Striker Brett Pitman was pleased to score his first competitive goal for the Blues during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Preston North End, his first league start since joining Town on a free transfer from Bournemouth in the summer.

Pitman struck the Blues' opener in the 24th minute when he headed home Freddie Sears's cross from the left.

“Obviously it’s important to get off the mark, the first one is always probably the hardest,” the 27-year-old said.

“I’m not so sure [it was typical of my goals], I don’t score too many headers. Any goal is a good goal, hopefully there’ll be a few more to come.”

Pitman felt the top-of-the-table Blues had to battle to claim the three points: “The performance showed a real dirty, dogged side to us.

“We showed great character to come through that because a lot of teams would have come here and maybe not played as well and got beaten. But we played not quite so well and won. We’ll take that.”

He says not too many away teams will win at Deepdale - where Town last recorded a league win back in January 1966 - during the season ahead.

“It’ll be tough, they hadn’t conceded a goal before today and we knew it was going to be difficult,” Jersey-born Pitman added.

“We knew it was going to be difficult, they’re hard to break down, they’re in your faces and it was a tough game.”

Pitman played much of Saturday’s game in midfield, Town having lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation but switching as Preston started in a 4-4-1-1 system rather than their expected 3-5-2.

The striker says he operated in the deeper role on occasion while with the Cherries: “I’ve done it to a point for Bournemouth at times but probably not for as long as I did [at Preston] but the manager asked me and I’ll give it 100 per cent.

“I think that goes throughout the whole squad, whoever’s asked to play wherever, they’ll always give 100% that stands you in good stead in the long run.”

Regarding his former Bournemouth team-mate Ryan Fraser’s stunning second-half winner, which he teed-up for him, he added: “It was a great goal, I was right next to him and as soon as he hit it it was always going in.

“He’s got great ability, he’s only young and playing week in week out this year will really help him.”

Can the Scotland U21 international and 17-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles maintain their excellent start to the season with games coming so thick and fast in the Championship?

“Ryan and Ains are only young and we’ve got to look after them but so far he’s done all right, so hopefully he’ll continue.”

Pitman also had praise for the 960 Town fans who made the trip to the North-West: “Brilliant. The lads are grateful, I think it shows at the end what it means to the players to have them there. They were very good.”

Having tasted promotion with the Cherries last year Pitman believes the Town squad has all the qualities required to follow them into the Premier League.

“They didn’t come too far away from doing it last year,” he pointed out. “I think what you need is a really close together squad so that when someone’s not able to play someone else can come in and do a job. We had that last year at Bournemouth and it seems so far we’ve had it here.

“Regarding the manager, he’s brilliant. His man management is fantastic. If you’re not in the team, like I wasn’t in the first couple of weeks, you still feel just as important as someone else in the team.”

He says Mick McCarthy’s management was one of the reasons he joined the Blues: “There were a few factors and the manager is a massive part of whatever club you join.

“I spoke to Skusey about him and he obviously spoke very highly of him. I knew Ipswich was a big club but it’s surpassed how big I thought it was when you’re in and around the town.

"There were a lot of factors and it’s certainly a decision I’ve not regretted so far.”

Having opted not to stay with the Cherries for their first season in the top flight, believing his opportunities to play first-team football would have been limited, he hopes he can achieve a second promotion in two years with the Blues.

“That’s certainly the aim, to get to the Premier League with Ipswich,” he said. “If I didn’t think they could achieve that I wouldn’t have signed.”

Photo: Action Images

wkj added 06:20 - Aug 24 This is the best photo of the history of all footballing photo's. Yorwerth drooling at the dancing tekkers
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commuterblue added 06:20 - Aug 24 Fraser's goal was stunning ( Kudos also to Sears for the dummy run to give him the time and space ) but Pitman's finish was so clinical.To score two such goals is brilliant.
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Bluebell added 08:08 - Aug 24 Two amazing goals on Saturday. We got two of the best players in this league plus £8 million and Bournemouth got Tyrone who sits on their bench. We certainly got the best deal.
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Lightningboy added 10:46 - Aug 24 Anyone know what Pitman's situation is with regards to playing international football..as he was born in Jersey does that make him eligible to play for any of the home nations?
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irish_tractor added 10:49 - Aug 24 Love hearing a player speak so highly of his team and manager. He has fit in very well as has just about every player mick has brought in. Looking back to last season when mings was being watched by so many premier league teams and one thing that was said by just about everyone was that he is at an age were he needs regular first team football..............not to be an 8 million quid bench warmer. I hope he gets the chance to prove himself as he has ability and is a top bloke.

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