Town face an FA Cup third round replay at Preston after drawing 1-1 with the League One Lilywhites at Portman Road. Sub David McGoldrick followed up to score in the 38th minute after having a second penalty in a week saved with Kevin Davies equalising for the visitors four minutes later.

Boss Mick McCarthy made seven changes with Scott Loach, Tyrone Mings, Carlos Edwards, Luke Hyam, Anthony Wordsworth, Frank Nouble and debutant Sylvan Ebanks-Blake all starting in a 4-4-2 formation — with Mings at right-back and skipper Edwards ahead of him in midfield - rather than the anticipated 3-5-2 system.

Tommy Smith (back), Daryl Murphy (thigh), Dean Gerken (groin) dropped out of the 18, while Cole Skuse, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Paul Anderson switched to the bench, alongside top scorer McGoldrick.

Ebanks-Blake hit an early shot on the turn but failed to test Preston keeper Declan Rudd, who is on loan from Norwich.

Wordsworth surrendered possession inside the Town half in the 11th minute with the Blues yet to get going. Fortunately, the midfielder, a Lilywhites loan target in November, was able to get back to block Iain Hume’s shot from a tight angle on the right.

A minute later, Paul Gallagher curled a shot wide from the left with the visitors having the better of the opening spell.

Davies hit a low effort which Loach claimed comfortably in the 18th minute, then Ebanks-Blake used his strength to win the ball then struck a sharp shot from 30 yards which Rudd saw past his right post.

The visitors, in all yellow, should have been ahead in the 21st minute when Jay Tabb gifted possession to Davies on the Preston right. The former England man sent in a great ball which Hume diverted goalwards at the far post only for Chambers to nod off the line.

It was a lucky escape for the Blues who had been far too casual against League One’s fourth-placed side. A minute later, Nouble shot just wide from 25 yards.

Ebanks-Blake’s Town debut lasted just over 28 minutes, the former Wolves man sitting down in the centre circle and briefly receiving treatment before making way with McGoldrick taking over up front.

McGoldrick made a quick impression, hitting a shot which was deflected wide in the 33rd minute. Chambers headed to Rudd from the corner.

Mings saw a strike deflect wide in the 37th minute and from the resultant corner Town were awarded a penalty. Edwards sent the ball over from the right and Paul Huntington handled ahead of Nouble. Referee Michael Naylor pointed straight to the spot.

McGoldrick, who had a penalty saved on New Year’s Day when Charlton’s Ben Alnwick saved his low effort to his left, again stepped up, this time slamming a powerful strike to Rudd’s right. Again the keeper saved, but this time the Town top scorer followed up to net his 12th of the season.

The visitors were close to getting back on terms when Rudd’s long kick from the edge of his area — Nouble clattering into the keeper after the ball had gone, an incident which was missed by the officials — and Hume went through one-on-one with Loach, who did well to save with his legs.

But a Preston equaliser wasn’t long in coming. Mings was down injured when Lee Holmes played in Davies, who would have been well offside but for the prone Blues defender, and the ex-Bolton man slipped the ball past Loach.

The League One side were certainly worthy of at least being on terms at the break, even if their goal had an element of good fortune, the much-changed Blues having put in a thoroughly under par display.

McGoldrick had improved matters after coming on but his goal came against the run of play and with the Lilywhites having had the better of the chances up to then.

Town began the second half slightly more brightly, Mings cutting in and exchanging passes with Hyam before hitting a shot which deflected into the air to Rudd.

Referee Naylor felt Rudd had pushed McGoldrick’s 55th minute shot from the right wide, then from Cresswell’s corner the Blues’ top scorer couldn’t direct the ball goalwards.

Rudd definitely did save McGoldrick’s low shot from the edge of the area on the hour after Huntington and fellow defender Bailey Wright got in a tangle while trying to prevent Nouble getting on the ball.

Hume was sent away beyond the Town backline in the 65th minute but Berra and Chambers got back and the Canadian international’s strike deflected wide. Three minutes later the disappointing Tabb made way for Paul Taylor, who took over on the left.

On 68 Wright was booked for a wild challenge on Taylor eight yards outside the penalty area, Cresswell curling the freekick over.

Gallagher lashed well into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand from the edge of the box in the 75th minute when he ought to have done better, then a minute later Cresswell did well to get in ahead of Davies from a deflected cross from the Preston left.

In the 78th minute Ryan Tunnicliffe replaced Wordsworth, who had been unable to impose himself on the game, while Preston swapped Hume for Joe Garner.

After what had been a largely drab half, the Blues finally started to put the visitors under pressure in the closing minutes. In the 88th minute what looked like a goalbound Nouble header from a Taylor cross from the right was blocked by a defender’s head.

A minute later, Nouble whipped the ball across from the right, McGoldrick turned it goalwards from six yards but Rudd reacted superbly to block.

As the game moved into injury time, the Lancastrians began to threaten to win it, Will Hayhurst hitting a shot which deflected wide. From the corner Davies’s effort was blocked, then sub Scott Laird, an Ipswich fan, was unable to keep his shot down.

Soon after, referee Naylor blew his whistle to signal an end with the sides set to try again at Deepdale with the replay provisionally pencilled in for a week on Tuesday.

If either team deserved to win it was probably Preston, who created the better of the opportunities and were certainly on top before the break with the scruffy second half having little in it.

Town were lacklustre for the most part with only the out-of-position Mings and keeper Loach making much of an impression of the fringe players given the chance to impress boss Mick McCarthy.

The fourth round draw is on Sunday at 2pm live on ITV after the Nottingham Forest and West Ham United tie and also on BT Sport.

Town: Loach, Chambers, Berra, Mings, Edwards, Cresswell, Hyam, Tabb (Taylor 68), Wordsworth (Tunnicliffe 78), Nouble, Ebanks-Blake (McGoldrick 28). Subs: Crowe, Anderson, Skuse, Hunt.

Preston North End: Rudd, Keane, Huntington, Wright, Davies, Holmes, Gallagher (Hayhurst 90), Buchanan (Laird 88), Welsh, Hume (Garner 68), Kilkenny. Subs: Stuckmann, Byrom, Beavon, Brownhill. Referee: Michael Naylor (South Yorkshire). Att: 13,534 (Preston: 359)

Photo: Action Images

AbujaBlue added 17:25 - Jan 4 Pretty mediocre performance and the result reflected that. Alongside mcgoldrick, Mings had a standout performance. His surging runs forward were fantastic to see and he looked fully motivated. The rest of the team performed alright, but wordie was well under par. A real shame he spurned this opportunity and can see him going out on loan. Preston were decent at times but we really should have rolled over them. Looks like we're going to have to rely on our find away form to get to the next round.

3

battyblue added 17:26 - Jan 4 I will get in before MM (a draw was a fair result they are a good side) they are only as good as you let them be by just trying to stop them playing rather than going for the win with an attacking formation ..its getting so boring now.
18

Flewitt85 added 17:28 - Jan 4 85 minutes 2 words 'ooo dear' last 5 minutes 1 word 'great' iv normally got a positive thought on everything but hard to say anything possitive really apart from SEB looked bright.
9

Worcester added 17:28 - Jan 4 Oh great, a replay. Might as well booted the ball into our own net at 90 mins. we need a replay like a hole in the head. I can't see the point of huffing and puffing to get further into a competition that ultimately we are not going to win and in doing so get distracted from the promotion push. Bah Humbug!
5

jas0999 added 17:29 - Jan 4 Possibly the worst outcome today - SEB forced off with an injury and the prospect of a long trip to Preston for another game, which we could really have done without. Don't want to be too critical - afterall we are still work in progress and have done very well so far this season. But there is no getting away with the fact that the past three home games have seen us go one up, only to draw 1-1; which is a concern. A number of players were given an opportunity to impress today. Tabb, Wordsworth and Edwards were all poor in my opinion. Yet again Taylor didn't impress when he came on. Overall its a disappointing result - but Preston probably edged it - so perhaps they deserved at least a replay. Still think we are crying out for an attack-minded midfield player. If we want to press forward, midfield needs to be strengthened - particularly as several fringe players in these positions failed to deliver today.

2

DurhamTownFan added 17:29 - Jan 4 New penalty taker needed? Worked out ok today in the end, but could cost us... Cresswell maybe? (just putting it out there for discussion)
13

bluefeast added 17:31 - Jan 4 Terrible to not get a performance and be dominated yet again at home .However i suspect MM knows he needs to strengthen. Especially wide midfield where we are no threat at all.
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TimmyH added 17:33 - Jan 4 Well why doesn't that surprise me that we couldn't beat Preston, 7 changes is a lot to make for one game (and I expected MM to make a few) but have to say up until the last 5 minutes or so we didn't deserve anything. A pretty inept performance by our midfield (again). Oh well to quote Mick 'happy to get a point' ....hang on.
6

bluemay77 added 17:34 - Jan 4 Poor performance worst of the season but Preston were good value still in cup draw coyb
4

bluefeast added 17:36 - Jan 4 At the end of the day MM is a very good man manager , currently getting results as he is getting 20 percent more effort from these average players than perhaps other managers could. We are no threat from wide positions and centrally do not move the ball quick enough. MM has worked our players out so gets a system and style that suites them ,whats happening now though is that the opposition are also working us out. Great to be higher in table than we should be , but can it last. My opinion is that other sides around the top 12 are simply better geared for a strong push than we are.

2

TractorCam added 17:40 - Jan 4 Becoming a joke now, we didn't even deserve a draw there, we just never look interested and are lucky to get a replay out of it, Mings was the best player for me today, Taylor also done well off the bench, hopefully SEB is ok.
16

Michael11 added 17:41 - Jan 4 Probably the worst possible result today. A long horrible midweek away game at the other end of the country looms now. Just what we don't need if we're to really make a play-off push. Disappointing to see Ebanks-Blake come off injured, hopefully it's just a precaution.
5

thebeat added 17:42 - Jan 4 Dont understand why Mings was at right back when we could have played 3-5-2. And Hunt needs a runout he was great against Blackburn and hasnt kicked a ball since. Had a feeling we wouldnt turn up today, the problem is when you grind results out week after week you dont know how to put inferior teams away cus you dont know how to boss the game.Too used to scrapping for points. Oh well we move on hopefully pull a big draw tommorow and we will have something to play for in the replay

9

chepstowblue added 17:43 - Jan 4 Not good but our best result against a lower league side for a few years! I remain mystified by this current squad. I dont know what style of football we play or whether we are any good!
15

dalianwasexciting added 17:44 - Jan 4 Some very positive views here...that performance smacked of wanting to be knocked out. If Wordsworth tries to go elsewhere then I would be amazed if there are any takers. That team is NOT good enough. Taylor looked bright when he came on. I am afraid however, that if we serve that up each week then crowds will get less and less, no matter what the price incentive.

11

ChrisMakin2012 added 17:46 - Jan 4 Waste of time, money and effort. Should of netted the ball in our own net to end this shame of defeat at Deepdale.
1

Chicago_Blue added 17:52 - Jan 4 1-0 and drew 1-1. Again. 4th time in last 5 games. 7th time this season. Same old, same old. Bore off.
11

pazelle added 18:05 - Jan 4 What would the comments have been if we'd have scored an own goal at the end to lose on purpose? When Cresswell said he wants to play Liverpool I never thought we'd win this one. Fringe players feeling too frozen out? Who cares anyway? The FA Cup is rubbish.
-17

CharlieITFC added 18:07 - Jan 4 Really hope SEB is fit for QPR, could finish our team... Gerken Chambers Berra Smith Cresswell Skuse Hyam/Tunnicliffe McGoldrick Nouble/Taylor SEB Murphy This would give us creativity from midfield in DMcG, and goals from SEB (hopefully)
-3

runaround added 18:08 - Jan 4 For a number of seasons now ITFC have not seem to have been up for cup ties and today was another example. For large parts of the game we seemed disinterested and lacking in energy, the passing was poor & a number of the players didn't get going at all. I feel this was as a direct result of the way the club approached the game, I understand the logic in perhaps resting players for league games but the team looked disjointed today. As hard as he tried, I don't understand playing someone as left footed as Mings at right back, he did well but was always going on his left foot, one of the only times he used his right foot he injured himself which played Davies onside for the equaliser! Winning breeds confidence & losing games or playing poorly dents confidence, I feel the club not taking cup games seriously enough is the wrong tactic which will hinder rather than help our league form, we now have a replay on a Tuesday night with a 520 mile round trip which could even go to extra time & penalties, that will tire the players out a lot more. Had we have played for the first 85 mins like we did the last 5 we would gave won easily, however the way we have treated cup games as an irritant may now come back to haunt us. I just hope for much better Saturday

12

TractorBoy666 added 18:14 - Jan 4 This was the worse I've seen us play this season without a doubt. Why didn't Taylor start in Wordsworth position? Taylor only played one game over the Christmas period and he didn't even get a full match then. Also it was his preferred position, and as soon as he came on we sparked into life a little more. Not ideal to get a replay but at least we know we're still in the draw for tomorrow!!

7

tallguy6767 added 18:26 - Jan 4 Glad I didn't go.its all getting so boring these days at home Although it was cheaper today its normally a lot of money to watch negative hoof ball shi*
1

StochesStotasBlewe added 18:27 - Jan 4 Another poor inept performance, our midfield created sod all, the fringe players did themselves no favours except from Mings. Preston deserved the replay. Pazelle, the F.A cup DOES matter, try telling us fans who saw Town lift the famous trophy in "78 that. Perhaps if we get a plum draw at home in round 4 you may well change your mind, however, got to beat Preston first.

4

jas1972 added 18:29 - Jan 4 As expected. It became apparent yesterday that MM was going to use this match to give the fringe first-team squad players the opportunity to demonstrate why they don't start matches and several (not all) of them took that opportunity. The midfield was appalling - it took ten minutes for Wordsworth to pass to a Town player rather than to the opposition and I think that it was only a couple of good tackles late in the first half that kept him on the pitch as long as he did. Hyam has a misplaced direction finder, as he only points back to the Town goal. Tabb is not worth persisting with, especially with Hunt on the books, and Edwards was marginally less bad than the rest, but only because he did nothing. When Tunnicliffe came on the ability and effectiveness of the entire midfield increased dramatically, but far too late. Taylor looked good for three minutes and then disappeared. SEB looked potentially useful but didn't really have enough time to achieve a lot - and when McGoldrick came on the gulf in relative ability was obvious and seemed large. The one positive for me was that personally I thought that Mings had an excellent game and I am happy to have him as a reserve utility defender who can play anywhere across the back. Of the rest, I thought that Loach did nothing much wrong but somehow doesn't inspire confidence; and I still haven't a clue whether Nouble is good, bad or merely very, very different. Mick can take comfort in the result as he now has another match in which to experiment with his reserves - shame he has to travel all the way to Preston to play it.

6

blueboy1981 added 18:33 - Jan 4 Sideways, backwards, sideways, backwards, sideways, backwards - without Taylor and Mings today we seemed incapable of doing anything else. Hyam seems to have completely forgotten how to play a forward ball. Taylor and Mings the only players who looked capable of creating anything at all - McGoldrick very tightly marked and closed down, but still class. Mings totally played out of position - but did himself proud again. Desperate for a midfield general who can boss it and create something - losing out in midfield game after game now. But we didn't lose so I guess the usuals will still be happy with that - just like MM.

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