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

oldblue added 17:05 - Jan 17 I have paid to watch several games this season and on each occasion I have hoped that I would be moved to come back again buy a half season ticket or just think that this game will be THE ONE ..however on every occasion I have been greatly disappointed. I have seen enough football at Portman Road over the last nearly fifty years to know a little about the game and that there are usually more poor to mediocre games that good or even great ones. I do not watch through blue coloured spectacles either and appreciate what both teams are trying to achieve . I cannot see what Town are trying to do ..clearly they have no finesse at all and I am sorry to say very little class in the side .the comments made continually by Mick McCarthy whom I respect as a football man now wear very thin and while I understand he must support his players publicly just what instructions do they receive prior to and during games..now lads when you win the ball under no circumstances must you try to pass the ball to one of your teammates ..just hit it down the field to gain position..you know just like the rugby teams. Then we may get a line out ..sorry throw in or scrum..sorry corner kick when we will get the midfield who by this time are fifty yards behind you to play off the front men who are usually 1 or 2 versus five opposition players by this time to catch up and play from there. But...the ball keeps coming back to us so...hit it down the field to gain position..oh have I said that already ..oh dear oh dear oh dear...come on MM get real give us some respect that we know what we are watching and that we actually understand football more than you care to admit and if you want people to come back and support our team give us something to watch that gets us out of our seat ..provide some goalmouth action..know what we are doing and not just kick and hope that we score a try..err a goal by some lucky break...we are fast becoming a joke and the Norwich jeers of hooooof still ring in my ears and I hate to admit it they were right ! Ryan Fraser is a shining light in the gloom of Portman road..everyone but MM knows that we need to change the back four to provide more balance and despite heroic running by our fron men they need device from player or plays who can pass the ball..and as for the goalkeeping situation ..just get a better one please.

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Westy added 17:41 - Jan 17 Watching the highlights it should have been a penalty. The Preston player was on the ground but he did seem to pull the ball towards himself to stop it rolling towards goal or to an Ipswich player.
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Bergholtblue added 18:25 - Jan 17 Like Westy... Just seen the highlights. How on earth was that not a penalty? Can't even excuse the ref for being unsighted. He was right behind it!
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Ipswichbusiness added 19:31 - Jan 17 1) at the risk of stating the obvious, it is our home form that is letting us down. If we had won just two of the home matches that we have drawn we would now be four points better off and putting pressure on Derby. 2) those who criticise should remember that we have had injuries to the creative "department"; Bishop, Bru, Fraser and McG have all had significant injuries. 3) we are close, very close, to being the finished article; don't throw the pilot overboard!

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markwill45 added 22:49 - Jan 17 Unfortunately most people here seem to be fair weather supporters. Moan groan moan. If your not happy and complain constantly. Why not support Norwich. See what happens and support the team, it's getting boring.
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oldblue added 23:38 - Jan 17 Blind faith...mmmm
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markwill45 added 10:13 - Jan 18 Truth hurts.
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tractorkent added 10:59 - Jan 18 We are crying out for a playmaker but I,m afraid that is never going to happen because that is not the way MMS teams play..he likes wide players and ball winners, hard working central midfield players, not flair players who can create.give me a dozzel or magic Jim anyday
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markwill45 added 13:21 - Jan 18 Get Paul jewell back seems to be the view here. Omg.
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markwill45 added 13:22 - Jan 18 Magic Mick McCarthy.
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essex57 added 22:14 - Jan 18 All those that down voted me for my comments on Penguin blue please enlighten me.
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