Second half goals from Tommy Miller and Ian Westlake, his third in three games, were enough give Town a win against Preston North End. The visitors put up a dogged defence until Miller's close range effort on 71, Westlake netting his goal in injury time.

Frenchman Georges Santos was recalled to the starting line-up alongside John McGreal in central defence, Richard Naylor dropping to the bench. Up front Pablo Couñago replaced the suspended Shefki Kuqi.

Town almost went ahead inside the first minute. Captain Jim Magilton skipped past a couple of defenders inside the area but put his shot just over the bar.

The Blues enjoyed most of the early possession with the Lilywhites seemingly keen to sit back. In the 12th minute Matt Richards forced Preston keeper Jonathan Gould into a fine save when he curled a 20-yard freekick just under the bar. From the resultant short corner Darren Bent headed Jermaine Wright's cross wide.

Just after the quarter hour, referee Keith Hill showed his first yellow card of the afternoon to Preston's Eddie Lewis for a late tackle on Fabian Wilnis. The full-back was clearly not too badly hurt by the challenge and went close to scoring with a 25 yarder only a minute later, the ball flashing past the post.

On 19 Preston star man Ricardo Fuller got his first sight at goal when he broke in from the left. Before he could get in a shot John McGreal came across to dispossess him.

McGreal picked up a yellow card just prior to the half hour for a foul on Richard Cresswell. The Town man felt the ex-Sheffield Wednesday man had dived and the pair ‘discussed' the matter at length, Tommy Miller pulling them apart. Cresswell was also shown a yellow card in the incident.

Town keeper Kelvin Davis had rarely been tested, but in the 36th minute he was forced into action, although Tyrone Mears's header gave him little trouble.

Striker Darren Bent put a 25-yard freekick over the bar on 40, before McGreal came close to a goal when he struck a low shot from the edge of the area from a half-cleared corner, but again Gould made a good save.

Just before the break Matt Richards hit a 30-yard shot not too far wide of Gould's goal.

Town had enjoyed most of the play in an often scrappy half with Preston happy to defend in depth. Town confidence looked low, particularly up front with chances few and far between.

Darren Bent had Town's first opportunity of the second half when he broke away quickly down the right. The very impressive Claude Davis managed to get back to take the ball from him before he could get in a shot.

With Town still looking less than effective up front it was little surprise when the again under par Pablo Couñago was replaced, Richard Naylor coming on in a rare forward role. The Spaniard was clearly unhappy at being substituted and immediately marched off to the dressing room.

Naylor's physical style immediately made an impression, winning a freekick on the left just outside the area. Skipper Jim Magilton curled his kick goalwards only for Gould to make another decent save.

Just after the hour there was a scare inside the Town box when Michael Jackson had a shot blocked. Ricardo Fuller, always lively if not clinical, blasted the rebound over the bar.

Town were winning corner after corner but not turning them into goals. Georges Santos headed one Magilton ball straight to Gould, but not long after a flag kick would lead to the Blues going ahead.

Magilton swung the ball over from the right with Santos appearing to be fouled inside the box. The ball dropped to Westlake on the 18-yard line, the youngster striking a powerful shot which Tommy Miller deflected into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Town goal brought a more attacking approach from the visitors and opened the game up. In the 74th minute Naylor, whose introduction had greatly improved Town's frontline, just failed to get a toe on a low Darren Bent cross from the left.

With 13 minutes remaining Chris Bart-Williams replaced Jim Magilton in the centre of midfield, the skipper presumably being rested with Town facing three games in nine days.

On 82 Fabian Wilnis played Darren Bent beyond the Preston defence and running in on goal from the halfway line. Bent seemed set to score until Davis, by some distance the Preston man of the match, toe-ended the ball out of his path and into the hands of Jonathan Gould. Despite Bent's appeals referee Hill didn't award a freekick for a backpass.

With five minutes remaining Fuller hit a shot wide before Claude Davis did much the same after a freekick had fallen to him on the edge of the area.

With the fourth official having held up his board proclaiming three extra minutes, Town went further ahead. Darren Bent played the ball inside from the right to Fabian Wilnis who passed it on to Ian Westlake in the area. The midfielder managed to drag the ball from under his feet to shoot left-footed across Gould for his sixth goal of the season.

A vital three points which takes the Blues back up to fourth in Division One. Equally importantly it was the first league clean sheet since the 0-0 draw with Millwall in mid-December.

Town were not always at their most fluent against a stubborn Preston side, but the Blues showed persistence and eventually gained their reward.

At the back Georges Santos and John McGreal were rarely troubled while Matt Richards had his best game in a few weeks. At last Town might have found a settled back four.

The introduction of Richard Naylor up front made a massive difference to Town's attacking endeavours with Pablo Couñago again having one of his ineffective afternoons.

A trip to Stoke City on Tuesday and then to Carrow Road on Sunday mean this is a big week for the Blues, but one which has started in the best possible way.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Santos, McGreal, Magilton (Bart-Williams 77), Wright, Miller, Westlake, Couñago (Naylor 55), Bent.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls