Alan Irvine's side were given a standing ovation on a "thank you" lap at the end after holding Jim Magilton's side to a draw.

Strike partners Chris Brown and Neil Mellor both found the net as North End came from a goal down to look on course for their 12th home win of the campaign.

But a late strike from Jonathan Walters salvaged a point for thye Tractor Boys - although it is unlikely to be enough to earn them a top six finish after next Sunday's final round of games.

Preston were hit by an early goal from their bogey player Tommy Miller after just 11 minutes - his eighth against them in nine games.

Brown equalised after 35 minutes with a shot which took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot keeper Stephen Bywater.

Brown should have had a second moments later but put a header over the top from barely three yards out.

Mellor claimed his 10th goal of the season after 79 minute to put North End ahead.

But just when it looked like Alan Irvine's side would hold out for a victory, Walters raced through the middle to find the bottom corner and claim a share of the spoils.

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Neal Trotman almost got an unforgettable 21st birthday present within two minutes of his full debut kicking off.

The big central defender strode up for a free-kick and was only inches away from getting his head on Paul McKenna's curling cross.

It took a brilliant one-handed save from keeper Lonergan to prevent Ipswich going in front after 10 minutes.

Referee Eddie Ilderton ignored what looked like a hefty shove on Chris Brown and allowed Danny Haynes to get away down the right-hand side.

His cross picked out Quinn at the far side and Lonergan had to fling himself across to palm a powerful header round the post.

But Preston's relief lasted only seconds, with Ipswich opening the scoring from the resulting corner.

The flag kick was only half-cleared to Miller outside the box and he hit a low shot through a sea of legs into the bottom left corner with Lonergan unsighted.

Preston responded with Neil Mellor flicking on a high ball for Chris Brown who controlled with his back to goal and then hooked a shot over his left shoulder, but it was straight at keeper Stephen Bywater.

Brown hauled Preston level after 35 minutes, but there was a bg dose of good fortune about the goal.

The striker's 25-yard shot struck defender Jason De Vos and changed direction enough to wrong-foot keeper Bywater on the goal-line.

Three minutes later Brown could have turned the match around completely when he was presented with a free header barely five yards out from Chris Sedgwick's cross, but he put his header inches over the top when it looked easier to score.

Ipswich hit the woodwork three minutes into the second half when Pablo Counago's shot smashed against the inside of the right-hand post and bounced across the face of goal.

Counago also had a goal disallowed on the hour mark for an offside flag as the visitors piled forward in search of a winner.

And after Bywater had saved a shot from Mellor, sub Alan Lee unbelievably headed wide from just three yards out. The striker then showed his frustration when he went down under a challenge from Trotman, but referee Eddie Ilderton waved away his claims for a penalty.

With 12 minutes to go Simon Whaley was introduced in place of Lewis Neal and immediately set up Mellor for what looked like being the winner. Whaley's cross from the left found the striker and he hammered the ball home for his 10th goal of the season.

But Ipswich refused to give up and were rewarded three minuites from time when Walters was sent through the middle t beat Lonergan with a crisp shot into the bottom corer.

Earlier birthday boy Trotman and Scot Michael Hart had both made their Deepdale debuts as Alan Irvine was forced into changes.

Trotman, who took his North End bow as a substitute at Plymouth last weekend, came in as replacement for hamstring victim Sean St Ledger.

And right-back Hart, signed in January from Aberdeen, was involved for the first time in place of Billy Jones who suffered a gashed heel in the same game.

Surprisingly there was no place on the bench for frontman Craig Beattie who returned at the start of the week from West Brom to complete his loan spell with Preston.

The boss had indicated the Scotland international would be in the 16 for the final two games of the season, but a late injury problem was thought to have kept him out.

The game also produced a milestone for skipper Paul McKenna, becoming only the ninth player in North End's history to clock up 400 starts for the club.

Ipswich, needing nothing less than a win to keep their play-off hopes alive, named an unchanged side from last weekend's 1-1 draw at Wolves.

That meant a return to Deepdale for midfielder Miller who spent time on loan with North End last season and very nearly joined the club on a permanent deal.

Preston North End: Lonergan, Hart, Mawene, Trotman, Davidson, Sedgwick, McKenna, Chaplow, L Neal, Brown, Mellor.

Substitutes: C Neal, Carter, Whaley, Hill, Hawley.

Ipswich: Bywater, Simpson, De Vos, Bruce, Wright, Haynes, Miller, Garvan, Quinn, Walters, Counago.

Substitutes: Colgan, Lee, Sumulikoski, Sito, Kuqi.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear).