Preston boss Ryan Lowe praised his “fantastic” side following their 3-2 defeat of the Blues at Deepdale but hopes Town win promotion to the Premier League.

Lowe admitted the second half was a nervy affair as Blues second-debutant Kieffer Moore netted twice to peg the half-time scoreline of 3-0 back to just a one-goal deficit with Town throwing everything at the Lilywhites in the closing stages as they looked for a leveller.

“I don't think the heart-rate was good, but I thought the lads were fantastic in everything they did, from start to finish,” Lowe told the Lancashire Pos.

“First half was great - we scored the goals and went in three up, but you always know a team like Ipswich are going to come out fighting and they did.

“Bringing a Premier League player on in Kieffer Moore, they caused us some problems going more direct. I thought our lads dealt with it very good, for large parts.

“The goals are obviously disappointing, but if the truth be known it doesn't really matter. We have got three points, scored three and conceded two, which we aren't happy with, but the points are the most important thing.

“It [the message at half-time] was basically just more of the same. When they bring Kieffer Moore on, they dink balls up. I just walked off the pitch next to him, he is a man mountain.

“The first one was dinked up and [keeper] Fred [Woodman] made a save for the second one; we just weren't able to deal with it. But the lads did terrifically to hang on and get the points.

“I don't know what happened with the one where Mads [Frøkjær] closed the keeper down. I think he touched it and then handballed it, which could've been another goal.

“That maybe would've seen the game clear for us, but I cannot fault the lads' effort. We tried to set the tone, being on the front foot and really being aggressive and brave.

“We are not tagging on to people - we are closing spaces from their keeper's kicks and doing a job-and-a-half for your mate. When the ball is travelling, you can get across and that is what they did right from the off.

"Before half time, there was a chance for Mads to slip Liam Millar in and I was a bit like 'ahh' - because at 4-0, you would like to think it's game over. At 3-0, you are thinking they will make changes and have a reaction - which they did.

“We had to deal with large pressure from them, but they are a good team, aren't they? Let's not deny it, they are fantastic and I hope they get promoted, to be honest. I think they deserve it, Kieran has done a fantastic job and they've got some brilliant players, who bravely take the ball on the half-turn when somebody is up their back side. It is relentless, how they play and keep moving the ball.

"They nearly got back into it, but ultimately being 3-0 up at half-time you are thinking 'okay...'. And we try not to give the lads too much information. I said one or two things about Chaplin running off the back.

“But when Moore comes on it is difficult. He's got a lot of quality. To withstand the pressure and come away with the three points is pleasing.

“It's a big month to see where we can finish and get to. I am not getting too carried away. I just want to keep winning and see where it takes us.

“As I've said, they are all 50/50 games and if we perform like that - on the front foot, brave, bold and creating chances - then we will give ourselves a good platform to build from.”

Photo: TWTD

Gforce added 00:13 - Feb 4 I think he forgot to mention all three goals were very fortunate . I bet he wouldn't want to play us again next week. Having said that we were still pi$$ poor first half.
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Bazza8564 added 09:14 - Feb 4 They rode their luck first half with decisions and made the most of it. We will have learned second half how Kieffer means teams defend him as a single threat and can't close us down on the press, which suits our preferred style. We look so much more balanced with Moore up top, and Ali offers something different too. But let's face it, we need 2-3 wins now on the bounce to get ourselves back into the groove. We did it last year, we play like second half yesterday and get Cam B back in that side, we have every chance

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chepstowblue added 09:37 - Feb 4 Playing out from the back is removing any little chance we had of automatic promotion. Leeds are on a different level to us and Southampton currently unstoppable. Dreadful decision making is costing us, with grown men looking like confused six yr olds as we persist in trying to retain the ball on the edge of our box for three minutes before eventually and inevitably being made to look stupid. I hate the modern game. There aren't any bonus points for artistic merit. Just ******* welly it !

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Nomore4 added 09:58 - Feb 4 If we want to carry on playing out from the back…… then for gods sake stick Slicker in goal. He only knows playing out from the back after 11 years at Man City.
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Nomore4 added 10:04 - Feb 4 We spent potential £3m on this Keeper. The biggest, most expensive signing yet post Marcus Evans. Just put him in there between the sticks…….
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raycrawfordswig added 11:16 - Feb 4 Lucky I would have said helps having a ref that’s a Homer.
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blueboy1981 added 12:35 - Feb 4 Well Done - you sussed the system First Half and had a share of luck too - and was made all too easy for you. Credit where due.
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Marinersnose added 13:59 - Feb 4 Some very fickle fans on this site. Hladky is our player of the season by a fair distance and for those at the Leicester game where he saved us so many times with yet another man of the match performance. Hladky holds the ball and commits the opposition so that we can play through them. He shouldn’t change as he’s distribution is superb. We looked nervous as a team yesterday. Not sure how Burgess will improve this defence ?? Edmundson has been an upgrade

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keiths123 added 14:38 - Feb 4 Just been looking at the fixture lists for the three teams looking to get automatic promotion along with Leicester, including ourselves. Our ability to finish second is not over by a long way. Didn’t realise but Southampton have yet to play us, Leicester and Leeds all away between now and the end of the season, the Leeds game away being the final match of the season for them. I think with our new signings we still have a terrific chance of going up automatically,. COYB

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Saxonblue74 added 16:42 - Feb 4 Correct Keiths123, if a few of the Knee-Jerkers would take time to think before reacting they'd also see that. Also not sure why anyone would criticise a style of play that has put us where we are, beyond all expectation prior to the start of the season?
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PinstripeBlue added 16:53 - Feb 4 It’s not over by a long way. I definitely agree with us being better when going a bit more direct. To me to you footy is good when level or in front. But not when 2-0 or 3-0 down.
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londontractorboy57 added 20:29 - Feb 4 Those mentioning the direct route can I draw your attention to the comments during the MM years just saying.
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londontractorboy57 added 20:30 - Feb 4 Those mentioning the direct route can I draw your attention to the comments during the MM years just saying.
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londontractorboy57 added 20:31 - Feb 4 Goals you scored I believe we helped you in that department.
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