Ipswich 4-2 Preston: Tractor Boys continue charge near the top with emphatic win

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich and Preston at Portman Road on Saturday | Tractor Boys already move eight points clear in promotion race after victory.

Saturday 7 October 2023 18:26, UK

Ipswich kept pace with Sky Bet Championship leaders Leicester and extended their lead over third-placed Preston to eight points after a thrilling 4-2 victory over North End at Portman Road.

Conor Chaplin fired Ipswich ahead before the visitors levelled through Mads Frokjaer-Jensen. Brandon Williams' superb solo effort restored Town's advantage, which was added to by Nathan Broadhead.

Ben Whiteman got Preston back in it, but Kayden Jackson's late fourth ensured promoted Ipswich's extraordinary start to the season continued and inflicted a third straight defeat for the visitors.

Preston were on the back foot defending resolutely in the opening stages, but Town broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a wonderfully-worked corner routine.

Leif Davis found Chaplin unmarked 12 yards from goal and his first-time strike beat goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Broadhead then had the Preston shot-stopper scrambling back on his goal-line after an audacious shot at goal from fully 50 yards out.

But Preston drew level in the 27th minute. Town defenders Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess failed to deal with a through ball and Frokjaer-Jensen placed the ball past home goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky.

Massimo Luongo went down in the penalty area, with appeals for a spot kick turned away, but Ipswich soon retook the lead through Williams.

It came from a darting run forward down the right from just inside his own half. He cut inside the penalty area and his precise shot struck the inside of the left-hand post before settling in the back of the net.

Just before the break, Broadhead's shot from 25 yards was deflected wide and from the resulting corner Town went further in front.

Broadhead was on hand to nudge the ball over the line after George Hirst headed back into the danger zone.

Again, Preston fought their way back into the game after manager Ryan Lowe made three changes at half-time.

Substitute Whiteman's shot from outside the box after 52 minutes took a deflection off Luke Woolfenden to beat Hladky and reduced the arrears to 3-2.

The visitors were firmly back in it and pressed forward at every opportunity.

But Ipswich confirmed their victory in the 78th minute following a flowing move, which was finished off by substitute Jackson as Kieran McKenna's side made it six games unbeaten.

The managers

Ipswich's Kieran McKenna:

"Our substitutes bought fresh energy and helped us kill the game off as well. We had a threat right throughout the game with some great goals and we have to take a lot of positives and the players deserve a lot of credit not just today but certainly across this block of games. Credit to the staff as well, it didn't look as good as that in training but sometimes things are better in the arena. Really well executed and a great way to get us started.

"Brandon showed that drive and that determination all game up and down the pitch and the goal typified that today - and we needed it. We weren't at our very best as a team and we're not always going to be… individually we need people to step up and Brandon did that especially with his goal."

Preston's Ryan Lowe:

"Obviously (I'm) disappointed with the first half and I think the first three goals, you can't give a good team like Ipswich three goals and we have done. It was good goals from them, especially the first one, but we knew what was coming and we worked on it yesterday. We give ourselves a lifeline at half-time and make a few changes and came out a lot better and when we were really pushing, second half they do us on the counter and come out with the ball when we should win those duels. So overall (it's) a tough afternoon.

"They all admit it's not good enough. It's probably been one of the toughest weeks since I've been here in terms of the goals we have conceded. If you want to do anything in the division you have to be better all round."