TEAM NEWS: Chopra and Smith start for Ipswich Town against Peterborough

By Stuart Watson Saturday, November 24, 2012
2:42 PM

Ipswich v Peterborough: Michael Chopra has been handed his first start by new Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy for today’s visit of fellow Championship strugglers Peterborough United.

There are two changes to the side which lost 6-0 at Leicester City last weekend.

Chopra replaces Daryl Murphy as DJ Campbell’s strike partner, while Tommy Smith – rested at the King Power Stadium after a long midweek trip to China to skipper New Zealand in an international friendly – returns to the side at the expense of Luke Chambers in central defence.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson – who like McCarthy has labelled this match as ‘huge’ – has reverted to a 5-4-1 formation following his side’s 4-1 home defeat to Blackburn last weekend.

West Brom loanee George Thorne makes his debut in central midfield, while fellow new arrival, striker Dwight Gayle (Dagenham & Redbridge), is on the bench.

– Report and reaction to follow.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Henderson; Orr, Smith, Higginbotham, Cresswell; Edwards, Reo-Coker, N’Daw, Martin; Campbell, Chopra.

Subs: Loach, Chambers, Hewitt, Hyam, Mohsni, Emmanuel-Thomas, Murphy.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED (5-4-1): Olejnik; Little, Brisley, Bostwick (cpt), Knight-Percival, Little; Tomlin, McCann, Thorne, Boyd; Berahino.

Subs: Day, Alcock, Zakuani, Swanson, Ferdinand, Clarke-Harris, Gayle.

Referee: Mark Halsey