter City v Bristol Rovers, Fleetwood Town v Barnsley, MK Dons v Peterborough United, Port Vale v Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle.