Match Preview: Ipswich Town (H)

2 February 2024

Following back-to-back away matches, Preston North End return to Deepdale this weekend for the visit of Ipswich Town.

Match Details

Date: Saturday 3^rd February, 3pm kick-off
Venue: Deepdale
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Home kit

Supporter Information

Tickets will remain on sale right up until kick-off online, over the phone on 0344 856 1966, and in person from the ticket office.

Home fans can head down to Deepdale early to join us in The Gentry Bar from 11am for pre-match drinks and live entertainment. The fan zone will also reopen following the full-time whistle.

Supporters can get to and from the stadium by using the club’s shuttle bus service which runs from Leyland through Bamber Bridge on its way to Deepdale. Return tickets cost £6 on-board and timings are as follows:

Leyland Tesco (Stop A – Car Park) – 1.20pm
The Railway Pub, Leyland – 1.30pm
Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge – 1.35pm
Beam and Brycg Pub, Bamber Bridge – 1.40pm
Arrive at Deepdale, Lowthorpe Road – 2pm

Who’s Available?

Jack Whatmough is expected to return to the matchday squad after missing the previous four matches through injury.

Ched Evans will be absent again, though, as work continues to strengthen his hamstring.

Kian Best is the only other player unavailable to Ryan Lowe, with the teenager having rolled his ankle.

Opposition Focus

Ipswich Town have had a quite remarkable campaign so far, especially considering this season is only their first back in the Championship since relegation in 2019.

Still with the majority of their promotion-winning side, plus a few additions, the Tractor Boys sit second in the table but with increasing pressure being applied by the 22-match unbeaten Southampton, and Leeds United.

Kieran McKenna will believe he has enough strength in the squad and belief in his style that they’ll be able to fend off the promotion contenders and reach the Premier League.

A Recent Clash

Half-time substitute Joe Garner scored a hat-trick at Deepdale in 2014 to send PNE into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Follow The Action

This fixture has been selected for international coverage and will therefore be unavailable to watch on iFollow in the majority of regions. Find out if you can watch here.

Live commentary can be accessed by fans worldwide with a £2.50 match pass or £4.49 monthly pass. Commentary comes from Jonathan Breeze and Tom Clarke.

Extensive coverage can be followed here on the club website and across social media channels.

Match Officials

Referee: Graham Scott
Assistant Referees: James Mainwaring and Sian Massey-Ellis
Fourth Official: Ben Speedie

Graham Scott will take charge of a PNE fixture this weekend for the first time since January 2018, when he refereed a fourth round FA Cup tie against Sheffield United.

So far this season, Scott has shown 64 yellow cards and three red cards in 14 matches.

Match Reports

Match Report: Wrexham U19s 3 PNE U19s 5

3 February 2024

Preston North End U19s secured a 5-3 victory away from home against Wrexham in the Youth Alliance league.

Goals from Troy Tarry, Izac Khan and a hat-trick from Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile brought all three points back to Springfields.

The first minute saw U16s goalkeeper Li-Bau Stowell required to make an early save after a Wrexham attack, but from then on the Lilywhites sprung into action to find an opener.

Six minutes in saw a fantastic cross from Kacper Pasiek find captain Max Wilson in the box, but his header went just over the bar.

Ten minutes later, however, Rodriguez-Gentile broke the deadlock, having made a sharp turn to his left in the box before floating the ball into the back of the net.

The next half hour saw PNE continue to pile on the pressure. A long-range effort from Wilson forced a save from the Wrexham ‘keeper, while Pasiek’s attempt from the corner of the box flew just over the top right corner.

Rodriguez-Gentile and Wilson then linked up in the 44th minute to set up Tarry down the right, whose cross into the box took a deflection and found the top right corner of goal.

Two up heading into half-time, PNE came back out on the front foot and took just seven minutes to find their third.

It was Izac Khan this time who calmly slotted into the bottom left corner of goal following a knock on from the Wrexham ‘keeper.

The 59th minute saw the hosts pull one back, but North End were to find their fourth seven minutes later, as Rodriguez-Gentile dribbled through a tight defence to fire a pinpoint shot straight down the middle of goal.

As if a brace wasn’t enough, a third was to follow for the young Argentine, as just four minutes later he chipped the ball over the ‘keeper to make it five for PNE.

The Lilywhites looked to see out the rest of the game with minimal trouble, and managed to do so during the full 90 played.

However, Wrexham pulled two goals back in as many minutes during additional time, but the full-time whistle blew and a 5-3 result for Preston North End ensured they stayed at the top of the table, with a game in hand over second-placed Accrington Stanley.

PNE U19s line-up: Stowell, Blake, Pasiek (Nolan, 77), Horan (Carroll, 62), McGhee (Muir, 77), Brindle, Tarry, Kamara, Rodriguez-Gentile, Wilson, Khan (T.Mawene, 62).

Standings

Get closer to the action this season!

Want to be our new signing?