Callum Robinson and Lukas Nmecha each scored twice as Preston North End beat Town 4-0 at Deepdale, the already-relegated Blues’ heaviest defeat of the season. Robinson netted on six and 22 to give the Lilywhites a comfortable half-time lead and Nmecha sealed the Lancastrians’ comprehensive win with his brace in the second half. The jaded-looking Blues, who never looked like getting anything from the game following a slow start in which Robinson netted the opening goal, went closest to scoring when Kayden Jackson hit the bar in the second half.

Idris El Mizouni was handed his full debut and Corrie Ndaba was named on the senior side’s bench for the first time as manager Paul Lambert made four changes.

The Tunisia U23 international, 18, came into the side on the right of the front three with Jackson starting in place of Collin Quaner, who was left out of the 18. Will Keane was on the bench for the first time since suffering his hamstring injury at Wigan in February.

In midfield, Flynn Downes returned in place of Andre Dozzell, who was a substitute, while at the centre of the defence Toto Nsiala replaced James Collins, who was missing from the squad.

Jon Nolan was back on the bench having overcome his achilles injury, while there were no loanees in the XI but Keane was joined by Trevoh Chalobah and James Bree among the subs.

For Preston, who went into the match having lost their last four, Joe Rafferty was handed his debut with Callum Robinson and Sean Maguire returning to the starting line-up. Ex-Blues keeper Michael Crowe was on the bench.

The home side started the game the brighter, skipper Paul Gallagher hitting an early freekick into a Town wall, then in the third minute Maguire struck a low effort which Bartosz Bialkowski claimed with ease.

However, the Lilywhites only had to wait until the sixth minute before they went in front. Robinson was fed on the edge of the area where he turned Nsiala and smashed a shot to the static Bialkowski’s left as skipper Luke Chambers dived in to block.

Having gone behind the Blues briefly took the game to the home side but without creating an opportunity.

However, in the 13th minute Preston threatened again when Lukas Nmecha was played through on goal, however, Nsiala did well to get back to slide in and divert his shot wide.

North End went close again from the resultant corner, Gallagher’s ball in from the right reaching Ben Davies, whose header beat Bialkowski but struck the post before being hooked away.

Town subsequently began to pass the ball around with more confidence in a game being played between two sides whose seasons are over in virtually a pre-season atmosphere at a warm and sunny Deepdale.

Downes shot over from distance on 18 after a promising El Mizouni ball in from the left had been cut out. Then on 21 Nsiala headed a Judge corner from the left to Declan Rudd in the Preston goal.

But in the 22nd minute the Lilywhites doubled their lead. Rafferty's cross from the right was headed away but only to Robinson on the left of the box from where he took a touch before shooting back across Bialkowski into the top corner of the net for his second goal of the game and his 13th of the season.

On 30 the teams went over to the touchline for a drinks break, adding to the game’s pre-season feel.

Five minutes later, a Chambers a looping header following a Judge corner on the left was cleared away from the line but with the Blues still not looking overly convincing.

A minute later Preston claimed a penalty when Nmecha went down as Chambers challenged but referee Stephen Martin waved away the protests which in the main came from the stands.

Preston had looked a big threat on the break all game with Nmecha getting behind the Blues’ backline on a number of occasions. This the on-loan Manchester City man did again on 37 before hitting his shot from the right of the box straight at Bialkowski, much the busier of the two keepers in the first half.

A minute later, Teddy Bishop hit a deflected shot through to Rudd, then on 43 the academy product turned his man on the edge of the area to the right before curling a shot just wide.

But the home side continued to present the more potent threat and in the final scheduled minute of the half went close again. Bialkowski did superbly to save Robinson’s shot but the ball looped into the air and reached Nmecha but the keeper had got back and was able to block his header as well.

In injury time a Downes shot was deflected over, then from the corner on the left taken by Judge seconds before the whistle Chambers headed goalwards but Rudd did well to palm the ball behind.

Town could hardly complain about the half-time scoreline with Preston having had chances to increase their lead with Nmecha not having made the most of his opportunities and Bialkowski having made his excellent late double save.

The Blues had found themselves behind before they had got going and even though they had had spells in control, had never really looked like getting back into the game.

Double-goalscorer Robinson may well have gone off at the break recalling last season’s corresponding fixture when he was one of two Preston players subbed in the 38th minute after Town, who went on to win the game 1-0, had dominated.

The Blues swapped Emmanuel for James Bree at half-time while Keane also appeared close to being introduced having warmed up with his match shirt underneath his bib.

Maguire flicked a header wide in the opening minute following the restart with the second half continuing in the understated manner of the first.

Preston increased their lead in the 56th minute. Maguire brought the ball forward from deep unchallenged and laid it to Robinson to his left from where he hit a low shot which Bialkowski saved but couldn’t hold and Nmecha rebounded home from close range.

El Mizouni, who will have benefited from further experience of first-team football, was swapped for Keane in the 59th minute.

Two minutes later, the Blues came close to pulling a goal back. Jackson seized on a mix-up between keeper Rudd and a defender as the ball was played through the middle. The striker did well to find himself space but his shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced out, rather summing up the summer signing from Accrington’s season.

Keane’s shot was blocked with Town seeing more of the ball in the Preston half but with a comeback looking unlikely. On 71 Preston switched Gallagher for Louis Moult, prior to the second drinks break of the afternoon, then in the 74th minute Josh Ginelly took over from Maguire.

The game, which had hardly been an enthralling fixture from the outset appeared to be petering out, but in the 75th minute the home side netted their fourth of the afternoon.

A low ball from Robinson on the left found Nmecha coming in at the far post from where the on-loan Manchester City striker slammed the ball past Bialkowski.

Town, behind by four goals for the first time since the Aston Villa defeat a year ago on Monday, withdrew Bishop, who like the rest of the team had had a frustrating afternoon, for Chalobah.

After Kenlock had been booked for an off the ball clash with Ryan Ledson, Preston sub Jayden Stockley forced Bialkowski into another impressive save late on with the home side looking more likely to add to their lead than the Blues were to reduce it in the closing stages.

Referee Martin brought the game to a close after two minutes of injury time with virtually all 428 travelling Blues supporters having stayed in their seats despite another very disappointing afternoon, even if they were unsurprisingly subdued by recent standards.

It was a Town side lacking in intensity from the off, looking like it had had much of its fight knocked out of it by last week’s confirmation of relegation.

After Preston had scored their opening goal in the sixth minute there was never any real doubt which side would go on to win with the Lilywhites showing the sort of clinical finishing that the Blues could have done with this season with the scoreline hardly flattering them.

Town will hope to be a lot better when they host Swansea City at Portman Road on Easter Monday.

Preston: Rudd, Fisher, Davies, Storey, Rafferty, Ledson, Gallagher (c) (Moult 71), Robinson (Stockley 76), Johnson, Maguire (Ginelly 74), Nmecha. Unused: Crowe, Earl, Huntington, O’Reilly.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel (Bree 46), Chambers (c), Nsiala, Kenlock, Skuse, Bishop (Chalobah 76), Downes, El Mizouni (Keane 59), Judge, Jackson. Unused: Gerken, Nolan, Dozzell, Ndaba. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 12,546 (Town: 428).

Photo: Action Images

bingboast added 21:31 - Apr 19 With all the bloggers on here shouting for Evans out - I can only guess that they are prepared to put their money where their mouths are & form a co operative & buy ITFC 7 contribute millions of investment to up grade the team !!!
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19781981twtd added 21:48 - Apr 19 Just heard the narwich game how the ***** can they KEEP doING it and we could not beat the lowestoft WI I am so jarred off with football I can't see us finishing mid way in league 1 we are truly awful ive had enough and so should you all
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ianmarshall10 added 21:55 - Apr 19 Robson-Couldn't care about entertaining football it's about winning for me seeing Ipswich beat teams like Preston away but instead these days we're losing 4-0 but hey that must be entertaining for you
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blueboy1981 added 22:11 - Apr 19 bingboast ...... they live in cloud cuckoo land, and have no alternative answer - but keep harping on. No Evans equals No Ipswich Town FC - currently.
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blueboy1981 added 22:14 - Apr 19 Warktheline - do whatever your ‘all over the place mind' tells you, along with the one trick ponies Evans out brigade.
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KiwiTractor added 22:25 - Apr 19 We are 15 points adrift from 21st for a reason - hard to feel positive about next season at this stage. Especially with the likes of Chambers and Skuse being guaranteed starts next season.
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Dolphinblue added 22:25 - Apr 19 Walktheline....🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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barrystedmunds added 22:33 - Apr 19 ~You got what you wished for~ Think I'll top myself if I hear that again. It's about as boring as the hoofball dished up by the dinosaur it refers to.
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:38 - Apr 19 Dolphin , you are obviously a yellow & green troll.
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Bluearmy_81 added 22:42 - Apr 19 "With all the bloggers on here shouting for Evans out - I can only guess that they are prepared to put their money where their mouths are & form a co operative..." I've said this before so I'll say it again, please stop with this "dont criticise if you're not prepared to buy the vlub" line. It's so embarrassing! It's as ridiculous as saying Lambert should be contributing to player signing out of his wages! Never heard anything like it in football. Ps Evans out doesn't mean no club!! He can't and won't just walk. I'm aspiring to a better club, invested in sufficiently. Is that so radical?!!

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RobsonWark added 22:56 - Apr 19 ianmarshall10 added 21:55 - Apr 19 "Robson-Couldn't care about entertaining football it's about winning for me seeing Ipswich beat teams like Preston away but instead these days we're losing 4-0 but hey that must be entertaining for you" So you would rather see a boring game of hoof ball and see if we can nick a goal? Why would any one want to watch that and more importantly why would any footballer who is being paid a week what some people get in a year want to play that game ianmarshall10? You obviously haven't played the beautiful game you idiot!!

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blueboy1981 added 22:57 - Apr 19 Bluearmy81 ...... the easiest thing in the world is to criticise, and spend somone else's money. We all want our Club to be succesful, but ‘Evans out' means - Where is even less in the way of investment coming from ??? If you say Administration is an option, you are extremely deluded because if a buyer is not found -ITFC WOULD NOT EXIST beyond a certain point. You obviously struggle to understand this factual point, along with a few others.

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Bluearmy_81 added 00:32 - Apr 20 Can you not read Blueboy!? He can't and won't just walk!! Youre like the most extreme example of 'better the devil you know' ever!! I really fear for the future with each game that passes. We could easily do a Coventry or a luton. Of course I don't want administration, I want him to sell to someone who will treat ITFC with the love it deserves. Meanwhile you'll still be saying 'better the devil you know' as we fall into the abyss!! Stop being so scared and have some ambition for the club man, it deserves so much better!!

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 01:28 - Apr 20 In the not to distant past I'd be witness to or read about victories over teams like Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup, challenging for a Champions League berth in the top league, a manager that actually cared about the team and had the best interests at heart, and an owner along with it. The team was exciting, results were by and far good and encouraging, the future ahead you could believe for a time could almost be something like 20 years before it. Fast forward to present day. To anyone who thinks the team will make it back to the second league at first attempt, are seriously misled. The club structure is extensively flawed. So many things are eroded or condemned from the sorry ass who runs the show to a clear deficiency of team motivation or will to succeed. How very magnanimous of the club to offer reduced prices for next season. So many fans deserve far more after the sh1t over the last dozen years and more. Read Evans latest "team rally" from a few days ago, seemed like the usual false pretenses and disingenuous horsecrap. (You) Need to realize you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

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GiveusaWave added 05:11 - Apr 20 Haven't posted here in a while as found myself pretty much saying the same thing over and over again.... Technically we seem to be able to match other teams....but that's about it.... Main issues for me are passion, bravery, commitment and strength....physically some of our guys look up for the battle but then they are shrugged off the ball as if they aren't even there. We lose balls we have every right to win and whenever there is a situation where we are odds on to get the ball the opposition comes in and knocks us off it...lose so many battles every game and we are bound to lose. Story of our season..... Most concerning thing about this result? That line up could well be our first team next season.....if we continue to play with little bravery or passion we will suffer in league 1. Some of the more physical teams there will be ringing their hands in anticipation....

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:23 - Apr 20 This result was absolutely not what we needed at a time when the mood seemed upbeat after Brum, despite relegation. It has obviously sparked a knee-jerk reaction from some. What we need to realise is that our yoofs are not suddenly going to transform us into Barcelona overnight (and PL has already stressed the need for careful development in this regard). They will need to gain strength and experience to match some of the hardened professionals they are destined to meet in L1. I think we all need to accept that re-building will be an ongoing and maybe a lengthy process - not a quick overnight fix. The more supporters that can live with that, the better the atmosphere will be, but it is, of course, up to the individual how he or she spends their entertainment budget. Personally, I will continue to support and hope for better things...

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warktheline added 08:06 - Apr 20 I wouldn't be surprised if Lambert ‘moves upstairs', has shown himself to be a very good PR man, with a passion to resurrect a dog whom's tail hasn't ‘wagged' for it's emotionless owner since the coming together ! For Evans this wouldn't be a bad move considering his ‘previous'!!!!! Lambert's record as manager speaks for itself, something needs to change ‘again', we are a club in crisis there's no doubting that! A new man who doesn't ‘suffer fools' is required throughout summer to unload ‘free wheeling' players....young and old! Fellow Scot Steve Clarke has ‘unfinished business' in England ! Surely Evans could outmatch Killie's wages! The writing is on the wall, yesterday's inept passionless performance has laid down an unwanted marker, a possible insight into next season! Believe me, 10 games into life in Div 1 has ‘every chance' of seeing CRISIS and CRITICAL posted on the forum walls!

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:26 - Apr 20 the penny is dropping , the reality is finaly dawning on people,ITFC is in a bad way top to bottom. I totally respect the travelling fans who week in week out part with good money to venture out in support. I totally respect the fans who have continued to turn up at Portman road through what has been a nightmare season. HOWEVER, with the best will in the world,we WILL NOT ''Happy Clap'' our way out of this mess or Lge 1.IT will take a mighty effort from the manager ,the team, and MARCUS EVANS, Ticket price reductions will obviously be welcomed,but will change little if anything in the big picture. The team is not near good enough for Championship as has been proved by our position, it wont be near good enough next season either in present form. Paul Lambert aka Mr Nice guy,needs to prove himself now,And Evans needs to get real or get out. THE PARTY IS OVER PEOPS.

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planetblue_2011 added 08:36 - Apr 20 Oh dear town terrible result. We need to sort it out in league 1 or we are doomed for another season. These performances won't improve season ticket sales. Not good at all!!
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chalky added 08:47 - Apr 20 Quite part from the obvious shortcomings of Evans' decision-making, I have also run out of patience with Lambert. His record with Town is pretty lamentable. I can accept defeats but we are seemingly playing without organisation, flair, inspiration or pride. Even the youngsters - in whom I placed a lot of faith and hope - seem to be lacklustre when given a chance. Compare this with Norwich's determination and fight, as shown by their ability to score vital late goals. The lack of fight in our 'team' is frightening and I foresee another bleak season ahead next time unless Evans and Lambert disappear.

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bluejake78 added 09:18 - Apr 20 I will not be going on Monday....FFS......feckin preston. How much further can we fall?
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:06 - Apr 20 chalky, that is spot on, i stopped short of comparing to Norwich for fear of a backlash from idiots, but i struggled. They want success,they fight for it,they dont give up on the pitch, .and have strong support throughout,on terraces and from the top..We have had good support from the terraces in a very bad season, but it wont last when things unravel in Lge1.

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Pendejo added 10:12 - Apr 20 Folk, perspective please. We were relegate last week, this week's result really no surprise, yet it merits 5 pages of Evans Out posting. bluejake78 - asks "how far can we fall?" - this result has ZERO bearing on how far we may fall. You're not going Monday because someone finally hammered us? But would you have had we lost 2-0? Makes no sense what so ever. Get a grip people, the results from here to end of season have NO EFFECT at all on next season. As for "Evans Out" stuff - he isn't an employee, he is the OWNER of the club. The ONLY way to get him out is to BUY him out. Good luck with that folks... unless you are pally with a billionaire with no offspring waiting for their inheritance, who's willing to drop a wad load of cash into ITFC. No, you're not? Didn't think so. I'm not telling to you "don't worry be happy" nor am I imagining that "everything's gonna be all right" All WE, the fans, can do is support OUR club. Stop blubbing, get a grip, stiff upper lip and show the world how to support your team.

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Bluearmy_81 added 10:30 - Apr 20 Pedejo, sorry, you sum up everything that is wrong with so many town fans. We cant buy the owner out so shut up in other words? No, I won't. Hes killing the club and I will not sit and shrug and 'cheer on the team.' I have every right as a fan to criticise the owner regardless of whether I can buy the club!! Absolutely absurd reasoning!! Quite ridiculous. Such apathy and passivity is what has helped get us to this point where the owner has felt able to sell with impunity and chronically under invest. Other fans would have had their pitchforks out years ago. Nothing will change whilst Evans is in charge so we the fans need to do everything we can to 'pursuade' him to move on.

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Bluearmy_81 added 10:32 - Apr 20 Under the circumstances that is what I consider to be 'supporting' ITFC
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