Daryl Murphy’s eighth goal of the season seven minutes before the break saw the Blues to a 1-1 home draw with Preston North End, Daniel Johnson having put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute. That result and the scores elsewhere sees Town, who were denied what looked a clear second-half penalty, drop out of the play-off places.

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.

Woods was booked for a foul on Fraser then on 43 the Blues threatened again, 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 have counted themselves fortunate not to have been behind at the break. As at Deepdale earlier in the season, Preston had 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.

Two minutes after the restart Fraser skipped into the left of the area and jinked his way past a couple of defenders before hitting a low shot which was too close to Johnstone.

On 55 Murphy went looking for his second of the game when he won the ball from a Preston player midway inside the visitors' half but Johnstone was able to punch his 25-yard away for a corner.

Preston had the ball in the net in the 61st minute but Ben Pearson was flagged offside as he received the return pass from a one-two. The Blues were short of men in the area as Berra had gone to ground with a head injury earlier in the move but play hadn’t been stopped.

The visitors were starting to put Town under pressure and on 66 Gallagher whipped over a cross-shot from the left following a corner which Gerken claimed at his near post.

Brett Pitman replaced Bru in the 68th minute, then Garner was booked for a late challenge on Smith.

Two minutes later, Preston keeper Johnstone threw the ball straight to Murphy on the left. The striker’s cross found Sears, who volleyed wide at the far post.

Preston claimed a penalty in the 73rd minute when Garner went to ground under the attention of Berra, but referee Hooper gave a freekick to the Blues, claiming the striker had handled the ball.

Luke Hyam replaced Douglas two minutes later, then moments afterwards Chambers broke into the right of the box and was harshly adjudged to have fouled Pearson.

Preston went within inches of going back in front in the 81st minute when Gallagher whipped over a cross from the left and Bailey Wright glanced a header just past the post.

With seven scheduled minutes remaining of what had been a scrappy, scruffy half, Luke Varney replaced Blues goalscorer Murphy.

Town repeatedly went close to scoring their second in the 85th minute. Knudsen crossed from the left, Pitman’s flicked header reached Chambers, whose close-range effort was blocked.

The loose ball ran to Varney and his strike was blocked and ran out to Hyam, whose shot was also stopped, by Preston defender Paul Huntington's hand according to the Town players, but referee Simon Hooper waved away the protests. Replays suggested it was a clear penalty.

Seconds later, the Blues threatened again from Fraser freekick on the left but somehow no Town player was able to get a touch and ball went behind off one of the visitors.

In five minutes of injury time, Sears found himself some space not far outside the Preston area but hit his shot against a defender.

Soon after, Smith couldn’t get enough on a corner from the right and Pitman was booked for a somewhat cynical trip on sub Robinson as the visitors broke.

On this occasion the Blues were unable to grab a winner in injury time and referee Hooper’s whistle signalled a draw, which was probably a fair result.

Preston had been much the better side for the majority of the first half and should have been further ahead before Murphy’s equaliser.

After the break, the Blues had the better opportunities of a scrappy second half, but never looked as fluent as they were against Leeds on Tuesday.

The result sees Town drop out of the play-off places on goal difference, down to seventh with Brighton up to fifth following their 1-0 victory at Blackburn, while Sheffield Wednesday are now sixth after their 2-0 win at home to Leeds earlier this afternoon.

The Blues, who are now unbeaten in six in all competitions, are next in action in their third round FA Cup replay at Portsmouth on Tuesday before they visit eighth-placed Birmingham - who won 3-0 away against third-placed Derby today - at St Andrew’s next Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas (Hyam 74), Fraser, Bru (Pitman 68), Sears, Murphy (Varney 83). Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Maitland-Niles, Oar.

Preston: Johnstone, Woods, Huntington, Wright, Cunningham, Browne, Pearson, Johnson, Gallagher (c), Doyle (Robinson 87), Garner (Hugill 79). Unused: Kirkland, Woods, Vermijl, Kilkenny, Welsh. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Att: 21,108 (Preston: 436).

Photo: Action Images

ITFCsince67 added 19:00 - Jan 16 Have to be honest I was one of the £10 brigade and have not been to a home league game since we beat West Ham 5-1 after giving up season ticket under RK. So went with a little trepidation as to what I would see. OMG what a load of rubbish. How can anyone defend that performance? Is it like this every week? Long straight hoof ball, nobody prepared to hold the ball and pass it. No movement. First 20 mins we were chasing shadows. Got better as the half went on. 2nd half OMG shocking.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 19:07 - Jan 16 Bum
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bonamassablue added 19:13 - Jan 16 Well what a difference 4 days make. The same team which played Leeds off the park for most of the match couldn't get going today and lost the slick, attacking passing. How frustrating. Thought the back 4 looked solid but the rest were average. That's football I guess.
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StowTractorBoy added 19:18 - Jan 16 I feared this result today as Preston have given us a lot of problems over the years and today was no exception. They came out of the blocks far more quickly than us which was disappointing and thoroughly deserved to take the lead albeit a sloppy goal. Our equaliser came out of the blue but we did not build on it mainly because we could not get on top in central midfield. We battled well but had no creativity whatsoever and you have to give Preston credit for that as they closed down very quickly and today we really wanted a Teddy Bishop type in the middle of the park. For some reason Bru was off the pace and Fraser did not have the space given to him by Leeds. Cannot fault the effort of the players and had we got and scored from the resultant penalty near the end we would be far happier tonight. Just not our day today especially as other results did us no favours. Personally I think fans were dreaming when talk of a top two place is up for grabs. I would take 6th now but that is becoming increasingly more difficult in this league. Mick has indicated many changes for Portsmouth so lets hope we can bounce back with a decent performance before a very difficult game at Birmingham.

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DannyITFC added 19:25 - Jan 16 We created very little and probably did not deserve anymore than a point. However the ref had a terrible game without a shadow of doubt! Gave some terrible decisions for both teams and Berra was constantly getting elbowed in the face yet these officials let it go? As for the penalty shout......this is embarrassing for any prosfessional ref to cock this up! It would have been a great save if the lad was in goal.....it should have been a penalty and probably a red card as he stopped a goal bound effort going in! What is the linesman looking at in this situation? It's pathetic and the standard of officials in this league is very low. Maybe it's time to bring in technology like cricket does? I thought the lad in midfield Johnson looked top class for them (dreadlocks) why not try and get someone Iike him in our midfield? Without Bishop we have no creativity......Bru offers a bit but we need to add to this department. Great strike by Murphy.......Gerkin had a mare today not commanding his box which led to their goal, a shame really because he has been first class recently. Still a point is better than none so now we have to go and win at Birmingham which I fully believe we can next week.

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RegencyBlue added 19:33 - Jan 16 As good as we were Tuesday night I thought we were poor today. Couldn't get our game going for the first twenty minutes and never looked comfortable all afternoon. On balance a fair result but home performances like this are costing us!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:38 - Jan 16 ITFCsince67, unfortunately, todays performance is generally par for the course at home this season, maybe Sheffield Weds, Burnley & Leeds the 3 good games in terms of result, entertainment & quality etc., the rest have generally been a war of attrition not likely to entice the likes of your goodself back on a regular basis. However, somehow we,re still in spitting distance of at least the playoffs. A display today in the same vein as Tuesdays may just have persuaded a few more to attend more frequently.....

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PJH added 19:43 - Jan 16 I suppose we could not keep giving teams a goal start and going on to win. Thought we were lucky to be level at half time so over the 90 minutes a draw a fair result. Have not seen the handball on TV yet but seemed to me that their player almost caught the ball. I thought Smith and Knudsen our best performers today although Fraser looked dangerous and Skuse had a very good second half. Next week at Birmingham will be a battle but we have come through battles away from home several times this season.

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karls_dad added 19:46 - Jan 16 Having only listened to the game, i can only offer an opinion on that, sadly i think we were lost for ideas, nil creativity, desire was questionable?, i honestly think we have blown it now, we should be winning games like this at home comfortably! the squad needs an injection of new blood, and sadly i just cannot see ME stumping up the cash, yes we have done brilliantly on a squad of freebies and little price buys, but as the league positions show to get out you have to spend! and that ain,t gonna happen!

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oldegold added 19:48 - Jan 16 Today we showed that when have to up the ante we are severely lacking in quality and rely as usual on hoofing.Am I the only one who believes that all the eulogies for our performance on Tuesday were far fetched as I thought in that game we were total crap and only upped our game in the 2nd half.Today we were mediocre at best and awful at worst with a very plain playing style,no plan B on how to contain and threaten the opposition.MM is on record as saying that we were fab against Leeds in the 1st half and if that is so then time for him to go as were really poor and today's performance showed what a limited gameplan we have. With a performance like this from a manager who lacks devil we will go nowhere.

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essex57 added 19:54 - Jan 16 After Tues game I was looking forward to this game then I read Harry from baths blog which I feel should be obligatory for all fans and players and my confidence began to ebb Preston set up to play the same as us which means the pitch shrinks by 50 % no good if you haven't got much flair in midfield. As for the goal whilst I never like to single out single players Imo it was clearly Gherkins fault he should of taken the ball out of play four moves before the goal was scored but the old super glue on his boots kept him glued to the line. Once in front you knew it was going to be hard to break them down They on had 3 other shots at goal still let's give them credit where credits due they done what they had to do if we had scored first I think it would of been a completely different game. Knudsens critics I think must only look when he mucks up or does one of his god awful throw ins apart from that I think hes a solid little player never stops running and overlaps with the forwards when needed and will be much improved next season. At the end of the day it's 2 valuable points dropped because of the other results on to Birmingham which could be one of the pivotal games of the season I will not start getting excited till I've read Harryfrombaths post.

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PJH added 20:15 - Jan 16 @karls_dad you announced that our season was over last season in February,three months before we played in the playoffs. Are you saying that this season is over or are you going to give us another week or two? Just asking.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 20:20 - Jan 16 Essex57, Agree re Knudson, Also read HFB,s excellent blog & the game panned out as I thought it would, a turgid game cancelling each other out. This is why we need that bit of extra quality IMO, it would be the difference between 1 point or all 3 in so many games thus far.
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runaround added 20:23 - Jan 16 A very annoying & frustrating match. We just never got going & the defending in the lead up to Preston's goal was ponderous at best. We then slowly got back into it & Murphy scored a great goal & I then thought we would push on & win it but never did & allowed PNE to execute their game plan far too easily. It's annoying when we let a team time waste & dive their way to a point with such ease but we just never got going. Yes we should have had a penalty at the end which probably would have seen us to victory but today was just poor all round. Seeing most of our rivals win & us falling to 7th just enhanced the frustration. Long way to go yet but next Saturday's match suddenly takes on a massive importance

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blues1 added 20:23 - Jan 16 cant understand why people don't realis why bru wasn't at it today. its simple. he was being asked to play out of position on the wing. on Tuesday he played in the hole and was great. karls dad.. u show why people who weren't at the game shouldn't post opinions on here. from listening to the game youve deduced that there was little creativity which I'm guessing was said in the commentary. as for lack of desire. rubbish. cant question the desire of any player on the pitch for us today. in act rarely can in any match. so where you got that from I don't know. if it was from the commentary again u were mislead, and that is why isay people shouldn't give opinions f they not there

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bluelady added 20:30 - Jan 16 Blues1 - how rude! I was there and myself and a lot of people around me were of that opinion, that said we were up the other end so I await to see it on Tv. There are ways of talking to people, we all support the same team!!!
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essex57 added 20:33 - Jan 16 Karls Dad whilst I don't like to be critical of another poster but lacking in desire is one thing we don't lack.
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essex57 added 20:37 - Jan 16 Lastly although there's plenty of time for them to get stoked up I must praise the majority of people thus far who have been pragmatic about the result and given Preston credit where credits due.
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blues1 added 20:42 - Jan 16 bluelady wasn't my intention to be rude but have to say why are you criticsng him if you couldn't see it as u at other end neway. just proves you couldn't see it. but if u read my post fully youd have seen I did agree that he should have dealt with it better. sorry for ne offence tho. wasn't ne intended
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jas0999 added 20:47 - Jan 16 Blues1 - Bru hasn't been as good since his early season form, probably not helped by injury. Noted he is out of position, but for me he is a decent player, but not that attack minded, goal scoring central player we desperately need. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
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bluelady added 20:58 - Jan 16 Jas he had a good game Tuesday, although so did most of the team!! Douglas for me is the weak link, had one or two decent games all season, think last season was probably his swan song and we took him on the decline :-(
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bluelady added 21:07 - Jan 16 Blue1 have watched it back and I still say that the initial ball in was going wide and out for a goal kick and did not need clearing? There is a chance it may have stayed in play but I really can't see that! What am I seeing wrong?!
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corkblue added 21:13 - Jan 16 head tennis in midfield will never bring goals! not an inspiring afternoon!
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corkblue added 21:13 - Jan 16 head tennis in midfield will never bring goals! not an inspiring afternoon!
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Cloddyseedbed added 21:14 - Jan 16 Preston closed us down quickly which meant a lot of the time we were passing it square or back to hoof it up top. When our defenders do have the ball there is no one from midfield who wants it and if they do get it they pass it straight back to the defender who passed to them to hoof it up. It was a good game plan by Preston who also kept Fraser very tightly marked and by his standards he had a quiet game. Bru was played out of his comfort zone on the right, it never works when he's told to play there. He is more effective in the hole behind attackers where he can create for himself and advanced players. Preston worked their socks off today, had a game plan and stuck to it and rightly deserved something out of the game. Town struggle against teams who close us down and force us to go long. Not good to watch and shows a great lack of creativity in midfield as an option to change the game. After Birmingham's win today the game against them needs to be same quality that we dished up against Leeds. In the meantime there is the small distraction of Portsmouth away to help players on the edge of team selection get match fit.

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