We guide you through all the vital information ahead of Ipswich Town’s home clash with Burnley.
When and where?
Tuesday, 7.45pm at Portman Road
What are the likely line-ups?
ITFC: Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Maitland-Niles, Skuse, Douglas, Fraser, Sears, Murphy.
Burnley: Heaton; Mee, Darikwa, Duff, Keane; Kightly, Arfield, Jones, Boyd; Vokes Jutkiewicz.
Which players are missing?
With McCarthy likely to name an unchanged side from the one which beat Sheffield Wednesday, it means Jonny Parr, Kevin Bru and Teddy Bishop will all miss out again. Parr returned for the Under 21s today but is not yet fit enough to start.
Who is their manager?
Sean Dyche has worked wonders at Burnley after taking over at Turf Moor when Eddie Howe opted to return to Bournemouth. That was in October 2012 and, by the end of 2014, he had guided a pick ‘n’ mix bunch of players to the Premier League. Sadly he couldn’t keep them up and they’re battling in the second tier again this season.
How have they been getting on so far this season?
It’s been a bit of a tough start for the Clarets, back in the Championship, and they’re so far without a win in any of their opening three matches. A draw away at Leeds was followed by another at home to Birmingham on Saturday, while they were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Port Vale last week.
Who has the best record in this fixture?
Ipswich have the edge in the series between the two sides, with 18 wins from 41 games. Burnley have won 13 times while there have been 10 draws. There have been 20 meetings between the two teams at Portman Road, with Burnley only winning twice. They did however taste success on their last visit, as Scott Arfield scored the only goal in October 2013.
What happened last time they met?
Town’s visit to Burnley on April 26 last year was scheduled to be televised, as the Clarets neared promotion to the Premier League, but they achieved the feat a week before meaning it wasn’t the spectacle Sky Sports had hoped for. Still, with their tails up, Michael Kightly scored the only goal to secure a 1-0 home win. They ultimately missed out on the title to Leicester.
Who is the ref?
Simon Hooper has the whistle this time around, having last taken charge of an Ipswich game a year and two days ago. That day, August 16 2014, Reading secured a 1-0 win at the Madejski thanks to Jake Taylor’s goal.
What’s the key battle on the pitch?
If both George Boyd and Michael Kightly both start, then both Ipswich full-backs are going to be thoroughly tested. Luke Chambers and Jonas Knudsen both stood up well to Sheffield Wednesday’s wide threat on Saturday, but this takes it to a different level.
What are the bookies saying?
Ipswich are once again favourites for this one, coming in at 23/20. The visitors are 13/5 as they bid to get their season up and running while the draw, which may be a tempter, is at 5/2.
Anything else worth knowing?
Things could have worked out very differently for Ipswich had Charlie Austin not opted to move to Burnley, rather than Suffolk, in 2011. Town had agree a fee for the ten 21-year-old but, after coming to Portman Road to talk money, he eventually left and ended up in Lancashire for a £1.2m fee. He scored 41 times in 69 league starts for the Clarets, before moving to QPR, where he has since been called up to the England squad. Who knows where Ipswich would be now if Paul Jewell had been able to snare the former bricklayer.
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