Sears and Lawrence Start Against Villa - Ipswich Town News
Freddie Sears and Tom Lawrence replace Kevin Bru and Conor Grant, who both drop to the bench, in an otherwise unchanged Town side taking on Aston Villa at Portman Road this afternoon.
The Blues could start in a 4-4-2 system with full debutant Lawrence on the left and Sears - back after missing the Derby game with a groin problem - joining Brett Pitman up front or alternatively the on-loan Leicester man could play behind Pitman in the 4-4-1-1 system utilised in the first half at the iPro Stadium on Tuesday with Sears on the left.
Villa, who make four changes from the side which drew 1-1 at home to Brentford, are without striker Ross McCormack, who was considered a big doubt due to a knee problem, while fellow frontman Rudy Gestede also misses out.
Right-back Ritchie De Laet is also sidelined as he requires a knee operation, while Aly Cissokho drops to the bench.
Nathan Baker, Leandro Bacuna, Jordan Amivi and Jack Grealish all come into the starting line-up.
Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Lawrence, Ward, Sears, Pitman. Subs: Gerken, Kenlock, Bru, Bishop, Grant, Varney, Best.
Aston Villa: Gollina, Bacuna, Elphick (c), Chester, Baker, Amavi, Westwood, Jedinak, Grealish, Ayew, Kodjia. Subs: Bunn. Richards, Kozak, Hutton, Gardner, Cissokho. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).
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