Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town are aiming to keep up their sensational form shown throughout this season with the Tractor Boys welcoming the National League's Maidstone United to Portman Road this Saturday afternoon in the FA Cup.
Ipswich come into this game with an unbeaten run dating back to just before Christmas when they were once again thrashed by Leeds United. McKenna's side have gone on to draw twice in 1-1 games with the league leaders Leicester City, while they also played out goalless games with Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium and at home to Queens Park Rangers.
Despite the unbeaten streak, the only win this past month has seen Ipswich defeat Sunderland at Portman Road with a goal each from Kayden Jackson and Conor Chaplin. This does also still mean a seven-point gap on the Foxes in first place, while Southampton have managed to close the gap to just one point. On the other hand, with only three losses on the board - two of which have been to fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds - Ipswich have lost the fewest games this season.
In the third round of the FA Cup where Ipswich played out their first FA Cup clash of the season, the Tractor Boys defeated Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium with a goal each from Axel Tuanzebe and Jack Taylor, alongside an own goal from Josh Davison.
This is the first match between Ipswich and Maidstone in history, and the Championship side have managed to win their last two matches against non-league teams, beating Bracknell Town 4-0 and Buxton 3-0. They did, however, lose to Luton Town in their National League days back in 2017.
This is also the first time Maidstone have reached the FA Cup fourth round, and it will be the first-ever game against a side from either one of the top two tiers in history - a win for Maidstone will also be the first victory for a team as low as them in the football pyramid against a team as high as Ipswich since Kidderminster Harriers beat Birmingham back in 1994.
Maidstone have, however, struggled in 2024 so far, despite a 1-0 win over League One's Stevenage earlier this month. The club have since gone on to beat Dartford before losses to Havant & Waterlooville and Slough Town, while they also drew with Braintree Town earlier in the week at home.
