[themaclad]

Ipswich Town 1 Sears pen Preston North End 1 Gallagher

Ipswich Town line-up: Bialkowski, Knudsen, Chambers ©, Pennington, Chalobah, Edwards (Rowe, 77), Skuse, Spence, Roberts (Jackson, 74), Sears, Downes (Dozzell, 84). Subs not used: Gerken, Donacien, Edun, Lankester.

PNE line-up: Maxwell, Clarke ©, Earl, Pearson, Huntington, Davies, Barkhuizen (Nmecha, 71), Johnson (Moult, 61), Maguire, Browne (Gallagher, 71), Robinson. Subs not used: Rudd, Fisher, Storey, Barker.

Attendance: 15,129 (404 PNE fans)

Referee: Mr A Woolmer


A marathon 18 hour trip ended just after midnight down to the usual M6 diversion on the way home, feeling was this was an opportunity missed to gain our first away win of the season. Ipswich under new manager Paul Lambert chased every ball closed us down and gave 100% but in trujth were a bit pot mind you in saying that we were pot as well.
Town started quickly but the early chances fell to us Robinson had a shot spilled by Bialkowski nobody following up Town had two shots close but no cigar with Maxwell relatively untoubled.


Until the stroke of half time, up to then Maxwell had had an in anout first half his kicking at times was dreadful and he alsp tried to be take on home attackers outside the box, then Earl whacked a 50 yard back pass to ime at warp speed, he did well to beat the firs attacker however sent the ball towards the edge of the area and seemed to take the player not the ball however TV proved he did get the ball none the less Mr Woolmer gave the penalty and booked the keeper. Sears then sent him the wrong way Town led on the stroke of half time.



The second half started we were awful little creativity and spent the majority of the time hoofing the ball to Maguire, who won nothing in the air against their back two centre backs. A couple of Town efforts went narrowly wide a header by Roberts being the closest. Then as seems to be the way with North End making a substitution changed the course of the game


With 20 minutes to go Paul Gallagher strode, his first touch was to take a free kick, we had just started to get back into the game when we were given a free kick about 20 yards from goal, Gally took it scored now level and in my view only sidelikely to win this game, until Maxwell's second walkabout.


The keeper chased a ball down to the touchline on Town's right wing got there too late clattered the winger and received his second yellow and off he went. All three subs had been used so Gallagher was the outfielder to done the gloves, do well to get anything from the game at this point, how wrong can you be.
https://youtu.be/ruSAJKtgG-Q

Town created little in the final 20 minutes they had several corners but only one effort from Sears which led to a fantastic punch save from the stand in skipper, we looked more dangerous Maguire got away with Nmecha the Republic striker's pass to the youngster did him no favours but the defensive tackle by the home defender was excellent. Defensively the last 20 minutes we were excellent but the feeling is dropped two points from this one. Just outside the drop zone on goal difference need to start winning games soon, six unbeaten though.

Finally Mr Woolmer gave us nothing all afternoon neither did his myopic linesmen.

Ipswich manager Paul Lambert:

"I thought we were excellent. I couldn't have asked for any more from the players.

"I thought we needed a focal point today and Jordan Robert was outstanding.

"I'm really proud of the team and what they gave us. The football club has had a hard time over the past couple of months but the fans showed today they're right behind the team."

Preston North End manager Alex Neil:

"If anything the red card galvanised us and we probably had the best chance of the game after that with the chance for Lukas late on.

"I wanted to put Louis in goal but Gally (Gallagher) fancied it and seemed to fancy himself as a goalkeeper. We got a corner and I wanted to bring him out because he's got the best delivery at the club but he did well.

"We are disappointed we haven't got more out of the last few games. I felt we should have won against Rotherham and I felt today we had the chances to win it."