In the encounter at Deepdale atthe start of the season Ipswich had that touch of class to finish off Preston who were adapting to thir new surroundings in the Championship.
Many criticised Grayson for being too defensive and respecting the oposition in the opening parts of the season but Preston have improved as the season has progressed giving a tough test to Ipswich who have been in and around the play off positions all season.
Clarke was initially named in the line up but it was Woods who came out to play right back. It appears that Clarke may have been injured int he warm up. Wright, Huntington and Cunningham completed the back four.
Pearson started his second game for the club and looked positive in his role just in front of the back four. He is an improvement rom when Galagher played the holding role because not only can Pearson distribute buthe can break up the play. The only bad news is that John Welsh may be shown the exit door due to Pearson.
Preston started he game on top and pressed the home side. Ipswich were playing on the break and had one attack which fizzled out before North End took the lead.
North End had a shot blocked inside the area but top scorer Daniel Johnson, who now has license to bomb forward thanks to the inclusion of Pearson, smahes home the rebound with his let foot.
The visitors continued to dominate but it is clear that Preston are weak up front and with a better strike force may have doubled their lead. That is unfortunately an area where class tells in this division.
Ipswich qualised beofre the break somewhat against the run of play. Preston lost the ball in midfield to Murphy. Browne was unable to close down and the frontman shot from 25 yards out with a fizzing shot past Johnstone.
The home side came more into the game in the second half but Preston held firm. There were several incidents which the officials may have given differently on another day.
Garner was pushed over in the box but no foul was given. Hughill, on as a sub went up for a header and was adjudged to have fouled the defender despite the defender being on top of the striker. The small decisions went the way of the home side whilst the referee opted out of the big decisions by waving play on.
Pearson had the ball in the back of the net which looked a perfectly good goal. He burst through from midfield. He played a one two with Doyle who flicked the ball through and curled past the keeper. Doyle was ruled t be ofside which was a marginal decision.
Ipswich also felt hard done by towards the end of the game. Huntington was on the floor after a scramble in the box when a shot was hurled towards him. He could do little to get out of the way given he was on the floor. The ball apeared to strike his hand.
Preston's unbeaten run extends to four games having won their previous three. They sit ten points off the play offs but more importantly they are comfortably above the drop zone.