[themaclad]

The Tractor Boys arrive at Deepdale with manager Mick McCarthy under pressure to stop the rot, there is a lot of fan unhappiness at the moment as Town are struggling along in 14th place six points behind us. They have bolstered the squad in recent days, they have broughtin Keifer Moore from Forest Green Rovers for £10,000 and Diagouraga on loan from Leeds they have also bid £2million for one Jordan Hugill from us, however they have been told to go forth and multiply on that one, cannot remember we turned down a bid of that size.
They have lost their last two games both away at Huddersfield and at Lincoln in the cup, only saw a bit of this one and safe to say Town were awful. Their last victory was a couple of weeks ago against the hapless idiots from Ewood Park. Stand oyut player by a country mile is Tom Lawrence who is on loan from Leicester, they also have the useful Brett Pitman who has scored on both his appearences at Deepdale.
As I said big Mick needs a result to pacify the natives hopefully he won't get it on Saturday.
Pearson free from suspension for us, should come back straight into the side but to be fair to Broowne he has played really well in the last two games, apparently Hugill left Villa Park on crutches last Saturday, Cunningham one match ban still to go which still leaves us a bit week at full back with Baptiste out long term, however we have a strong squad who all these days are playing for places.
Town have sold about 200 for this one so will be interesting to see how many home fans get off their collective backsides and make the effort.
Last season Town won 2-1 at Deepdale and in the three meetings since we returned to the Championship we have not beaten them, it's time for a positive result.

[themaclad]

On the long journey back to Suffolk, Mick McCarthy will probably be thinking that they have dropped two points, he'd be right, not that Ipswich were particularly good they didn't need to be as North End were awful. An early Hugill header went close for the home side in a quiet opening period which in truth the visitors had more of the ball and did practically sod all with it, until a bit of magic led to their goal.
Lawrence received the ball and cut inside both Vermijl and Gallagher before unleashing a curling effort which rocketed into the net, great goal. Town could probably have been two ahead after a bit of dire defending by Vermijl who chose to dribble towards his own goal, Sears interception just rolled past the wrong side of the post.
North End had a couple of McGeady efforts which were well saved by then Town supporters behind the goal and a cheeky Gallagher chip which was easily saved by Bialkowski. Town were comfortable as North End'd build up was ponderous to say the least.
Following the break North End created one really good chance which Robinson passed back to the keeper instaed of blasting it in. Once the intial onslaught had faded out Town had a couple of chances both fell to Pitman one was close the other not so.
As with last week the arrival of Horgan gave North End a better balance, this lad does not waste a ball should have started in my view.
McGeady was unlucky when blasting one straight at Bialkowski and it looked curtains when the keeper was beaten and Huntington's shot was scrambled clear. We should have been two down when Lawrence cut through non existent tackling but his finish was tame, easily held by Maxwell.
It would prove costly when McGeady and Horgan combined, the cross from Horgan found Hugill and he buried the chance. In the four minutes of injury time that followed neither side could break through and honours ended even.

Preston North End 1 Ipswich Town 1 Att 10600