Town are down to fourth in the Championship following a topsy-turvy 3-2 defeat at Preston North End in which returning striker Kieffer Moore netted twice having come on as a half-time sub. The Blues found themselves 3-0 down at the break as two goals from former Town striker Will Keane on five and 39 sandwiched an eighth-minute George Edmundson own goal. But after Moore, re-signed on loan from AFC Bournemouth on Thursday, had been introduced at the break, Town were a different prospect after the break and the Wales international netted on 75 and 87 but the Blues were unable to find the third goal which would have claimed a point.

New striker Kieffer Moore and Ali Al-Hamadi were named on the bench as manager Kieran McKenna made two changes from the last league game, the 1-1 draw away to leaders Leicester.

Skipper Sam Morsy returned in midfield following his suspension with Lewis Travis dropping to the subs, while Jeremy Sarmiento was handed his full league debut with Marcus Harness also on the bench, alongside Moore, Al-Hamadi and Nathan Broadhead.

Preston made one change from their 1-1 draw at Millwall last time out with skipper Alan Browne returning to the starting line-up for Ryan Ledson, who was among the subs.

Former Blues striker Keane started and ex-Town keeper Dai Cornell was on the bench.

The home side created the first chance just over a minute after the game got under way, Town, wearing their orange away kit, looking to have been caught cold as Liam Millar was found on the left of the box but fortunately the Canadian international screwed his volleyed shot well wide.

But in the fifth minute, the Lilywhites were in front. Town were closed down as they sought to play out from the back and the ball fell loose to Keane in space 25 yards out after Luongo had looked to clear. The former Blues striker took it forward and struck a shot which caught Edmundson, wrong-footed Vaclav Hladky and beat the Czech keeper to his right.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0. Emil Riis was played in on goal by a defence-splitting Keane pass, took it on into the area and Edmundson inadvertently stabbed past Hladky as he looked to take it away from the Preston striker. Video evidence suggested Riis was offside when the pass was played.

Having had a nightmare start, the Blues set about getting themselves back in the game but made little progress against a determined Preston side with their tails up.

On 23, Millar ran from deep - with Town having failed to track runners on a number of occasions - and wafted over a cross from the left which was just too far in front of his teammates.

A minute later, Millar cut in from the left and hit a shot which deflected wide off Luke Woolfenden. Harry Clarke complained to referee Graham Scott that he’d been fouled but to no avail.

Town had a spell where they began to put passes together as the half moved into its final 10 minutes but without threatening and Preston quickly got on top with a third home goal looking more likely than the Blues pulling one back. On 37, Hladky was forced to palm away a dangerous cross from the right.

And on 39, it was 3-0 after Town were again undone passing it out from the back. Woolfenden played it to Hladky, who passed forward to Morsy just inside the box but Mads Frokjaer behind him forced the ball away from the Town skipper, who slid in to tackle as it reached Riis, but it ran to Keane, who stroked his second of the game into the empty net.

The shellshocked Blues, who had only found themselves 3-0 behind once before in the league this season, at Leeds just before Christmas, looked to find a foothold in the game. On 42 a free-kick was played short to Burns, but his low strike was blocked.

Play very quickly returned to the other end and Millar, who had caused Town problems down the left all half, crossed and Brad Potts hit a low cross-shot off Leif Davis and out for a corner, following which Woolfenden turned another effort from a low angle wide.

Town managed their first serious shot of the half with the half already deep in four minutes of injury time, but Clarke’s stabbed effort from the right of the area flew well beyond home keeper Freddie Woodman’s right post.

Earlier in the move, Burns had found himself in space just outside the box but opted to look for Jackson rather than shooting with his pass running behind the striker before Conor Chaplin picked it up.

There were boos from the Town support at the whistle after perhaps the most frustrating 45 minutes of the Championship season so far.

The Blues were slow out of the blocks and might have conceded within the first 70 seconds and were still trying to find their feet when Preston did go ahead in the fifth minute as Town’s usually controlled passing out from the back let them down.

The second goal had more than a hint of offside about it but with Town still trying to get going, then the third goal was much the same as the first with Preston continuing to press the Blues in their final third and cause errors.

Town have been the comeback kings so far this season but it will take an effort beyond anything they’ve achieved so far to get anything out of this.

The Blues made the expected half-time change, handing Moore his second Blues debut for Kayden Jackson.

And immediately Town looked a different prospect. On 48, Davis came within a whisker of pulling one back when he caught everyone unawares with a cheeky free-kick which he looked to be playing into the box but instead struck against the unmoved Woodman’s right post.

On 50, with the 3,435 Blues supporters behind the goal getting firmly behind their side, Burns crossed from the right and the ball flicked off 6ft 5in tall Moore’s head and away. The new loan striker was already giving the Preston backline more to think about than they had in the first half.

The impetus from the opening moments began to fade but as the game moved towards the hour mark but on 61 Sarmiento struck a shot on the turn from 25 yards but straight at Woodman.

A minute later, Davis crossed from the left and Moore rose high but headed back across goal and wide, then in the 64th minute Clarke flicked a near-post header across the face and beyond the far post.

Preston had present no further threat since the break but on 66 Potts was found on the right of the box but Edmundson got across to block.

Moments later, Luongo was found the furthest man forward for Town by Morsy and cut in but scraped his shot wide. Ahead of the goal-kick, the Blues swapped Sarmiento and Chaplin for Broadhead and Omari Hutchinson.

Preston almost forced another goal from Town playing out from the back on 68, Hladky desperately clawing the ball away from Frokjaer just in front of his line having missed Morsy’s backpass with the Lilywhites - with good cause - appealing for a an indirect free-kick.

The home side made a double change in the 71st minute, McCann and Osmajic replacing Frokjaer and Riis.

Four minutes later, the Blues pulled one back. Davis stood up a cross from the left and Moore rose above everyone to nod his first goal for the club, seven years after signing for his first spell at Portman Road.

The goal gave Town a sniff with enough time on the clock to cause Preston some nerves if not turn the game around.

A minute after the goal, Burns headed too close to Woodman from another Davis cross, then on 78 the Wales international nodded well over when he should have nodded back into the box from a corner.

Town made another double change in the 80th minute, swapping Burns and Luongo for debutant Al-Hamadi and Harness.

Three minutes later, Osmajic shot wide from 20 yards out on the right, then seconds later Moore turned a shot against a defender at the other end.

Al-Hamadi had the first sight at goal of his Town career on 85, chasing a ball played over the top but the recent signing from AFC Wimbledon was unable to get a clean contact and Woodman claimed.

Two minutes later, it was 3-2. Hutchinson crossed from the right, Davis nodded back across goal, Moore and Al-Hamadi initially got in one another’s way, then the Iraqi international hit it against Woodman before the on-loan AFC Bournemouth slammed his second of the match into the net.

Town, sensing another famous comeback, threw the kitchen sink at the Lilywhites in the final minutes.

With the game in five minutes of injury time, Moore again got his head on the ball in the area, this time from a right-sided cross, but Woodman was able to get down to it to save.

As the game moved into its final minute and a half, Hutchinson cut in from the right and shot not too far over.

In the final moments, Hutchinson whipped over a cross from the right but beyond his teammates and referee Scott’s whistle signalled a roar from the relieved home support.

Town had been much better in the second half - they recorded nine on target to none in the first half - but Moore’s two goals probably came too late to allow time for a third.

The defeat, only the Blues’ fourth of the season, and the drop to fourth in the table - albeit with Leeds in third having played a match more - will be a blow to fans, however, there were certainly positives to be taken from the second half, most prominently Moore getting on the end of crosses and finding the net twice.

Overall though, a disappointing afternoon for the Blues, who have now won only one of their last eight in the Championship with another tough game at home to West Brom, who beat Birmingham 1-0 at home this afternoon, next Saturday.

PNE: Woodman, Whiteman, Lindsay, Keane (Woodburn 95), Browne (c), Frokjaer (McCann 71), Storey, Hughes, Riis (Osmajic 71), Millar (Brady 78), Potts. Unused: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson, Mawene, Whatmough.

Town: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis, Morsy (c), Luongo (Harness 80), Burns (Al-HAmadi 80), Chaplin (Hutchinson 68), Sarmiento (Broadhead 67), Jackson (Moore 46). Unused: Walton, Tuanzebe, Travis, Humphreys. Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire). Att: 17,313 (Town: 3,435).

Photo: Matchday Images

grow_our_own added 18:20 - Feb 3 Hindsight is wonderful, but Al Hamadi returned from Iraq with a knock early this week, and Moore hadn't trained with the squad yet. I can understand McK wanting to show loyalty to regular starters after a new signing. It's a chance to show motivation to keep the shirt. KJ didn't take it. Next time, it might work out. In terms of legitimate goals, we won 2-1 today. Stats all well in our favour. We've at least one promotion-standard Championship striker for the first time since Boxing Day. Win vs Southampton and games in hand and we're back in second. Rest of the season starts vs West Brom. COYB!

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Saxonblue74 added 18:23 - Feb 3 P5 W0 D2 L1 4points? You may want to check your maths RobsonWark!
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budgieplucker added 18:24 - Feb 3 We need to get off of Kayden’s back, we’re far too quick to tryand find one player for a scapegoat. At Leicester he ran his wotsit’s off with no support. KM clearly thought KM2 wasn’t fit enough to run for 90 minutes. The problem is we again keep our record for the team that has conceded most goals within 10 minutes albeit a deflection. In my view Chaplin and Burns have gone stale and perhaps need a spell on the bench, and whilst we are all reluctant to criticise KM as he has been an outstanding manager, we should learn to play with two up for plan B and not afraid to change it, I can’t help but think if we had made some of the other substitutions 10 minutes earlier we might have just salavaged something from the game. Whilst, Fridge has had some good games recently he does have a mistake in him more than Cameron Burgess, who will again on his return add back to the squad strength. On paper our fixtures look a bit easier than those around us, but we will be playing the teams that will drag us in to turgid scrappy games so we have to be prepared to accept our free flowing football is at times likely to be stifled. So plan B has to be an important alternative and a tall front man like KM2gives us that option.

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ArnieM added 18:25 - Feb 3 I don’t blame Jackson . He’s been the only centre forward option we’ve had available. He’s fine his best and has his limitations technically , but he always gives us his all. Don’t blame him for not having the skill sets required at this level. I suspect his starts will now become markedly reduced, as Moore will lead the live. We just need to play to his strengths ( crosses into the bux from our wide men)… and good of hopes sine change in the pace of our build up play . Get the ball forward quicker. Make the opposition think about defending instead of sitting there waiting gif ya to droid the half way line, and STOP GIFTING GOALS FFS!!!

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londontractorboy57 added 18:26 - Feb 3 See all the armchair puntersare out in force very reassuring for KM
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anditractor added 18:29 - Feb 3 That was tough to take but let's look at this different way. Yes after that we should have started with Moore etc etc but if at the beginning of the season somebody says we'd be in the play offs at this stage we would have all took it. We are playing exceptionally well 90% of the time and its the silly mistakes that let's us down. We still have only lost 4 games this season after promotion from League 1 and we must (as I do !!) trust in KM to get us back on track. C,Mon guys let's get behind this team, onwards and upwards

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Townancountry added 18:33 - Feb 3 For me , Jackson , Sarmo , Hutch and Harness are more effective as subs . They are not best as starters imo . Do we need to go back to basics just now , like 442 next Saturday .
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inghamspur added 18:34 - Feb 3 We're gonna finish 4th
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dieselmorris added 18:36 - Feb 3 we played badly, luck against us blatant offside goal, first one could happen to anyone, third suicide ball from keeper to morsy. on to next game hoping for big improvement.
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SouthernTractors added 18:42 - Feb 3 It's telling when an average side can work out how to stop you. We've been playing out from the back all season and we've got away with it, mostly. But we're not Man City and don't have the players to get away with it all season. As a group of players and management team we have to be able to change it up seamlessly when it's pretty obvious the opposition have us sussed out. No idea why Jackson started, doesn't matter how much you run your socks off if you have no product you have to ask why.. We put a big man up front and started hitting him and then the opposition started to breakdown.. Kieffer Moore will certainly prove a challenge and bring goals, but we need to mix up the strategy and style otherwise we'll be right back here at 3-0 down at the break again..

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atty added 18:51 - Feb 3 If Mooreccan come on at half time, he can start. The absence of a CF has been a major factor in our wobble. That’s down to McKenna as was the defeat to Maidstone - Non partnerships at CB and CM. No CF. Last 16 on offer and no game for a week, and we lose that one today. Wonderful.NOT. Woeful defending today, midfield ineffective, and no CF first half. Jackson and not Moore. Jeez, Get a grip KMc.

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Billysherlockblue added 18:53 - Feb 3 I have not said kj is to blame. What i have said is he IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AS A NO 9 IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
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RobsonWark added 18:54 - Feb 3 Apologies Saxonblue This season our bad spell started on 16-Dec-23 against Norwich at home drawing 0-0 and after todays game we have P5 W0 D2 L1 Pts 4. It should have read P5 W0 D4 L1 Pts 4. An update after today: P8 W1 D5 L2 Pts 8
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IPSWICH1078 added 18:56 - Feb 3 A very similar run of results at this time of year as there was last season. Could it be to do with the training and all the science behind it? Peak for the first few months then consolidate. Then go for a big push in the last few months. ItStill averaging over 2 points a game. We're in a great position.
3

oldtimer3 added 19:02 - Feb 3 The result last week has dented our confidence. So why not play one of our new strikers from the start? If that striker runs out of steam put the other one one later in the match. I have noticed Chaplin and Burns have lost their form lately. Playoffs look likely now. But then again I would have taken that before the season started.
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 19:04 - Feb 3 Surely with the height of Moore we should adopt a more direct approach, and 2 up front?
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KMcBlue added 19:05 - Feb 3 We've shown mid-table form at best since the start of Dec. Practically at full strength at home for the last 30 mins we couldn't beat an amateur team last Sat. Fully expected a defeat today. No form players. Momentum gone sadly.
4

Westy added 19:08 - Feb 3 Wasn't at the game today but despite the result we are still in a great position - 15 points clear of seventh place with a home game to come and won't have to play Leeds or Leicester again within the scheduled fixtures. Really looking forward to the remainder of the season when I expect our new signings will show their worth. Onwards and upwards.
4

IpswichT62OldBoy added 19:09 - Feb 3 Second half is how we will be from now on. A blend of building from the back and 4 4 2. Exciting times.
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warktheline added 19:14 - Feb 3 It’s unfair to single out players but I do think McKenna showed too much loyalty to a system that hasn’t complimented players found wanting for form or ability attempting to adapt within it! Recent performances have shown that, with a lack of creativity and goals, which of course becomes problematic when you are prone to conceding goals! I mentioned pre match McKenna’s new additions will need to hit the ground running if we are to maintain an automatic promotion push! I think today’s first half performance will reaffirm the continuation of the system but a change in personnel playing within it! I predicted a play off spot pre season…anything above that would be miraculous considering the resources of Leicester, Leeds and Southampton!

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delias_cheesy_flaps added 19:19 - Feb 3 At least Sky Sports etc.are gleeful now, poor little Ipswich are below the relegated EPL clubs! Sums up all that is wrong with modern day football and the media!
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BrettenhamBlue added 19:31 - Feb 3 Sports channels seem super happy now that the 3 ex Premier League clubs are 1-2-3 in Championship. Never should have had these massive parachute payments in the first place. Understand the reasoning, but what it's created in the sport is nothing short of ridiculous. The game? Woeful first half. Feel Preston were disappointed not to have more goals at HT. second half- introduction of two new strikers made a huge difference. What a debut for Moore! Every time the ball went in the area you felt we had a chance to score.

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jon_talbot56 added 19:33 - Feb 3 We were poor first half but the first goal resulted from a foul and the second was offside. They lost their heads a bit after that with a lot of misplaced passes and little movement when in possession. Obvs mistakes at the back and Burns poor. If Moore had been on from the start we would have won comfortably. He is clearly what he have been missing. I can’t see Jackson ever getting another start

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londontractorboy57 added 19:45 - Feb 3 We must accept the playoffs but hope for automatic.
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Steelmonkey added 19:48 - Feb 3 I was slightly worried a week before the end of the transfer window then we got the two players in, got to say I was surprised that neither started today. Sounds like our defence absolutely crumbled today first half, just as it did twice last week against Maidstone. Ten changes last week and as many this, just goes to show that a settled side pays dividends just as it did towards the end of last season. Warning signs have been on the cards for a few weeks and teams have sussed out our weaknesses, I’m not suggesting anything as I’m not a football manager and nowhere capable enough to be one, but if some of us can spot what’s going awry an accomplished eye should be able to correct it. Over to you Mr McKenna.

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