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

tallguy6767 added 18:37 - Jan 4 I see I've had a minus from one of those middle class zombies who attend portman rd these days!!
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bluey123 added 18:39 - Jan 4 McCarthy must GO and take Evans with him I have watched ITFC for many years and this is the worst team ever take out McGoldrick,Smith and Cresswell and we have nothing boring boring McCarthy an absolute disgrace
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blueboy1981 added 18:41 - Jan 4 Concerns me that one of our posters feels the FA CUP is not important - I can only assume that they were not around in 1978, and would be oblivious to what the FA Cup means to us all, and our Club. Never to be forgotten.
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bluelady added 18:45 - Jan 4 I think it highlighted just how good Cole scuse is and whilst not dynamic we misses his control of midfield. Equally I have been a bit of a Murhpy critic as not always sure what value he adds, much of his good work goes unnoticed and again he was greatly missed today, Frankie no good in the air so why lump it to him?? I'm not suprised EB sat down poor bloke probably realised he wasn't goon to get any service today!' On a positive Tyron Mings showed some real class today, and put 100 per cent in, shame the others didn't! Taylor looked bright too

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muccletonjoe added 18:46 - Jan 4 I realise Tabb and Wordsworth are not regular first team starters but neither looked up to the mark today , Nouble really isn't much better. Mm should have given Marriott a game today , and then asked Gillingham if they fancied taking frankfor a few months
6

blueboy1981 added 18:48 - Jan 4 Spot on Bluelady - can't dispute any of that.
1

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:49 - Jan 4 Very poor today - i dont really get the whole scale changes argument that so many managers adopt these days. I understand leaving out people with slights knocks like Gerken, Murphy and Smith but in that case i probably would have left it at that. Too many changes makes for a disjointed side and that certainly happened today. DM sparked us briefly (although that was a poor pen again) . Biggest disappointment was the fact that all the players that came in failed to shine at all. Wordsworth in particular was awful apart from one good tackle. Edwards, Tabb and im afraid, for me Mings all disappointed (as yet i cant see what all the hype around this lad is , although would love to be proved wrong) Taylor i thought looked bright when he came on and looked the most likely threat late on. Really missed Skuse and i would like to have seen Hunt get a game. Still we are still in the hat after playing poorly so on to QPR and i would expect a much better performance from us in that.

3

pazelle added 18:52 - Jan 4 Maybe in 1978 the FA cup mattered - but now the only prize in English football is getting in the top division and staying in it for as long as possible. The cups are jokes imo - but I wasn't around in 1978 so I'm as cold as a cucumber about it
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EssexTractor added 18:54 - Jan 4 Substantially agree with Jas 1972 comments above although I would give more credit to Paul Taylor who has great upper body strength and does attempt to run forward, dribble even, having realised at which end of the pitch the opponents goal is to be found. And that sadly is not a comment that can be attributed to the starting midfield.What abject individual and collective failures! If MMs ploy was to test their worthiness for first team inclusion for the second half of this season I hope he has gone home tonight with the same thoughts as the majority of the 13,000 loyal home supporters, that the constant drab performances from the very heart of this team must be halted. Find some flair Mick, get us on the edge of our seats please. Finally despite the disappointment I do feel Tyrone Mings does deserve praise, for attempting to drive forward with a sense of purpose and desire, even though plainly totally out of position

8

Marcus added 18:58 - Jan 4 A drab game. The most exciting thing was the dayglo pink ball. It was very pretty.
3

Gazelle added 19:18 - Jan 4 Preston will be kicking themselves after playing against eight men and not winning.
4

thebeat added 19:19 - Jan 4 pazelle you are obviously one of these modern day brainwashed by sky and the premier league fans. Its a dusgrace the way the F.A. Cup has been devalued by fans like yourself.While it may not be your fault due to your age it is everything that is wrong with the game these days. Fans like the players have become arrogant and dont have a clue about the game whatsoever. Its one of the reasons so many old school fans stay away these days. Im only 38 so wasnt around in the halcyon days but i enjoyed it much more in craphole stadiums in the late 80's watching average football under Duncan. Atleast the fans and players loved the club in those days. Sky have ruined football dont care what anybody says.

16

bennyitfc added 19:24 - Jan 4 Tabb, terrible. Hyam, Horrific. Wordsworth, woeful. Seriously, all three should be nowhere near the first team. Why Hyam is I have no idea - backwards pass, sideways pass, repeat. Only Mings, Nouble and Edwards looked like trying to get forward today. Taylor was good when he came on but too little too late. Struggling to see how we're going to score against QPR based on the last three 1-1- draws. Thank goodness out defence is relatively solid.

3

sirbenofmorlingshire added 19:26 - Jan 4 £15 for a ticket... £5 quids worth of football. Very poor all round, if we'd played the subs who came on from the start we could have won today; they were the only ones with any passion or skill. Undecided if MM is simply not bothered about the cup - I am, and would love us to have a run!
3

bluey123 added 19:31 - Jan 4 Can anyone say they have been excited by the dross we have been served up this season thought Jewell and Keane were bad but this is awful PNE Div 1 side they outplayed us for most of the game McCarthy OUT
-3

ChrisMakin2012 added 19:31 - Jan 4 How frank Nouble makes the team week in week out I do not know terrible player who wins one header per game. Wordsworth is not good enough to play championship football and loach is crap who flaps at everything.
5

blueboy1981 added 19:32 - Jan 4 thebeat - agree with you.
5

StowTractorBoy added 19:32 - Jan 4 Why do these so called top managers play weakened teams against so called inferior opposition. To almost completely overhaul the midfield is the reason we could only draw today. One thing is for certain we now know Wordsworth is nowehere near good enough, Tabb has gone backwards, Edwards looks a spent force and Hyam however much we love him only passed backwards for the majority of the time today. Love Mings and thought he did OK but give the lad a break as playing him on his wrong side is just ludicrous. Why oh why did we not start with our strongest 11 and go from there not make 7 changes. Love Mick to bits for what he has done so far but to make 7 changes today is ridiculous and at least he admitted as much on Radio Suffolk. If Mick is allowed to spend this month please try and get us a midfield player with energy and drive and can score goals. Easier said than done but my oh my how we missed Skuse today. Very down in the dumps and so frustrated tonight. I know santa has been and gone but could we have some pace in the side as well please.

11

warktheline added 20:07 - Jan 4 Pazelle go grab a DVD of Towns famous FA Cup final where the boys outplayed the Gunners from start to finish.Sadly I wasn't there but I will never forget sitting in front of the tv,screaming at the ref to blow full time as soon as Roger slid that ball in.Shame you missed that era pal.
9

blues1 added 20:14 - Jan 4 jas0999. agree with much of ur post but ur point about taylor is rubbish. as soon as he came on he made things happen by running at people he almost immediately got us a freekick on the edge of their area for the 1st time in the game , was he who inspired us to the decent last 5 mins or so. the only problem wa he wasn't given the ball often enough when he came on. as for the rest of the team, with the exception of mcgoldrick and mings, they were all rubbish. this match was just a continuation of the boring brand of football weve seen at home all season so far. away from home this sort of football isn't a problem. you do anything you have to, to pick up points away, but at home, in my opinion we should be imposing ourselves on the opposition, not allowing them to dominate possession on our ground.unfortunately we haven't got the players capable of doing that and before long, unless we change that, we will get soundly beaten at home. we ride our luck too often at home

9

ericclacton added 20:16 - Jan 4 If you aint got nothing you have nothing to lose, I thankyou.
0

KiwiTractor added 20:22 - Jan 4 Surely this was the perfect chance to give Taylor 90 mins and Hunt some game time??
9

CornardBlue added 20:25 - Jan 4 Agree with Stow Tractor Boy our midfield was very poor, all 4 off them are not worth a starting place I know we are not allowed to criticize Luke Hyham but when is he going to make a forward pass of more than 5 yards, the only player who attacked Preston was young Mings and Taylor when he came on, even Cresswell was very poor today. If we want to keep in the mix for the play offs we need a player like Jim Magilton who can play that killer ball up to our forwards because at present all they get is long balls from our defenders.

6

DerryfromBury added 20:29 - Jan 4 Well Well Well, what can you say. We went backwards 9months today in our style of football. Surely the way to play these type of games is to put out your best team, kill the game off in the first half, them make the changes and rest the key players. That said, there were a couple of positives to take from the performance; Tyrone Mings and Paul Taylor (when he came on). Not quite sure what Frankie Nouble brings to the party, other than give us fans something to shout, laugh and scream about when he's chasing down dead balls. Other than that, probably best to put this one behind us and move on. COYB

3

poo74 added 20:33 - Jan 4 I Thought today I'm Sorry But Mick McCarthy Got it wrong his tactics were wrong from the beginning and Tabb,Wordsworth and Edwards were very unfit or maybe they were not match fit but they made us look like we were playing without a midfield and when Paul Taylor came on he put in more effort then Nouble had all game Taylor needs to be starting for Ipswich every week
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