Daryl Murphy equalised for Town seven minutes before the break, Daniel Johnson having given Preston the lead in the seventh minute.

Boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged team and bench from Tuesday’s 2-1 victory against Leeds.

Preston made a late change to their line-up with Calum Woods replacing Tom Clarke on the right of their back four after their skipper suffered an injury in the warm-up. Paul Gallacher took the armband.

Dean Gerken was forced into action in the second minute when Gallagher smashed a freekick from 35 yards which the Blues keeper punched away from goal somewhat less than convincingly.

Two minutes later, Town broke from a subsequent Lilywhites freekick. Murphy sent Freddie Sears away on the right, but the former Colchester man’s cross failed to find a team-mate.

The visitors had started the brighter, however, and in the seventh minute they went in front.

After the Blues had repeatedly failed to clear their lines, Eoin Doyle crossed from the right and Johnson, who scored Preston’s goal in the game at Deepdale earlier in the season, saw his powerful first strike from eight yards blocked but followed up to slam in his eighth goal of the season.

Preston weren’t far from doubling their lead in the 13th minute when a well-worked freekick just outside the box ended with Gallagher curling the ball not far past Gerken’s left post.

Town, who had switched to a 4-4-2 system with Bru on the right, had made a stuttering start but in the 16th minute, following a freekick, Fraser stood up a cross from the left and an under pressure Christophe Berra headed wide at the far post.

Preston were continuing to have chances, however, and a minute later Gallagher found an unmarked Doyle with a cross from the left but Jonas Knudsen got across to dispossess the on-loan Cardiff striker before he was able to shoot.

Fraser curled a freekick from the left into Preston keeper Sam Johnstone’s arms on 21 with Town still trying to find their feet.

On 24 Sears sent over a dangerous ball from the left after good work from Knudsen and Fraser but Kevin Bru was unable to turn towards goal and the loose ball wouldn’t fall for a Town player.

The visitors continued to dominate, keeping hold of the ball for long spells, and in the 32nd minute they again went close. Doyle was sent away on the left and he crossed to Joe Garner, who diverted the ball straight at Gerken from eight yards.

Town gradually began to get more of a foothold in the game and in the 38th minute they levelled.

With the Blues starting to keep the ball far better than earlier in the game, Chambers played the ball into Murphy’s feet 25 yards out and the Irishman rolled away from his defender before hitting a low shot which beat Johnstone to his left. The keeper may feel he should have done better with the Town number nine’s eighth goal of the season.

The Blues threatened again in the 43rd minute, Murphy laying the ball back to Bru on the right and skipper Chambers turning his cross against a defender and through to Johnstone. Soon after, Murphy shot over from distance.

Town will count themselves fortunate not to have been behind at the break. As at Deepdale earlier in the season, Preston started the stronger and could have been several goals to the good before the Blues had got going.

Johnson took his goal well but the visitors will feel they had had enough chances to increase their lead before Murphy’s equaliser.

The Blues had started to get on top at that point, although without having seriously threatened. But having gone in front, Town ended the half on the front foot.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Fraser, Bru, Sears, Murphy. Subs: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Hyam, Maitland-Niles, Oar, Varney, Pitman.

Preston: Johnstone, Woods, Huntington, Wright, Cunningham, Browne, Pearson, Johnson, Gallagher (c), Doyle, Garner. Subs: Kirkland, Woods, Vermijl, Kilkenny, Welsh, Robinson and Hugill. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Photo: Action Images

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