Strike trio Will Keane, James Norwood and Kayden Jackson all start for the Blues as they take on fifth-placed Bristol Rovers at Portman Road.

Tomas Holy keeps his place in goal with Cole Skuse skippering in the back four with Luke Chambers still out with his neck injury.

The veteran Bristolian, who was with Rovers as a schoolboy, appears set to start at centre-half alongside James Wilson with Luke Woolfenden likely to move out to right-back and Luke Garbutt on the left.

Lambert, who makes six changes from the team which started Tuesday’s FA Cup defeat to Coventry, returns to the midfield three which impressed in the first half at Coventry last Saturday, Andre Dozzell, Flynn Downes and Jon Nolan.

Up front, Keane will be down the middle, perhaps alongside Jackson with Norwood behind them.

Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears were among those who warmed up on the pitch beforehand as they continue their recoveries from injury but aren’t included in the 18.

The Pirates are without 10-goal star striker Jonson Clarke-Harris and full-back Mark Little along with suspended midfielder Abu Ogogo. Former Blue Ed Upson starts in the midfield.

Town: Holy, Skuse, Wilson, Woolfenden, Garbutt, Nolan, Downes, Dozzell, Jackson, Norwood, Keane. Subs: Norris, Judge, Nsiala, Kenlock, Dobra, Georgiou, Huws.

Bristol Rovers: Jaakkola, Craig, Upson, Sercombe, Clarke, Nichols, Leahy, Kilgour, Smith, Menayese, Rodman. Subs: Van Stappershoef, Kelly, Tomlinson, Adeboyejo, Hoole, Hargreaves, Phillips. Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

Photo: TWTD

timkatieadamitfc added 14:42 - Dec 14 Words fail me - who is right back? that will teach Donacien to have perhaps his 2 best games for the club. still coyb
0

Toronto_Tractor added 14:43 - Dec 14 Go on my sons!
1

Len_Brennan added 14:44 - Dec 14 Another game, another new line up & probable formation. The great unknown. Strong XI nonetheless, just hope they know what they are suppose to do.
1

SouperJim added 14:45 - Dec 14 Not 3-5-2 with Garbutt left wing and Jackson right? Garbutt and Wolfie as full backs seems a bit unbalanced to me.
1

positivity added 14:46 - Dec 14 donacien injured? very light on right-backs...
0

ArnieM added 14:47 - Dec 14 Well you can't fault the obvious intent by PL. hope it works out 👍
1

DifferentGravy added 14:55 - Dec 14 Ha! Not sure what Lambert is like at Poker......certainly never easy to read. Guess we are going to try and outscore Bristol Rovers because they LOVE a goal. Get you bets on a BTTS and hope that Ipswich come out on top!
0

juniorblue added 15:06 - Dec 14 Lots of changes again, but this is an attacking lineup. We need a positive start and to go for goals. I think we will definitely have to score more than one to win this game. Come on lads. Go out there, play with intent and energy and we can win. COYB!
0

TimmyH added 15:08 - Dec 14 Never get the best out of Garbutt as a full back and as said another formation and starting line up...3 points please!
0

norfstanda added 15:38 - Dec 14 2 nill down. Ffs. Wheels are slowing coming off.....? Still thinking 100 points 100 goals for the season........?
0

Pezzer added 15:42 - Dec 14 Am I reading this correctly? Lambert is playing Skuse, a holding midfielder, at CB and then playing Woolfenden, probably our current best CB at RB? Or Skuse at RB. Either way bizarre and inept strategy.
0

portmanteau added 16:04 - Dec 14 Town don't seem to grasp the fact that all opponents this season play out of their skins against us. Stats dont lie of course but how on earth are we hanging on in 2nd with such a dismal home record?
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls