Grant Ward’s fourth goal of the season has given the Blues a 1-0 lead over Preston North End at half-time at Portman Road. The former Spurs man smashed home from the edge of the box in the 15th minute.
Town were without striker Daryl Murphy who is understood to have travelled to Newcastle for talks and to undergo a medical ahead of his impending move to the Magpies.
The Irishman was replaced in the side by Brett Pitman, while Tommy Smith returned at the heart of the defence for Adam Webster, who dropped to the bench.
Town dominated the early stages, Pitman sending over a low cross from the right in the third minute which was cut out.
Preston were forced to make a change in the 14th minute when Jermaine Beckford went down injured and was replaced by Jordan Hugill.
While the Blues had been on top they had been unable to create a serious chance but on 15, with their first shot on target, they went in front.
A freekick on the right was played short to Kevin Bru by Cole Skuse. The Mauritius international’s cross headed out by Hugill to Ward, who took a touch before shooting past Lilywhites keeper Anders Lindegaard, who remained rooted to the spot appearing to have been unsighted, to claim his fourth Blues goal.
Town threatened again two minutes later when Bru whipped over a corner from the right but Tommy Smith was unable to get enough on his header. The New Zealand international clearly thought he should have done better.
Freddie Sears wasn’t far away from ending his 31-goal goal drought in the 21st minute when sent away by Pitman. The former West Ham man cut inside a defender and hit a shot which Lindegaard just managed to tip wide. From the corner, Pitman headed down but straight at the keeper.
Preston hit their first shot of the game in the 29th minute, Bartosz Bialkowski sharply palming Callum Robinson’s shot over. From the corner, the Polish keeper collided with Hugill and required treatment before continuing.
On 38 Tommy Spurr picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Ward. Following the freekick, last week’s derby goal hero Jonas Knudsen lashed over from distance.
Five minutes later, Robinson hit a low shot from the edge of the box which gave Bialkowski no problem. Moments later, Jonathan Douglas broke into the area at the other end but the ball was stabbed away from him before he could get in a shot.
The Blues will go in at the break more than happy with their first 45 minutes’ work against a not overly dangerous-looking Preston side.
Town had controlled the game for the most part, moving the ball around confidently at times, while the again excellent Ward took his goal in much the same manner as his three strikes against Barnsley.
Sears will feel he should have netted his first goal since last December at Fulham and increased the lead.
At the other end, Bialkowski saved Preston’s only real opportunity, Robinson’s strike from distance, but the Blues’ backline had prevented the visitors from creating anything more clear-cut.
Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Ward, Sears, Pitman. Subs: Gerken, Webster, Kenlock, Digby, Bishop, Varney, Dozzell.
Preston: Lindegaard, Humphrey, Clarke, Wright, Cunningham, Spurr, Welsh, Gallagher, Johnson, Robinson, Beckford (Hugill 14). Subs: Maxwell, Huntington, Grimshaw, Browne, Doyle, Makienok. Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).