Preston North End were beaten 2-1 by fellow Sky Bet Championship side Ipswich Town in a pre-season friendly at Deepdale.

Conor Chaplin’s 18-yard effort in the 33^rd minute opened the scoring and George Hirst doubled his side’s lead in the 78^th minute.

16-year-old Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile then pulled a goal back for his side a few minutes later for his third goal of pre-season and also had a strike chalked off for offside in the final minute of play.

There were starts handed out to new recruits Mads Frøkjær-Jensen and Will Keane, while Liam Lindsay returned from a slight knock which kept him out at Barrow.

Freddie Woodman was called into action early on, diving to his right to keep out Massimo Luongo’s effort towards the front post.

The goalkeeper was required again a few moments later to prevent Chaplin from opening the scoring, before Nathan Broadhead fired over the rebound.

Chaplin was causing North End a few issues and tried his luck once more on the 20-minute mark as he took aim from the edge of the area, again forcing Woodman into a save.

PNE then came ever so close just after half an hour as a quick corner routine saw Ryan Ledson swing the ball in towards Patrick Bauer, and his headed knockdown appeared to get a slight touch from Keane to help it goalwards, but the ball bounced out off the post and was gathered by the ‘keeper.

In the next attack, the dangerous Chaplin gave his side the lead. Kayden Jackson’s pullback was flicked in the direction of the No.10 by Broadhead, and the forward fired a vicious effort past Woodman.

The Tractor Boys made seven changes at the half-time break and one of those introduced, Jack Taylor, arguably should have found his side’s second, heading Sone Aluko’s cross over from six yards.

At the other end, North End had a couple of opportunities – firstly through substitute Ben Woodburn, who headed wide from a Brad Potts cross, before Alan Browne could only find the side netting with a volley.

The match was starting to open up and PNE’s skipper had a great chance a few minutes later, which came about after great pressing from Noah Mawene, but the Irishman’s close-range effort was blocked on the line by Lee Evans.

It was then Ipswich’s turn to come close in the next attack and North End had Woodman to thank for a great save to deny Hirst before Liam Lindsay got in the way of Kyle Edwards’ rebound.

Hirst would get on the scoresheet, though, as he found the far corner in the 78^th minute after being sent through on goal by Marcus Harness.

Three minutes later, North End had one back through teenager Rodriguez-Gentile, who did really well after receiving the ball with his back to goal, spinning and finding the bottom corner with great precision.

The youngster could well have earned his side a draw four minutes from time when the ball fell his way in the area, but his effort was deflected behind by an Ipswich defender.

Goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky had a very busy end to the game as he came up with impressive stops to deny Mawene and Liam Lindsay late on, before Rodriguez-Gentile then found the back of the net with almost the last touch of the game, only to be denied by the offside flag.

PNE line-up: Woodman (Cornell, 68); Storey (Diaby, 68), Bauer (Cunningham, 68), Lindsay; Potts (Seary, 68), Ledson, Browne (Rodriguez-Gentile, 76), Slater (Best, 68); McCann (Taylor, 68), Frøkjær (Woodburn, 56); Keane (Mawene, 63).

Attendance: 2,532 (349 Ipswich Town fans).