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Preston North End 3 Ipswich 2
Preston climbed to fourth in the table after they came out on top in a five-goal thriller at Deepdale.
But they were pushed every inch of the way by a determined Ipswich side.
A Callum Davidson penalty, a header from Jon Parkin and a far post strike by Stephen Elliott proved just enough to take the points in an incident-packed match.
Ipswich, who boast one of the best away records in the division, were always in the game thanks to two goals from former PNE loan signing Tommy Miller.
The visitors hit a post and put North End under suffocating pressure in the latter stages.
But Alan Irvine's side held out to move up to fourth in the Championship table.
Davidson fired Preston in front early on with his fourth spot-kick of the season after referee Steve Tanner ruled defender Alex Bruce had dragged Stephen Elliott down as the striker chased a through ball on the right of goal from Simon Whaley.
Whaley, making his first start since August, was a constant threat to the visitors and North End were refused a second penalty when his cross appeared to be handled by Alan Quinn.
Ex-PNE loan player Miller, who has made a habit of scoring against the club, equalised after 31 minutes, although there was a suspicion of handball in the build-up.
But Parkin put North End back in front three minutes before the break, getting his head to a bouncing through ball as keeper Richard Wright hesitated.
North End went further in front just after the hour mark when Elliott met a corner at the far post and fired into the roof of the net.
But within two minutes Miller had scored his second to reduce the margin to just one goal and set up a nervous finish.
Sub Kevin Lisbie hit a post and saw an acrobatic overhead kick saved by Lonergan as Ipswich threw everything at the Preston goal, ultimately in vain.
Whaley was straight into his stride down the right-hand side, causing full-back David Wright problems in the opening minutes.
On his first run his cross had to be knocked behind by the defender for a corner.
But when he got the ball again in the fifth minute he clipped a beauty of a pass down the inside right channel for Elliott to chase, the striker tried to shield the ball from Bruce, but the centre-half hauled him down with referee Tanner only pointing to the spot after
his assistant had flagged for the penalty.
Davidson, out for a month through injury, picked up the ball and placed it on the spot before hammering it low towards the bottom left corner.
Keeper Wright guessed right, but even though he got a touch, the shot had too much behind it and the ball rolled under him into the net for the opening goal.
Ipswich looked dangerous going forward, particularly when tall striker Jon Stead was in possession.
And the former Blackburn man went close with a glancing header in the
12th minute from a right-wing cross.
Former PNE loan player Tommy Miller lifted a shot high over the bar.
And after a Pablo Counago shot was deflected round the post, Stead went close again from the resulting corner, getting up unmarked to send a firm header straight at Lonergan.
At the other end Whaley was still having an effect, his rising shot clearing the crossbar after McKenna's quickly-taken free-kick had been rolled into his path 25 yards out.
Ipswich hauled themselves level just after the half hour mark and, surprise, surprise, the goal came from Miller.
The ball was played in from the left, there was a suggestion of handball as the midfielder knocked it forward before clipping a shot past Lonergan into the net.
Two minutes later North End could have been back in front, but this time referee Tanner refused them what looked a cast iron penalty.
Whaley got the ball on the right of the box and crossed, Quinn raised his arms to block, the ball hit him on the hand, but even though the official looked to have a perfect view of the incident, he waved away Preston's appeals.
Moments later Whaley was dancing down the wing again, this time getting in a cross which found the head of Billy Jones, but the full-back sent his effort straight at Wright.
Five minutes before the break Parkin charged through like a rampaging bull only to blaze horribly wide.
Two minutes later he made amends by putting Preston back in front.
McKenna knocked a hopeful ball down the middle, the Ipswich defenders hesitated thinking keeper Wright was coming to claim it, Parkin went steaming in and got his head to it before Wright could punch and he was turning away in celebration before the ball had rolled over the line.
Ipswich went straight at Preston at the start of the second half and after Eddie Nolan - on for the injured Sean St Ledger - had very nearly headed into his own net, Lonergan had to fling himself across to palm a shot from sub Pim Balkestein round the post.
But after being put under a spell of pressure North End went further in front after 61 minutes when Ross Wallace curled a right-wing corner to the far post and Elliott clipped it into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later it was 3-2 and that man Miller bagged his second, curling a harshly-awarded free-kick from the edge of the box past Lonergan's outstretched left glove.
Moments after that Preston should have had a penalty, but once again Mr Tanner refused their appeals after Elliott had been clearly dragged down on the edge of the six-yard box by Bruce.
Lonergan pulled off a smart save to deny Lisbie after the striker broke through on goal.
Then Lisbie wriggled through on the left of goal to hammer a shot against the foot of the post.
There were some nervous moments for North End as they tried to hang on to their narrow lead in the final few minutes, Lonergan having to hurl himself across to fingertip Lisbie's acrobatic overhead kick round for a corner.
Boss Irvine shook up the teamsheet as Preston tried to bounce straight back from last weekend's embarrassment at Southampton.
The North End boss, angered by the way his side capitulated at St Mary's, made four changes - two in defence and two in midfield - in the hope of sparking a reaction.
Youl Mawene, so impressive as a second half sub against the Saints, came back in place of injured loan signing Andrew Davies.
Experienced left-back Davidson returned after a month on the sidelines to replace youngster Nolan.
Richard Chaplow was brought back in the engine room with Barry Nicholson stepping down to the bench.
But the biggest surprise of all was the appearance of Whaley in the starting line-up for the first time since August.
He took over on the right wing from Chris Sedgwick who has been ruled out for three weeks following a hernia operation.
Top scorer Neil Mellor returned to the squad after a month out for a double hernia operation, but he had to be content with a seat on the bench.
Ipswich, boasting one of the best away records in the Championship, made just one change to the side which won 3-1 at Queens Park Rangers last Saturday.
Full-back Ben Thatcher was ruled out through injury and replaced by Moritz Volz.
Preston North End: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St Ledger, Davidson, Whaley, Chaplow, McKenna, Wallace, Parkin, Elliott.
Substitutes: Neal, Nicholson, Brown, Nolan, Mellor.
Ipswich: R Wright, Volz, McAuley, Bruce, D Wright, Norris, Miller, Civelli, Quinn, Counago, Stead.
Substitutes: Supple, Garvan, Lisbie, Walters, Balkestein.
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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