Preview: Burnley vs. Ipswich Town
Burnley will be bidding to book their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup when they welcome League One outfit Ipswich Town to Turf Moor on Tuesday night.
The two sides initially met at Portman Road on January 28 in the fourth round of the competition, but a goalless draw has led to a replay being required to determine which team advances.
Burnley have been, by some distance, the best side in the Championship this season, and the Clarets look destined for a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Indeed, Vincent Kompany’s side are currently top of the second tier on 65 points, seven points clear of second-placed Sheffield United and 17 ahead of third-placed Middlesbrough with a game in hand.
Only a stunning collapse will prevent Burnley from returning to the Premier League for next season, and there is no question that the league is their priority this term, but a cup run is always good for confidence, and they have the chance to make the fifth round of the competition, which would see them face either Sheffield Wednesday or Fleetwood Town.
Kompany’s team will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 victory over Norwich City in the Championship on Saturday, while they have already claimed an impressive scalp in this season’s FA Cup, recording a 4-2 victory over Premier League side Bournemouth in the third round.
Burnley, who famously won the FA Cup in 1914, last beat Ipswich in April 2014, recording a 1-0 victory when the two teams locked horns in the Championship, but the last two meetings have both been draws.
While Burnley are bidding to secure a return to the Premier League, Ipswich firmly have their eyes on the Championship for next season, with the team currently sitting third in the League One table, picking up 55 points from their opening 29 games of the season.
The Tractor Boys, who are six points off both Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle in first and second respectively, were held to a 1-1 draw by Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon.
Kieran McKenna’s side have actually only won one of their last five games in all competitions, but they have had to win three games to reach this stage of the FA Cup, beating Bracknell Town, Buxton and Rotherham Town in the first, second and third round respectively.
Ipswich, like Burnley, will be prioritising the league, but they impressed in the first fixture between the two sides on January 28, with the Championship leaders held to a goalless draw.
The Tractor Boys have a huge League One fixture at home to Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday, so it will be fascinating to see how the team approach this match.
Burnley FA Cup form:
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Burnley form (all competitions):
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Ipswich Town FA Cup form:
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Ipswich Town form (all competitions):
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We say: Burnley 1-0 Ipswich Town
Ipswich were impressive against Burnley last time out, and we are expecting this to be a close match in terms of the scoreline. Both managers will make changes from their usual league XIs, but Burnley should have enough quality in reserve to book their spot in the fifth round of the competition.