EYE ON THE OPPOSITION | Ipswich Town (H)

Vale Park hosts midweek Sky Bet League One action on Tuesday, with Ipswich Town travelling to Burslem to face the Valiants.

The Tractor Boys are fighting right at the top end of the division as they sit in second place on 33 points after 15 matches.

The Blues have been in fine form recently, winning four out of their last five games, including a 1-0 win against Derby County at Portman Road on Friday night.

Vale have also been on a strong run in the league recently, and they come into this fixture off the back of a 1-0 win away to Cambridge United at the weekend, their second consecutive away win.

We have not faced Ipswich since 2000, so it is sure to be a brilliant clash, here is what you need to know about Town.

ONE TO WATCH: Wes Burns

 

Ipswich’s right midfielder, Wes Burns, has been a star for Kieran McKenna’s side since he joined from Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2021.

The Welshman started his professional career at Bristol City in 2012, spending five years in the southwest, scoring four times in just over 50 appearances.

During his five-year spell in Bristol, Burns went on loan five times, to the likes of Forest Green Rovers, Oxford United, Cheltenham Town, Fleetwood Town, and Aberdeen.

His most successful was up in Lancashire with Fleetwood, scoring five times in 14 matches, and after a spell up in Scotland, The Cod Army decided to bring him in permanently.

Burns’ career really took off when he signed for Fleetwood in 2017, and although he struggled in his first season, the 27-year-old’s quality soon shone through.

The Cod Army made the playoffs twice whilst Burns was there, with Burns shining in the second of those seasons.

Ipswich were one of many teams interested in the Welshman due to his impressive performances in Lancashire, and in the summer of 2021, they got their man.

Burns has lit up Portman Road since signing, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 13 goals last campaign, whilst also making it into the Sky Bet League One Team of the Season 2021/22.

The wingback is sure to be a handful on Tuesday night, but we will be hoping the Vale manage to keep him quiet and secure a clean sheet just like Saturday in Cambridge.

THE MAN AT THE HELM: Kieran McKenna

 

In the dugout at Ipswich Town since 2021, Kienan McKenna has been a major hit for the club since he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at the club.

The Northern Irishman started his career in the sport as a player, but after many years in the academy at Tottenham Hotspur, his playing days were cut short due to a hip injury.

McKenna then wasted no time in turning to coaching, helping out youth teams at Spurs, Leicester City, and Nottingham Forest in his younger days.

After many years at Spurs, he made the move to Manchester United’s youth set up becoming the Manager of their under-18s side.

Only two years after joining United in 2016, he was promoted into a First Team coaching role under Jose Mourinho and then later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

McKenna had shown that he was ready to step into management, and he made that step in December 2021, being appointed by the Tractor Boys as Manager.

Ipswich’s form drastically improved under the Northern Irishman’s stewardship, as the side went on an 11-match unbeaten streak between February and March, but the form was only enough to see them finish 11th.

Town have started this season in similar form and McKenna’s side currently sit in 2nd place in the league, as they look to get back into the Championship under the 36-year-old.

STADIUM: Portman Road

 

Ipswich have played their football at the famous Portman Road since 1884, and it has played host to many memorable matches since its opening nearly 140 years ago.

One of the more famous stadiums in the division, Portman Road can hold up to 29,673 fans after redevelopments earlier this century.

Valiants, you won’t travel to the famous ground until April, but on Tuesday night you will see the Vale play the Tractor Boys for the first time since 2000.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LAST FIVE:

Vale wins: 0

Draws: 0

Ipswich wins: 5

Vale’s record against Ipswich is not the best reading, but Darrell Clarke will be wanting to change that in midweek.

Unfortunately, Vale have lost each of their last five against Town, but that is no indication that it will continue, with the sides not having played each other in over 20 years.