Preston North End Vs Ipswich Town Match Preview
Coca-Cola Championship Saturday 30th January 2010
In what will be the last game before the transfer window slams shut, North End welcome the visit off Roy Keane's Ipswich Town to Deepdale. The Lilywhites do so hoping to make it back-to-back victories for the first time since August following Tuesday's win over Peterborough.
The Tractor Boys make the trip to Lancashire on the back of a 4 game unbeaten run having picked up two wins and two draws. Such a run has seen Keane's side move from on the brink of the relegation places to 18th place.
Form
Preston Home Form: DDDLDW
Ipswich Town Away Form: DDWDLD
Overall
Preston North End: LDWLLW
Ipswich Town: WLWDWD
Previous Meetings
Preston made the trip to Portman Road back in August, ironically just a couple of days before the last transfer window shut. Ross Wallace gave the Lilywhites the lead after just 12 minutes gone with an excellent individual effort which saw him twist and turn the full-back before firing his shot in the bottom corner.
However, with North End seemingly looking comfortable, skipper Callum was dismissed and a penalty was awarded to Keane's Ipswich. Walters took the penalty but saw his effort saved by Lonergan but the North End stopper was unable to keep out Walters' rebound.
North End did however complete the double over Ipswich last season after a 2-1 win on the opening day preceded a 3-2 win at Deepdale almost a year ago. Callum Davidson put North End ahead form the spot inside the opening 6 minutes before PNE old boy Tommy Miller equalised just after the half hour mark. The Beast put North End fired home on 41 minutes to send the Lilywhites in at the break with their lead restored. Stephen Elliott doubled the advantage 20 minutes later only to see Tommy Miller hit back with his second goal almost immediately but North End were able to hold on.
Team News
Danny Welbeck is in line to make his first appearance at Deepdale but skipper Callum Davidson will miss out.
The former Blackburn man was knocked unconscious during Tuesday's win over Peterborough after coming off the worst from a 50/50 challenge and set to miss Saturday's clash and possibly Tuesday's visit of Barnsley too.
Darren Ferguson revealed: "He's in a bad way. He was knocked out so it is a mandatory ten days that he will have to miss so we will just have to see how he is. He hasn't gone to hospital but he is not in a good way."
For the visitors, Luciano Civelli remains their only long-term absentee who us out with multi ligament damage.
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