Boss Jim Magilton was pleased with his side's display and felt they deserved their victory, despite lengthy away trips earlier in the week. The Town manager was unhappy with the late penalty award — apparently against David Wright not Neil Alexander - which saw Preston pull a goal back.

Magilton said: “Our all-round play was good, despite a lot of travelling this week. There was plenty of quality and our opening goal from Alan Lee was great.

"It was precarious while we were only one up and in the second half we started slowly and Preston had a little bit of an edge.

"After Tommy Miller scored our second, I was happy enough until the referee awarded a dubious penalty. I think the officials gave it against David Wright, but I'm not sure how.

"The three points were very important and something to build on. Overall, we were pretty solid.”

Magilton was pleased to see Tommy Miller get back on the scoresheet: "Tommy Miller returned to the club with a record as a goalscorer, so the fact that he hadn't scored so far this season may have been starting to play on his mind. I hope that this will be the first of many and I look to him to reach double figures.

"Tommy took his goal well. Pablo set him up and I always fancied Tommy to score when the ball fell to him.”

Preston manager Paul Simpson thought his side began the game too slowly: "If we started the way we finished we might have got something out of the game.

"When it was still 1-0 at the interval I felt we still had a chance if we could increase our performance.

"There were a few little skirmishes in their box, but our players looked tired. There was not the spring in their step they showed against Southampton on Tuesday.

"This is a tough league and we must learn how to deal with it. Today we didn't.

"Andy Lonergan was superb in goal. He made three or four excellent saves. You need your keeper on top form at a place like Ipswich and he certainly was. He was unfortunate to be on the losing side."

Simpson said Neil Mellor was under the impression the penalty was given against Neil Alexander: "Neil Mellor said their keeper made contact. If it was a dodgy decision today I'm sorry, but I'll take it. We've had other good claims for penalties turned down this season.”

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