IPSWICH TOWN: The Blues go searching for their fifth consecutive away victory when they play Portsmouth in the Championship at Fratton Park on Saturday.

This is a feat they have achieved on just five occasions in their history – with the record being six straight wins on the road achieved under the management of Bobby Robson in 1981/82.

And if Roy Keane’s side keep a clean sheet at bottom of the table Pompey it will be the first time they have gone three matches without conceding a goal for over five years.

Wins at Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in the league and Exeter and Crewe in the Carling Cup have given Town their best ever away start to any campaign.

This beat three consecutive victories achieved in their first season as a professional club in 1936/37.

Victory over cash-starved Portsmouth will give Ipswich 13 points from their opening five league fixtures, and on the road to automatic promotion.

To achieve the 90 point figure needed to normally secure a top two finish, Ipswich need to average 10 points every five games, which does not sound that difficult but takes a lot of consistency.

A win at Fratton Park and with three home games in the next batch for five games would put Ipswich in an excellent position to go and make an impact.

Portsmouth expect to have Liam Lawrence available after the Republic of Ireland international’s permanent move from Stoke was not registered in time before the transfer window closed last week.

The Football League is expected to give the green light to an emergency loan followed by a permanent deal in January.

And Queens Park Rangers are looking to take Pompey’s Tommy Smith on emergency loan after the Football League refused to grant a permanent deal following delays over the Lawrence move.

Ipswich Town record is six consecutive away wins

DEC 2 1981: Bradford City (League Cup third round) 3-2 aet (O’Callaghan, Muhren, Turner, DEC 5: Middlesbrough (Division One) 1-0 (D’Avray), DEC 15: Everton (League Cup fourth round) 3-2 (Gates, Brazil, Wark), JAN 2 1982: Birmingham City (FA Cup, third round) 3-2 (Brazil 2, Wark), JAN 16: Coventry City (Division One) 4-2 (Wark, Muhren, Mariner, Brazil), JAN 23: Luton Town (FA Cup fourth round) 3-0 (Gates 2, Brazil).

Ipswich Town have completed five consecutive away wins on four occasions

OCT 21 1950: Aldershot (Division 3 South) 1-0 (Roberts), NOV 4: Colchester United (Division Three South) 3-2 (McCrory, Wookey, Driver), NOV 18: Crystal Palace (Division Three South) 3-1 (McCrory 3), NOV 25: Leyton Orient (FA Cup first round) 2-1 (Jennings, T Parker), DEC 2: Newport County (Division Three South) 2-1 (McCrory 2).

DEC 16 1953: Walthamstow Avenue (FA Cup second round) 1-0 (Crowe), DEC 19: Colchester United (Division Three South) 2-1 (Reed, Elsworthy), DEC 25: Coventry City (Division Three South) 3-1 (Reed, Parker, Brown), JAN 12 1954: Oldham (FA Cup, third round) 1-0 (garneys), JAN 16: Leyton Orient (Division Three South 2-1 (Parker, pen, Elsworthy).

OCT 2 1976: Bristol City (Division One) 2-1 (Whymark, Osborne), OCT 16: West Ham (Division One) 2-0 (Woods 2), OCT 30: Manchester United (Division One) 1-0 (Woods), NOV 27: Middlesbrough (Division One) 2-0 (Mariner, Talbot), DEC 7: Birmingham City (Division One) 4-2 (Talbot 2, Mariner, Wark).

JAN 5 1980: Preston (FA Cup third round) 3-0 (Mariner 2, Brazil), JAN 12: Stoke City (Division One 1-0 (Mariner), JAN 19: Bristol City (Division One) 3-0 (Gates, Brazil, Mariner), JAN 26: Bristol City (FA Cup fourth round) 2-1 (Wark, Mariner), FEB 9: Everton (Division One) 4-0 (Brazil 2, Mariner, Gates).

The last time Ipswich Town went three games without conceding a goal

MARCH 12 2005: Nottingham Forest 6-0 (h), MARCH 15: Cardiff City 1-0 (a), MARCH 19: Gillingham 0-0 (a).