Having led 2-1 with just three minutes of normal time remaining, it looked as though North End were set to scupper another opponents' promotion bid with Ipswich in town, but instead a late leveller from Jon Walters meant that manager Alan Irvine had to settle for just a single point.

While wishing his side had taken all three, the gaffer admitted that it was probably a fair reflection after an entertaining final home game at Deepdale.

"I'm disappointed," was the precise summary of his thoughts after the final whistle. "I'm not saying that Ipswich didn't deserve something out of the game, because I think they did, but I'm disappointed that we didn't see it out.

"To be fair, I think there were a couple of lads on their last legs. It was a tough game for both Michael Hart and Neal Trotman - as a result of that, maybe we weren't quite as good defensively. I think, however, they can both be pleased with the game overall. I think they tired - if the game had finished five minutes earlier they probably would have been quite happy about that - but I think overall they can be pleased.

"Obviously we were stretched having lost two players out of a back four that has been solid for many, many games. The two lads that came in can obviously be pleased with what they've done, but it's two changes you wouldn't make. They'll have benefitted from having that game, and I'm delighted that the opportunity came for them, albeit I'd have preferred it not to be in those circumstances.

The gaffer had plenty of positive things to say about debutant Michael Hart in particular. He added:

"I knew that we were signing a really good professional. He's been really top class in terms of that and he'll have benefitted from this game. He'll get better and better, he'll get sharper defensively, and obviously he'll cope better with the next game physically. I think he can be happy with what he's done."

The visitors obviously occupied the kind of league position Preston would be keen to emulate next year, but Irvine said that his players would need to produce that little bit extra to make sure they're in with a shout next season. He added:

"I'd love to be in the position Ipswich are in now, but that's not something I ever considered when I came here - I had another job to do. I think we've shown we can compete in this division, but you have to be at your best to do that, and I just felt we didn't have that little edge. I felt that just before the game and I felt it as the game start, and you need it. Unless you're one of the really top teams there's no way you can win when you're below par.

"I spoke to them beforehand and said that while we didn't have anything significant to play for in terms of points, except maybe getting another place higher up the league which is still important to me, I wanted us to be professionals, and every time we cross the white line we have to do the job properly.

"I think we said all the right things beforehand in the dressing room, and the players said the right things as well, but there was just that little edge that wasn't quite there at the start of the game. I think the goal probably jolted us into a little bit of action. I'm never happy to see a goal against us, but at least there was a reaction to that. That probably made us think that we just had to do that little bit more.

"It is difficult that we don't have anything significant to play for, but at the same time we're going to go to Bristol City next week and prepare as if it was a game for us fighting for promotion.

"We've been really good this year, and we'd have been up near the top of the table had the season started in January. It makes you feel good going into next season, that's for sure, but it doesn't give you any guarantees. At Everton, in my first three seasons we finished seventh, seventeenth, and fourth. Obviously that shows you that you can finish a season on a high and not be good the next season, and vice versa."

Irvine also explained how Chris Brown came to be involved, when many expected Craig Beattie to be lining up in a North End shirt at Deepdale for the first time.

"It was the Browny saga again this afternoon! Last Friday, I thought he was going to play, but then wasn't fit to travel, whereas this week he recovered well, trained with us for the first time on Friday, and I felt as if I had to put him back in the team because he's been a very important player for us. It would have been very harsh for Karl Hawley to have dropped out of the 16, and obviously Craig hasn't played for a long time.

"He's had a few training sessions with us and I've explained that situation to him. He's accepted that, even though he was obviously very keen to play. I certainly don't want the lad to come up here and not get the opportunity to play."

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