Daryl Murphy’s eighth goal of the season seven minutes before the break saw the Blues to a 1-1 home draw with Preston North End, Daniel Johnson having put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute. That result and the scores elsewhere sees Town, who were denied what looked a clear second-half penalty, drop out of the play-off places.

Boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged team and bench from Tuesday’s 2-1 victory against Leeds.

Preston made a late change to their line-up with Calum Woods replacing Tom Clarke on the right of their back four after their skipper suffered an injury in the warm-up. Paul Gallacher took the armband.

Dean Gerken was forced into action in the second minute when Gallagher smashed a freekick from 35 yards which the Blues keeper punched away from goal somewhat less than convincingly.

Two minutes later, Town broke from a subsequent Lilywhites freekick. Murphy sent Freddie Sears away on the right, but the former Colchester man’s cross failed to find a team-mate.

The visitors had started the brighter, however, and in the seventh minute they went in front.

After the Blues had repeatedly failed to clear their lines, Eoin Doyle crossed from the right and Johnson, who scored Preston’s goal in the game at Deepdale earlier in the season, saw his powerful first strike from eight yards blocked but followed up to slam in his eighth goal of the season.

Preston weren’t far from doubling their lead in the 13th minute when a well-worked freekick just outside the box ended with Gallagher curling the ball not far past Gerken’s left post.

Town, who had switched to a 4-4-2 system with Bru on the right, had made a stuttering start but in the 16th minute, following a freekick, Fraser stood up a cross from the left and an under pressure Christophe Berra headed wide at the far post.

Preston were continuing to have chances, however, and a minute later Gallagher found an unmarked Doyle with a cross from the left but Jonas Knudsen got across to dispossess the on-loan Cardiff striker before he was able to shoot.

Fraser curled a freekick from the left into Preston keeper Sam Johnstone’s arms on 21 with Town still trying to find their feet.

On 24 Sears sent over a dangerous ball from the left after good work from Knudsen and Fraser but Kevin Bru was unable to turn towards goal and the loose ball wouldn’t fall for a Town player.

The visitors continued to dominate, keeping hold of the ball for long spells, and in the 32nd minute they again went close. Doyle was sent away on the left and he crossed to Joe Garner, who diverted the ball straight at Gerken from eight yards.

Town gradually began to get more of a foothold in the game and in the 38th minute they levelled.

With the Blues starting to keep the ball far better than earlier in the game, Chambers played the ball into Murphy’s feet 25 yards out and the Irishman rolled away from his defender before hitting a low shot which beat Johnstone to his left. The keeper may feel he should have done better.

Woods was booked for a foul on Fraser then on 43 the Blues threatened again, Murphy laying the ball back to Bru on the right and skipper Chambers turning his cross against a defender and through to Johnstone. Soon after, Murphy shot over from distance.

Town will have counted themselves fortunate not to have been behind at the break. As at Deepdale earlier in the season, Preston had started the stronger and could have been several goals to the good before the Blues had got going.

Johnson took his goal well but the visitors will feel they had had enough chances to increase their lead before Murphy’s equaliser. The Blues had started to get on top at that point, although without having seriously threatened. But having gone in front, Town ended the half on the front foot.

Two minutes after the restart Fraser skipped into the left of the area and jinked his way past a couple of defenders before hitting a low shot which was too close to Johnstone.

On 55 Murphy went looking for his second of the game when he won the ball from a Preston player midway inside the visitors' half but Johnstone was able to punch his 25-yard away for a corner.

Preston had the ball in the net in the 61st minute but Ben Pearson was flagged offside as he received the return pass from a one-two. The Blues were short of men in the area as Berra had gone to ground with a head injury earlier in the move but play hadn’t been stopped.

The visitors were starting to put Town under pressure and on 66 Gallagher whipped over a cross-shot from the left following a corner which Gerken claimed at his near post.

Brett Pitman replaced Bru in the 68th minute, then Garner was booked for a late challenge on Smith.

Two minutes later, Preston keeper Johnstone threw the ball straight to Murphy on the left. The striker’s cross found Sears, who volleyed wide at the far post.

Preston claimed a penalty in the 73rd minute when Garner went to ground under the attention of Berra, but referee Hooper gave a freekick to the Blues, claiming the striker had handled the ball.

Luke Hyam replaced Douglas two minutes later, then moments afterwards Chambers broke into the right of the box and was harshly adjudged to have fouled Pearson.

Preston went within inches of going back in front in the 81st minute when Gallagher whipped over a cross from the left and Bailey Wright glanced a header just past the post.

With seven scheduled minutes remaining of what had been a scrappy, scruffy half, Luke Varney replaced Blues goalscorer Murphy.

Town repeatedly went close to scoring their second in the 85th minute. Knudsen crossed from the left, Pitman’s flicked header reached Chambers, whose close-range effort was blocked.

The loose ball ran to Varney and his strike was blocked and ran out to Hyam, whose shot was also stopped, by Preston defender Paul Huntington's hand according to the Town players, but referee Simon Hooper waved away the protests. Replays suggested it was a clear penalty.

Seconds later, the Blues threatened again from Fraser freekick on the left but somehow no Town player was able to get a touch and ball went behind off one of the visitors.

In five minutes of injury time, Sears found himself some space not far outside the Preston area but hit his shot against a defender.

Soon after, Smith couldn’t get enough on a corner from the right and Pitman was booked for a somewhat cynical trip on sub Robinson as the visitors broke.

On this occasion the Blues were unable to grab a winner in injury time and referee Hooper’s whistle signalled a draw, which was probably a fair result.

Preston had been much the better side for the majority of the first half and should have been further ahead before Murphy’s equaliser.

After the break, the Blues had the better opportunities of a scrappy second half, but never looked as fluent as they were against Leeds on Tuesday.

The result sees Town drop out of the play-off places on goal difference, down to seventh with Brighton up to fifth following their 1-0 victory at Blackburn, while Sheffield Wednesday are now sixth after their 2-0 win at home to Leeds earlier this afternoon.

The Blues, who are now unbeaten in six in all competitions, are next in action in their third round FA Cup replay at Portsmouth on Tuesday before they visit eighth-placed Birmingham - who won 3-0 away against third-placed Derby today - at St Andrew’s next Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas (Hyam 74), Fraser, Bru (Pitman 68), Sears, Murphy (Varney 83). Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Maitland-Niles, Oar.

Preston: Johnstone, Woods, Huntington, Wright, Cunningham, Browne, Pearson, Johnson, Gallagher (c), Doyle (Robinson 87), Garner (Hugill 79). Unused: Kirkland, Woods, Vermijl, Kilkenny, Welsh. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Att: 21,108 (Preston: 436).

Photo: Action Images

rendoblue added 17:16 - Jan 16 Lost for words, I used to play like that when I was 11. A moment of quality from Murphy but otherwise a terrible afternoon.
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iaintaylorx added 17:16 - Jan 16 a point's a point - onwards and upwards!
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mow_the_lawn added 17:31 - Jan 16 Says in the report that Town went in front.
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ihatenorwich added 17:38 - Jan 16 That game shows how much we need a creative central midfielder in order for us to get to the next level.
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suffolkpunch1978 added 17:39 - Jan 16 Oh dear, not a classic by any stretch of the imagination. Poor poor poor No urgency until last few mins
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Mr_Evans added 17:40 - Jan 16 We have to win games like that if we want to remain in the top six. This talk of top two is ridiculous. Extremely fustratjng that the hand ball at the end wasn't given - the player is half on the floor, and as the balls about to go under him he has put his hand out to stop in and fallen on it. The ref was all but 5 yards away. Poor decision.
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therein61 added 17:41 - Jan 16 Sat on the station thinking ok we have a point when it could have gone either way, but other results mean we have lost 2 points to close the gap on those above and lost 2 points to let teams below get closer so C.O.Y.B sort it!!
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trueblue16 added 17:43 - Jan 16 Was at the game today and was a very disappointing performance, great goal from murph that was very much a solo goal which is what you hope to get when your teams playing poor, seen the replays and the handball was a clear penalty but I thought that Preston had a good shout for a penalty when garner was bundled over in the box, but that's the championship and anything can happen, onwards to Birmingham which is a very important game COYB

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TimmyH added 17:45 - Jan 16 Knew we wouldn't have 2 good performances back to back and thought Preston looked quite good in the first half and as per the Portsmouth game can consider themselves unlucky not to win. Seeming to be starting games slowly at the moment and only improved slightly in the second half which was just basically a scrappy affair and still far from convinced that our home form will see us over the line for the play-offs. Ultimately a disappointing result bur far from disasterous.

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sidtheswan added 17:46 - Jan 16 So the EADT thinks MM is the Messiah after one good game and criticises non believers who dare to make negative comments . What say you now EADT ? What a crap performance all round . Back to the drawing board .
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warktheline added 17:54 - Jan 16 It's a very tight division, still believe a quality ball player in central midfield would of enhanced our ability to of nicked a game like today. Somebody mentioned prior to kickoff that if Preston scored first the game would become difficult, and so it proved. Must give credit to Preston, they're scrapping hard to stay in division.
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Taricco_Fan added 18:06 - Jan 16 Horrible, horrible game. Preston were organised and tough to break down but Town just kept lumping aimless balls forward rather than trying to keep possession and play their way through on goal. It looked like pot-shots and half chances would be the only way to unlock the Preston defence, and so it was, with an excellent strike from Murphy. Otherwise we didn't look too threatening. If only we would get the ball down, be more patient and play some football. We don't look a bad side when we do. The one positive I can take from today is it only cost me a tenner. I won't be rushing back to Portman Road to watch much more of this.

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Manchesterblue3 added 18:07 - Jan 16 Just watched the highlights on the sky sports website and how that is NOT handball I do not know.....
2

BlueMachines added 18:08 - Jan 16 PRESSton as I will refer to them did to us what we normally do so well. Pressed up and gave us no time on the ball. With the lack of midfield movement from Skuse and Douglas (I think Bru was far more active) we weren't able to move the ball around anywhere near enough. Disappointing not to win especially with the missed handball, as stated above not a disaster. As an aside, did anyone see what happened to Leeds? Unlucky Steve Evans! Hahahaha

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carsey added 18:16 - Jan 16 Back to normal then. Everything that was good against Leeds was missing today. However you dress it up that was appalling dross. Gerkin beggers belief and it is clear the defenders are less than happy with him. Scuse and Douglas - no finesse no forward play don't control the ball. I know others will say I should be grateful cause Mick saved us a couple of years ago but really this is getting to be too much to accept. Hoof hoof hoof. Please get it down on the grass.

5

GoldieBlue added 18:21 - Jan 16 Really awful game, no creativity what so ever. What makes it even worse is we only looked like scoring when lumping it up top late on. Not good.
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Jimmy86 added 18:23 - Jan 16 Sadly we were just not quite good enough to win the game today. Thought Preston were better than Leeds were on Tues night and pressed us very well, we couldn't cope with that and ended up reverting to our more direct style of play. Preston's goal was such a scrappy, poor goal to concede and yet again Gerken was routed to his line, but even then we had 2 chances to clear our lines and didn't. We can't keep giving teams 1 goal leads and battle back. We looked disjointed in the first half, which is a shame. Thought Preston were quite dirty, often jumping with arms and hands flailing, epitomised by Garner, who is a nasty piece of work. Quite a lot of gamesmanship and the ref was even worse than the ref on Tues night, which is hard.

2

bluelady added 18:24 - Jan 16 Agree Douglas was poor but thought Skuse was a good 7, which is better than most of the team! He again protected our back four and happy flappy keeper who is super glued to his line!!! For the first what did Knudsen not let it go out for a goal kick rather than headering IT back into his own area?? He really is hopeless and needs addressing urgently.... Bru had an off day, Sears too.. Only other slightly above average performance was Smith really. Murph seemed to have got his Mojo back after the goal but then faided. Subs added little and the ref was diabolical, so easy to pull the wall over his eyes - lose possession fall down and role and game is stopped!!! All in all disappointing but we didn't lose!

7

essextractorboy93 added 18:29 - Jan 16 Think a draw was about right, they had the better of the first half and we had the better of the second. Chambers so close to getting the winner at the end but we didn't create enough chances. Like a lot of Simon Grayson's teams over the years, Preston are a good solid side and don't concede many goals, it was never going to be straight forward today. Still disappointing not to get the win though. Need to stop giving teams a head start in games! Thought that the ball clearly struck their players arm in the box at the end, hard to see with so many bodies in the way and maybe the ref didn't see it. Garner was trying to win a free kick or penalty at every single opportunity he could, think the ref and his team mates got a bit fed up with him towards the end to be honest. Remember he did the same thing in the reverse fixture at Deepdale.

1

blueherts added 18:34 - Jan 16 I think from results today you can see just how many more twists and turns - Derby getting spanked at home , Boro losing at hapless Bristol City I am a supporter of MM for all that he has done for us on a shoestring BUT I have said , and games like this highlight it WE NEED TO SIGN A MIDFIELDER WHO CAN CREATE SOMETHING and another STRIKER - Bishop and Dids are quality players we cannot afford not to have in the squad so we NEED to find alternatives Would love Moncur or similar type player Birmingham gonna be a toughie but i always fancy us more away from home

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jas1972 added 18:48 - Jan 16 bluelady - Knudsen did extremely well to block a cross which otherwise would probably have led to a goal anyway. He never had the opportunity to "let it go out for a goal kick". Having had some poor games in the past, for me his was the best performance of the day
2

EssexTractor added 18:49 - Jan 16 So after three home matches in eight days we have had a myriad of emotions, but sadly only against the worst performing team in those matches have we won. What went wrong between Tuesday and today? Collectively and individually our lights barely flickered, the imagination and creativity and keeping possession and passing on the ground rarely emerged. We simply had no power or calmness 15 yards either side of the halfway line...we were stretching and reaching to get proper control and make opportunity for frontmen. As said before without that openly obvious flaw in our team we will find trouble in overcoming the ordinary as well as the better equipped. Not a defeat but not the best day.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:55 - Jan 16 Awful game by two teams intent on lumping high balls, very little quality, plenty of endeavour basically meaning the two teams cancelling each other out. If ever a game highlighted the need for a midfielder who can find that killer pass & open up stubborn defences, then IMO this was it. Thought Skuse, Douglas & Bru were quite poor today. Overall, a draw was probably about right, but not good enough if we want to keep in touch of the top 2. Disappointed but not surprised tonight. Do we ever play well when our friends from Fortuna come to support us?

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blues1 added 18:58 - Jan 16 Bluelady. Ifcu believe Knudsen could have let the ball go for a goal kick u either weren't there or ur blind. The ball wasn't even headed that way. However I do agree he made the wrong decision to try to head it out of the area. He should have played safe and headed it out for a corner. But even then we had 2 or 3 other chances to clear the ball. I agree jas1972, he was one of the better performers today.And it has to be asked, why after bru played so well in the hole on Tuesday was he played out wide where he failed to perform as well. I guess it due to the same old problem of mm worrying about what the opposition are doing rather than letting them worry about us

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jas0999 added 18:59 - Jan 16 Poor result, way below average performance. I find it remarkable we are in promotion contention. Leeds aside, I am struggling to think of one decent home performance since December, last ten minutes of QPR? The problem remains the midfield, I've said it before, but we desperately need to sign an attack minded goal scorer, who creates. There is absolutely no need to start with two defence minded players. Douglas offered nothing. I was hoping Bru would push on from an impressive start to the season, but he hasn't. The problem is this time last year we started to drop off performance wise, but remained in the play offs. This year we have dropped to seventh, not the end of the world, but without some much needed quality added this January we may well struggle. Our defence isn't as good as last year. We have lost Parr and replaced with an inferirior player. Midfield, Fraser aside, lacks goals and creativity. Up front we are decent, but without McGoldrick, our options summed up today with our attacking threat in Murphy being replaced by a 34 year old not known for his goals. Quality needed to push on, today was very poor. But Preston deserved at least a point.

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