FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 12, 2025 at 3pm UK

Portman Road Stadium

Ipswich vs Bristol Rovers

Match preview

Ipswich Town had a shocker last season in the fourth round of the FA Cup. They lost 2-1 to Maidstone United at Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys will be desperate to avoid a similar upset this Sunday, but most of their focus has understandably been on their first top-flight season in two decades. Kieran McKenna's men are fighting hard to avoid an immediate return to the stresses of the Championship.

After losing to Newcastle United and Arsenal, Ipswich have picked up in form to end their festive schedule, getting four points in two games against Enzo Maresca's Chelsea and fellow West London teams Fulham at Craven Cottage.

A strike partnership of Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap both scored for the Tractor Boys at Craven Cottage last time, but a pair of penalties from Raul Jimenez forced a share of the league points on a rainy afternoon in the capital.

With four points from their last two matches, McKenna's team are currently in 18th place in the Premier League, 10 points ahead of Southampton and level with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Last time out, Bristol Rovers got maximum points from a League One contest for the first time in a new era under the leadership of forward-thinking Spaniard Inigo Calderon, battling to a much-needed 1-0 win at the home of relegation-threatened Cambridge United.

The Gas stopped a seven-game winless run in the third tier stretching back to November with success at the U's, with a first league goal of the 2024-25 campaign for winger Luke Thomas proving to be the moment in a match between two clubs who are fighting for survival.

Bristol Rovers sacked their former boss Matt Taylor in the middle of December to try and get them out of the bottom four of League One. But a tough festive period means that Calderon's men are currently in 20th place, just five points ahead of Crawley Town in 21st.

They've only scored 22 times in 24 third-tier matches, so finding the back of the net has been a bit of an issue for the Gas this term. And it could get even trickier with news about top scorer Promise Omochere, who's got a serious hamstring injury.

Calderon's team have had a pretty quiet start to their FA Cup journey this season, easily getting past non-league side Weston Super Mare in the first round and then getting a spot in East Anglia against Ipswich after a penalty shootout win against Barnsley in the second round.

Recent Performance

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):LWLLWD

Bristol Rovers FA Cup form:WW

Bristol Rovers form (all competitions):LDLLLW

Team News

Ipswich will be without influential winger Omari Hutchinson due to a muscle injury, with the ex-Chelsea youngster scoring against the Blues last time out at Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys' options in attack are even more limited because Conor Chaplin is expected to be sidelined until late January because of a knee injury.Ipswich still can't pick Philogene from Aston Villa, as he's still not fully fit after his hamstring and Achilles problems.

Bristol Rovers can't call on Omochere, who's scored four goals, so they'll need new solutions at the top end of the pitch.

There's some good news for the Gas though, as Jack Hunt, who's been on the sidelines for over two months, might be able to play in East Anglia.

Possible starting lineup

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Muric; H Clarke, Burgess, Woolfenden, Townsend; Phillips, Taylor; J Clarke, Burns, Broadhead; Al Hamadi

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Griffiths; Moore, Wilson, Taylor, Sousa; Lindsay, Ward, Thomas, Sotiriou, Sinclair; Martin