Ipswich Town will still have aspirations of reaching the playoffs this season, but to do so they will need to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.

That is exactly what they will attempt to do when they host Birmingham City at Portman Road this Saturday as they look to close the five-point gap currently separating them from sixth-placed Reading.

The Tractor Boys have only won one of their last five matches, although draws have been their biggest problem in that time as the 3-0 loss to Leicester City last Saturday was their first defeat in six.

Mick McCarthy's side are in the disadvantaged position of having played a game more than the three teams directly above them in the league, but a win on Saturday could still lift them as high as eighth and within striking distance of the top six.

However, they have not scored in their last two matches and will have to manage for the rest of the season without top scorer David McGoldrick, who has been ruled out through injury.

Only Queens Park Rangers have beaten Ipswich at Portman Road in their last nine matches there in all competitions, but they have been held to home draws by struggling teams such as Barnsley, Blackpool and Charlton Athletic this season.

In addition to McGoldrick, McCarthy could be without Anthony Wordsworth and Luke Hyam, both of whom are injury doubts.

Birmingham, meanwhile, will be fairly comfortable with their position after a 2-1 win over Blackpool left them nine points clear of the relegation zone.

With five teams separating the Blues from the bottom three, even Charlton's three games in hand won't be too much of a worry for Lee Clark's side, who would take a big step towards clinching survival with a win this weekend.

Their form has been inconsistent in general, but they have largely relied on their remarkable record away from home this season to keep them at arm's length of danger.

Only four teams have amassed more points on their travels than Birmingham this season, while Leicester City and Derby County are the only teams to have won more games on the road.

Clark will be without Matthew Green and Neal Eardley for the game, but he has no new injury concerns to worry about.

Recent form

Ipswich: WDWDDL

Birmingham: LDWLLW

Possible starting lineups

Ipswich: Gerken; Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Hunt, Tabb, Skuse, Anderson; Murphy, Nouble

Birmingham: Randolph; Spector, Packwood, Robinson, Hancox; Adeyemi, Huws; Burke, Novak, Lee; Macheda

Sports Mole says: 2-1

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