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Preston North End 1 v 0 Ipswich Town
EFL Championship
Saturday, 23rd August 2025 Kick-off 15:00
Preston North End 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 23rd Aug 2025 17:06

Milutin Osmajic’s 11th-minute penalty saw Preston North End to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Deepdale. Jacob Greaves was adjudged to have fouled the Lilywhites striker with Town subsequently dominating possession while unable to take the handful of chances they created.

The Blues were unchanged from last week’s 1-1 home draw with Southampton with Alex Palmer continuing in goal behind a back four of, from the right, Ben Johnson, skipper Dara O’Shea, Jacob Greaves and Leif Davis.

Jack Taylor and Azor Matusiwa were the midfield pairing behind Jack Clarke on the right, Sammie Szmodics in the middle and Jaden Philogene on the left. George Hirst was making his 50th Town start as the number nine.

Kasey McAteer who signed from Leicester yesterday, was on the bench at Deepdale for the second week running having been an 86th-minute sub in the Foxes’ 2-1 defeat to the Lilywhites last Saturday.

Chuba Akpom was among the Blues’ subs for the first time since joining the club on loan from Ajax earlier in the month.

Preston also named an unchanged side following their victory over the Foxes with neither ex-Blues Will Keane, who is injured, or Dai Cornell in their 20-man squad.

Town, in their all red second strip, struck the game’s first shot after just a minute, Philogene winning a tackle not far outside the home side’s area then, after briefly losing control himself, looping an effort well wide.

But after that, the Blues struggled to make much headway going forward with Preston quickly winning the ball back - or possession surrendered cheaply - whenever Town sought to make forays forward.

The Lilywhites caused a few more problems at the other end, Greaves cutting out a dangerous Thierry Small cross from the left.

On nine, Davis brought the ball forward to the edge of the area with a defender hanging off him and shot over but with referee Matthew Donohue surprisingly opting not to award a free-kick.

A minute later, Town had an even bigger reason to be irked with the referee when he awarded the home side a penalty.

The Blues had struggled to get a bouncing ball out of their box and as the grounded Greaves attempted to clear, Osmajic went to ground. Referee Donohue pointed straight to the spot with the Town players protesting at length.

Osmajic took the kick himself, Palmer diving to his right and the ball going to his left and into the net, the Montenegrin’s third goal in three Championship games this season.

The goal meant Town have now gone 22 games without keeping a clean sheet, tying a club record from 1954/55.

The Blues started to take control but with too many passes still going astray. On the quarter hour, Davis did well on the left and crossed low towards Hirst, but Lewis Gibson got in ahead of the Town number nine to clear.


On 21, after a spell of possession, if not always the most composed, Johnson struck a powerful effort from the edge of the box past home keeper Daniel Iversen’s left post.

Two minutes later, Clarke was found wide on the right, brought the ball forward into the area and hit a cross-shot which was cleared.

Town had reacted well to going behind with their 4,000-plus fans giving their their full backing.

In the 26th minute, Philogene brought the ball inside from the left with two defenders hanging onto him and was eventually brought down but having had the opportunity to pass to Szmodics or Clarke, who were in the clear inside the box. Andrew Hughes was shown the game’s first yellow card.

Town continued to see most of the ball with Preston happy to sit back on their lead and look for breaks. On 36, Matusiwa was dispossessed on the Town right and Greaves was forced to step across to intercept a ball forward for Michael Smith.

Four minutes later, Clarke wafted over a superb cross from the right which beat Gibson and reached Hirst behind him. However, with the ball bouncing just in front of him, the Scotland international sent the ball well into the stand.

Johnson was shown Town’s first yellow card of the game on 41 for clipping Osmajic on the Preston left.

As the half moved into two minutes of injury Szmodics crossed towards Hirst. The striker was unable to get a clean touch on the ball and Clarke momentarily looked like he might get on it until Iversen claimed.

Aside from Pol Valentin being booked for a foul on Philogene, that was the last action the half.

Having gone behind to the early penalty, the Blues dominated possession without carving out a clear-cut chance, Hirst’s effort from Clarke’s cross having been the best opportunity.

Once in front, Preston had been content to sit back and catch Town on breaks, trying to make the most of the Blues’ tendency to give the ball away before getting to the danger zone.

Three minutes after the restart, Clarke was sent away on the right and made a first-time pass to Philogene breaking down the middle, but the England U21 international had strayed well offside. Much to the home fans’ amusement, the former Aston Villa man additionally sent his low shot wide.

Philogene was tripped just outside the area to the left in the 53rd minute, Clarke hitting the free-kick into the wall and Johnson’s subsequent volley deflecting wide. Following the resultant corner, the ball appeared to strike a Preston hand but the linesman’s waved flag only indicated a Town offside.

As the hour-mark approached, Johnson shot over from the edge after the ball had broken to him, then Szmodics seized on an error in the Preston defence but his effort at goal from a tight angle on the right was blocked.

The Blues were looking increasingly threatening and in the 62nd minute their slickest move of the game saw Hirst cleverly lay the ball into the path of Clarke breaking into the right of the box but somehow Small managed to stab it behind for a corner, his teammates showing their appreciation.

In the 66th minute Town made a triple change, Conor Chaplin, debutant McAteer and Ashley Young replacing Philogene, Clarke and Johnson. Szmodics moved to the left with Chaplin taking his usual number 10 role.

McAteer’s first action in a Blues shirt was to win a corner, which Iversen spilled and Greaves stabbed at at the far post with the ball appearing to be on its way wide when it was cleared.

The new signing had an opportunity to make himself some debut headlines in the 71st minute when Matusiwa’s excellent pass played in Szmodics. A defender’s toe stabbed it away from the forward, who still looks a little off full sharpness, and fell to McAteer, but his shot flew well over.

Preston made a treble change of their own a minute later, Daniel Jebbison, Odeluga Offiah and Stefan Thordarson replacing Smith, Valentin and Alfie Devine.

Town made their final two changes on 77 Szmodics, who had been booed throughout for his Blackburn connections, and Matusiwa, who had had by far his most influential game for the Blues, making way for debutant Akpom and Jens Cajuste. Preston switched Hughes for Liam Lindsay.

Goalscorer Osmajic was booked in the 82nd minute for failing to retreat as Town prepared to take a goal-kick.

Moments later, Small threw himself to ground holding his face as he saw the ball out ahead of McAteer, the home fans baying for a red card. Referee Donohue eventually booked McAteer and then Small, much to the delight of the Town support, who clearly felt the Preston left wing-back was trying to get the Blues debutant sent off. Small was subbed two minutes later, Andrija Vukcevic taking over.

Town kept pushing for an equaliser as the game moved towards the end of the scheduled 90, a Blues corner flashing across the area from the left as seven additional minutes were announced.

Four minutes into added time, Preston were unable to clear a free-kick on the right, the ball eventually falling to Jack Taylor on the edge of the area but his shot failed to trouble Iversen, who saved comfortably.

Ali McCann was booked for a foul on Akpom as the new loanee broke forward with Town unable to make anything of the free-kick.

Within a minute, Hirst did well to keep the ball in on the right of the box and played back to Chaplin, but his strike was blocked.

In the dying seconds, Young crossed low from the right towards McAteer, who tried to get Chaplin on the ball but it was eventually cleared and referee Donohue’s whistle brought the game to an end.

Another frustrating afternoon for the Blues, who dominated after going behind but huffed and puffed for the most part in and around the penalty area, while Preston defended resolutely. Aside from the penalty, keeper Palmer didn’t have a save to make.

Even though they were far from fluent, they created a handful of openings but were unable to make the most of them, Hirst’s opportunity in the first half, Philogene straying offside in the early second-half break, Small’s interception ahead of Clarke, McAteer blazing over and Taylor failing to get a clean strike towards the end.

Town’s tough opening to the season is looking tougher having taken only two points from their first three games and now after falling to their first defeat, which leaves them 18th in the early season table.

The Blues, who still have significant transfer business to be done before the window closes, are next in action at home to Derby County next Saturday.

Preston: Iversen, Storey, Gibson, Hughes (Lindsay 78), Valentin (Thordarson 73), Whiteman (c), McCann, Small (Vukcevic 86), Devine (Offiah 73), Smith (Jebbison 73), Osmajic. Unused: Walton, Carroll, Dobbin, Gryba.

Ipswich: Palmer, Johnson (Young 66), O’Shea (c), Greaves, Davis, Matusiwa (Cajuste 77), Taylor, Clarke (McAteer 66), Szmodics (Akpom 77), Philogene (Chaplin 66), Hirst. Unused: Walton, Young, Woolfenden, Kipre, Ogbene. Referee: Matthew Donohue (Manchester).


Photo: Matchday Images



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ImAbeliever added 17:50 - Aug 23
Sack the ‘bored’.
3

bluesissy added 17:51 - Aug 23
Championship favourites....no...best manager in the league...no ...no plan b....yes. laughing stock...yes..3 games..no wins...one goal scored. Time to worry..definitely. poor
2

blueboy1981 added 17:52 - Aug 23
Spare a thought for the Owners because this situation is, and will be, VERY concerning and worrying for them - although some of you may not understand, or think that !!
IT WILL BE !!
5

pablo123 added 17:52 - Aug 23
6 ŵins in 47 games ,what a manager
15

BlueRuin69 added 17:53 - Aug 23
Against low block you need creative players......oh we got rid of Broadhead because of Philogene.....Whoops
8

Bluewhiteboy added 17:53 - Aug 23
Deby game is a must win for kieran. No way the Americans will accept anything less
9

poet added 17:53 - Aug 23
For me, the bottom line here is we were bullied out of this game. It’s not easy playing against a side like Preston, whose tactics are hardly synonymous with football.
However, no excuses, I saw at least 2 of our players who backed out of challenges. That’s poor, you know what you’re going to get from teams like this, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise.
We’ll no doubt be up against a few more this season, so we need to be braver and stronger.
3

TimmyH added 17:55 - Aug 23
Well against a shirt sponsored 'Spud Bros' Preston side (aptly named) that was poor again from an attacking/creative point...with players like Clarke/Philogene/Szmodics you'd expect more but sadly many players are just not on it or can't play as a unit. 3 shots on target in 3 games (1 a penalty) is p-poor at any level.

We had plenty of the ball and Matusiwa was quite tidy on the ball and has improved since his first game but many others haven't even the defence which won't have an easier game with Preston's lack on intent once they scored looked ropey. Worrying thing the 3 games we've played I wouldn't say not 1 player has stood out as a MOTM candidate in any which is worrying.

McKenna undoubtedly is in his worst spell here and if too many games pass without a win he will come under pressure from the owners - consider what his salary is and some of the players at his disposal compared to quite a few others...he also has to drop a number that consistently under perform or shouldn't be starting.
12

GSH71 added 17:58 - Aug 23
Not a good result today , why don’t we play two up front , one ain’t doing diddly squat . Was the penalty dubious . I didn’t see the game . I think the American owners don’t seem to bothered to be honest , , not interested , they just want more money into the club from various projects , so they can take out the money they have put in for the ole fireman’s pension pot . I’ve said for a while confidence is very low , McKenna is a not a hard enough manager . At least Southampton lost at home to stoke , better beat derby at home nxt week or we will be in the rubbish , who would want to join us when we are struggling.
3

BlueRuin69 added 18:00 - Aug 23
Johnson. Oshea Greaves Davis. Or. Tuanzebe Wolf Burgess Davis
Morsy Luongo. Or. Azor Taylor
Clarke Smods. Philo. Or. Burns Chaplin Broad
I know which team I'd pick
6

KMANSers added 18:07 - Aug 23
We look absolute pony- it’s as if no pre season matches took place! There’s something wrong at the club at the minute and as others have said McKenna is looking more troubled and disinterested at times!
8

barrystedmunds added 18:07 - Aug 23
Refreshing to see no knee jerk over the top reactions on the site all of 3 games in!
-8

wewerefamous added 18:15 - Aug 23
barrystedmunds…. Perhaps if you’d paid to watch that and had a 10 hour round trip then perhaps you would feel a bit pee’d off too!!
4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:20 - Aug 23
I didn't enjoy today, but come on! Calling for McK to go three games into the season after two draws and one defeat in which we had most of the possession is ridiculous. Yes, there's much to be done, but the team needs our support. Let's wait until we are 10-12 games into the season before we begin throwing our dummies out of the pram.
0

DannyITFC added 18:23 - Aug 23
That was the worst I’ve seen us play since league one pre KM. No desire, no fight, no commitment and lacklustre with no cutting edge or fluency whatsoever. I am very concerned based on what I’ve seen in the first 3 league matches and cup match, we look like a team destined for relegation so we need to forget about promotion that’s delusional with these players atm. I don’t know where to start, Greaves made another awful mistake and O’Shea nearly made just as costly ones. Johnson is clueless (Young is much better). Taylor really tried today but just lacks quality when it matters, Cajuste we seem to be waiting a lifetime to be up and running fitness wise (when he’s fit he will be a welcome change in there). Davis looks lost in his new role, what’s happened to him flying down the wing pinging in crosses? Smodzics is not being played to his strengths (remember this is a guy that got 30 odd goals two seasons ago in this league!). Hirst is got no support at all, Jack Clarke and Philogene are just consistently disappointing week in week out running into trouble. I know this group of players clearly need to gel but if this continues lack of confidence just breeds poor results (ask Luton fans), KM needs to pick this up ASAP because at the end of the day this is a business and the USA owners will start welding the axe if this continues much longer I guarantee it.

Like most I love in hope now not expectation we can start getting wins on the board but until we start changing our attitude and show hunger this situation could well spiral magnificently south, watch this space if we lose the next couple of games KM will be under serious pressure to keep his job.
7

Cadiar added 18:28 - Aug 23
Oh deat Blueboy coming out with his favourite cliché again. I don't need to trawl through your 100% negativity because it s what we expect. About time you called for KM's sacking again isn't it? We need desperately a forward who can score, hopefully Akpom will settle in & do just that, Smods has hardly lived up to the reputation he had at Blackburn & Hirst ??? If an offer came in for Hirst id take it like a shot, have never been convinced by him. We miss Morsy far more than I thought we would, Taylor is not the answer, maybe when Cajuste is match fit he will fill tha t role. Hopefully we get the Norwegian kid, heard nothing but good things about him. We have a good nucleus of Championship quality players but so many changes it's going to take a bit of time.
-3

THELATVIAN added 18:29 - Aug 23
Am I the only one watching dross! Sideways, sideways, back, back, sideways, sideways..... what kind of football is this ?
CHange the tactics for 'Football sake'!!!!!
Built the community with high hopes, to watch this ?!!
This Irish side ain't doing it for me.
Mr. McKenna... you were supported last year through thick and thin... time for a rethink mate OR can't you see it ?
8

blueboy1981 added 18:37 - Aug 23
Cadiar - …… out again with his usual excuses and weird assessments - another without a clue ir ambition for the Club - as long as a Ball is Kicked at Portman Road !!
Never mind the level !
2

Lightningboy added 18:37 - Aug 23
2 years ago we had a "team".

Now we have a bunch of individuals.

Early days but we look like a complete & utter shambles with zero cohesion.

There's been far too many changes over the last 12 months.

Not good...about time McKenna started earning his pay packet.
7

Billysherlockblue added 18:40 - Aug 23
We are pulling out of tackles. Clarke for example but there were others. Will to win no there. Preston dying for the cause. What is the story when we cant break down a team. Different formation needed. Also come on mckenna. Clarke lightweight. Johnson terrible. Taylor tried hard but brushed aside. Why not try 433 anything but what's going on last 4 games. You don't have to be great if you give 110 per cent. Sammy S a 110 per cent player. I admire his work rate and skill. Clarke phil take note. Coyb your not driving on. That's all we ask for
3

ldnj added 18:40 - Aug 23
Interesting watching the last match, Davis came much more alive near the end when he was more back to his old role. Stifled now ? Also reading the match reports of Bromley it seemed Humphries and Barbrook came out better. Now the two aren't in the squad with the former just having had a good season's experience. Seems disappointing that they always get pushed down by players signed from outside. It looks to have become a feature (seen in so many businesses) that a new arrival (often on bigger bucks) is 'better". I'd just like to feel it's a meritocracy but it doesn't seem that way to me at the moment.
But then I'm not a football manager, don't see training etc. I just hope they can get a couple of wins soon to instill the strength that we remember from a couple of years ago.
2

VitalSigns added 18:46 - Aug 23
Things that are wrong: the tactics do not produce enough good goal scoring opportunities : the manager cannot adapt his tactics during the game: we need a finisher: the team have zero confidence: there appears to be a lack of leaders in the team.

Sometimes players need to hear a new voice that takes them in a different direction with new ideas. To be fair to KMc he must be low on confidence himself given the shocking run of results.

As fans it’s the hope that kills you !

1

dirtydingusmagee added 18:55 - Aug 23
Very disappointing again .It's just an extension of last season.Mc Kenna said he learned a lot but nothing so far to back that up.I said at the end of last season he will be under pressure and will need to prove himself this season ,its early days, but it's not looking good imo we needed to get things sorted much earlier and hit the ground running transfers have been puzzling / underwhelming ,Tactics unchanged and failing and team disjointed.When transfer window ends the managerial merry go round usually starts KM will do well to avoid participating imo.The only good thing so far this season is that we havnt had to face Carrot rd shower yet .
4

bluemay77 added 19:19 - Aug 23
Those calling for McKenna to be sacked who would you want to come in
-1

Saxonblue74 added 19:26 - Aug 23
Didn't see much wrong with that, other than lack of action in the opposition penalty area. This is a squad that will finish playoffs at worst. McKenna out? Seriously? Give your collective heads a wobble. Preston were restricted to 2 attempts on goal, one of which was a very questionable penalty.
-3


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