Match 25. Ipswich Town v Preston North End

Saturday 4^th January 2014 @3pm

FA Cup 3^rd Round

IPSWICH TOWN 1-1 PRESTON NORTH END

Portman Road, Ipswich

Admission: £15

Programme: £2

Attendance: 13,534

Refreshments:  Adnams Southwold Bitter, £3.50. Bovril, £2

  

I played it safe today, going for a FA Cup game less likely to be postponed.  I hadn’t been to Portman Road for about a dozen years but always enjoyed going there, especially the victory against Brighton which relegated Albion but their supporters had good banter on the train journey home.

  

The ground had a cash turnstile open on each stand so I chose the Co-Op stand upper tier with a great view of the match.  Programmes were reduced to £2 as well as reduced admission.  The weather was ok until the last 30 minutes where is rained and got heavier towards the end and walking back to the car in the town got rather wet.

 

I gather Ipswich changed half the strongest first team and it showed throughout the match.  The passing was either negative or wayward for most part and gave Preston a chance of an upset.  The first chance after 20 minute went to Preston was a cross was diverted by Hume and Chambers headed off the goalline. Debutant Ebanks-Blake then limped off after half an hour, replaced by McGoldrick. 7 minutes before the break Preston conceded a penalty when from a corner Huntingdon of Preston raised his arm to clear the ball.  McGoldricks penalty was saved but he was first to the rebound to finish it off. Ipswich should have played the half out but Preston equalised just before the break when Berra instructed the defence to play off side trap even though Mings was down injured 8 yards out near the corner flag.  Veteran Kevin Davies pounced on the mistake and drove the ball away from Roach into the far corner.

  

The second half was a not event until the last 5 minutes. Tabb had been invisible throughout and was thankfully replaced by the lively Taylor after 65 minutes.  Just before the end Ipswich almost stole a victory when from a cross McGoldrick quickly struck goal bound and Rudd made a brilliant last ditch save.