Grant Ward’s fourth goal of the season saw Town to a comfortable 1-0 victory over Preston North End at Portman Road. The former Spurs man smashed home from the edge of the box in the 15th minute.
The Blues 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.
Less than three minutes after the restart Sears was almost given another chance by Pitman.
The former West Ham man fed the ex-Bournemouth man out to the left and he played a first time ball into the box but Lindegaard reacted quickly to claim.
As the game moved towards the hour mark Chris Humphrey cut in from the right unchallenged before hitting a shot which was blocked by Christophe Berra and deflected back off the Preston man and out of play.
The visitors were having more of the ball in the second half but without being able to creating much, aside from Humphrey’s run and shot.
Pitman hit a shot on the turn wide off a defender in the 71st minute after being found by Douglas on the edge of the box, but the Blues hadn’t created too many more opportunities to add to their lead.
As the game moved into its final quarter of a hour Teddy Bishop replaced Bru for Town and Liam Grimshaw took over from Daniel Johnson for the Lancastrians.
There was a scare for the Blues in the 78th minute when Humphrey’s long throw reached Doyle on the edge of the six-yard box but the sub was unable to get a touch on the ball.
In the 79th minute Town boss McCarthy remonstrated angrily with the fourth official as he prepared to bring Luke Varney on as a sub - for Sears according to the board - presumably as the striker’s introduction had been delayed.
Referee Tim Robinson was called over to restore calm before the game continued without Varney having entered the fray.
At the next break in play the hapless fourth official held up his board again indicating that Varney was replacing Sears only for his number 20 to be switched for Pitman’s 11. The striker was eventually warmly applauded off by the crowd.
Moments later, Knudsen cut in from the left and teed-up Ward, who smashed high and wide. Probably the first time the former Tottenham winger had missed the target since joining the Blues.
With three minutes remaining Hugill headed a cross from the left well wide at the far post with a visitors’ equaliser not looking on the cards.
In five minutes of added on time, Ward found himself breaking in on goal on the left of the area but showed too much of the ball to Lindegaard, who grabbed it away from him with Sears in the centre unmarked.
At the other end, Smith out-muscled Doyle with the ball bouncing dangerously around the area. Webster replaced Ward for the final few moments.
Preston launched balls into the box in the final moments but the Town backline repelled everything sent their way to confirm the Blues’ second home win of the season.
Town were very much the better side in the first half and deserved their lead at the break.
In the second not hugely enthralling half they consolidated their lead and only rarely created chance to add to their advantage but were similarly seldom threatened by the not overly impressive visitors.
The Blues, who are 10th, are next in action after the international break, away against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Friday 9th September in a live Sky game.
Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru (Bishop 75), Ward (Webster 90), Sears, Pitman. Unused: Gerken, Kenlock, Digby, Varney, Dozzell.
Preston: Lindegaard, Humphrey, Clarke (c), Wright, Cunningham, Spurr (Doyle 55), Welsh, Gallagher, Johnson (Grimshaw 75), Robinson, Beckford (Hugill 14). Unused: Maxwell, Huntington, Browne, Makienok. Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex). Att: 15,296 (Preston: 297).