On a night when England boss Steve McLaren was rumoured to be running the rule over North End's David Nugent it was left to PNE's former England international, the man McLaren parted with £3.5m for, Michael Ricketts to win the game for the Lilywhites.

On a night of few chances, Ricketts opened his account for the club, his first goal since scoring against Ipswich for Burnley at the end of last season, before he limped from the field at half-time with a spasm in his calf muscle.

Paul Simpson made two changes from the side that lost at Hull on Saturday both of which were forced due to injuries to Neil Mellor and Pavel Pergl but David Nugent did start after shaking off a back injury.

On six minutes North End were in front thanks to a fantastic sweeping move. Franck Songo'o won the ball in North End territory and played the ball infield to Sedgwick who dummied past his man and hit a terrific cross-field ball into the path of Pugh on the left. Matt Hill went round Pugh on the overlap but Pugh didn't need him as he hit a wicked cross to the back post where Michael Ricketts towered to power a header across goal and into the back of the net.

Andy Lonergan was called into action in the ninth minute when Haynes hit a snap shot from the edge of the box, the PNE keeper got down low to parry the effort and then made a double save from close-in as Walters followed up.

Franck Songo'o was having an impressive home debut with his pace and power down the right and when Sedgwick lofted a ball over the top of Dan Harding the Frenchman was away, he got to the byline and tried dinking a ball into the six-yard box but it was well blocked by Alex Bruce's head.

Michael Ricketts produced a moment of class that almost crafted the second of the game. He brought the ball down on the edge of the box and smashed a volley towards goal that Alex Bruce got a part of his unmentionables in the way of. Bruce went down in a heap and Ricketts seemed to have picked up an injury as well in the process. Both players received treatment whilst North End took their corner into the path of Graham Alexander on the edge of the box, the Scottish international's shot flew high and wide of the goal.

Preston took a quick free-kick on the half hour mark, Pugh playing a neat one-two with Alexander and Pugh's low cross into the box caused a little confusion and it almost fell to Sedgwick on the edge of the box.

David Nugent was booked in ridiculous circumstances when he was flagged offside from a position which was nowhere near offside, Nugent kicked the ball away in disgust and was shown the yellow card for his troubles.

Matt Richards was taken off in the 34th minute after a strong challenge from Songo'o hurt his ankle. Former West Ham man Gavin Williams was the replacement.

Gary Roberts gave Andy Lonergan a little bit of work to do when he picked up the ball on the right with only Hill to beat. The former Accrington man cut inside his man and hit an effort that was well saved.

David Nugent had his best chance of the first half in the 40th minute when Callum Davidson played a crafty little chip in behind the defence. To be fair to the England Under-21 striker it was on his weaker side and as he went to pull the trigger it sliced wide.

Danny Haynes was booked in the 43rd minute when he threw a hissy-fit at the linesman when a throw-in didn't go in his favour after a strong Matt Hill challenge.

In the second minute of injury-time Matt Harding was booked for a very late challenge on Michael Ricketts, just as the former Bolton man looked to have stole a march on his former Leeds team-mate.

North End made a change at the break with Danny Dichio replacing Michael Ricketts.

Ipswich started the second half in much the same way as they had the first with some fine passing moves but it was North End who had the first real chance when Graham Alexander dinked a ball into the right channel and over the head of Harding, Nugent was waiting over his shoulder and his low shot towards goal was only just turned behind by Lewis Price in the Ipswich goal.

Gavin Williams was booked in the 60th minute for a lunging challenge on Chris Sedgwick as the Preston midfield harried and harassed the Ipswich players on the ball.

In the 62nd minute Dan Harding was replaced by Fabian Wilnis. The former Leeds man looked to have been struggling with injury for much of the second half.

Callum Davidson almost opened his account for the season in his 300th senior appearance. It came after Pugh had whipped a corner in from the right, St. Ledger had outmanoeuvred his marker off the ball and the ball fell perfectly for Davidson just inside the box to smash a low shot past the keeper but it cannoned back off of the inside of the post.

Minutes later Davidson was booked for a foul on Ipswich midfielder Gary Roberts. From the free-kick Haynes almost brought an embarrassing moment for Lonergan when his shot had to be grabbed at the second attempt by the former England Under-21 after it span out of his grasp.

Songo'o was been given more free reign to run at the Ipswich left-back in the second period and in the 72nd minute he created another chance for Nugent when he beat his marker and struck a near-post cross to where Nugent attempted a cheeky back-flick over his head. As the ball came down Nugent tried a half-hearted handball claim but the referee waved it away.

On 74 minutes Owen Garvan came on for O'Callaghan.

Seconds later there was yet another yellow card, this time for Sedgwick after he caught the heels Garvan as he looked to cut inside.

And there was yet another card in the 75th minute when Songo'o was booked after he came in through the back of David Wright long after the ball had gone.

Danny Dichio almost benefited from some Ipswich defensive indecision in the 77th minute when he charged down Lewis Price's clearance.

Patrick Agyemang added some pace to the North End line-up when he replaced Chris Sedgwick in the 78th minute.

In the 81st minute Franck Songo'o was replaced by Brett Ormerod, mask and all, as Preston defended their lead with four strikers on the field!

It looked to be a tactical masterstroke almost immediately when Dichio had the ball in the back of the net from a Agyemang cross, but the big striker was ruled offside as his header was gliding into the back of the net.

Brett Ormerod was another booking when he casually tripped Garvan.

Ipswich were finished the game the stronger of the two teams and really raising the pressure and there was a heart in the mouth moment when Danny Haynes spun and volleyed the ball into the back of the net. Fortunately for the Lilywhites the linesman was flagging after spotting a handball.

And that was the last heartstopping action of the game as North End's fans awaited the scores from around the country.