The last time North End scored more than against the Tractor Boys at home in the league, a certain Danny Welbeck was in the team, and he grabbed the second.
Town have proven to be a stubborn obstacle for the Lilywhites in recent years. In fact, you have to go back almost ten years for North End’s last convincing victory at home to what is now Paul Lambert’s side.
Back in 2010, on a frosty January 3pm kick-off, a Lilywhites team managed by Darren Ferguson cruised past relegation-threatened Ipswich with two slick second half goals - courtesy of Neill Collins and Manchester United loanee and future England star Welbeck.
Roy Keane’s visitors set up to be stubborn at first, trying to manage their notoriously leaky backline. It appeared to be working for them, but one inspired substitution broke the deadlock mid-way through the second half when Neill Collins met Richard Chaplow’s cross with a bullet header to open the scoring.
The second goal, which rounded off a dogged performance, came in the 84th minute - an absolute cracker from Danny Welbeck. The forward delightfully chipped the ball over a helpless visiting keeper, Lee-Barrett, much to the delight of the home crowd.
North End boss Ferguson said afterwards: “This wasn't about me or Roy. Roy is a good lad and the fact he was involved today had nothing to do with it.
“Ipswich had only lost one of their last 15 so this was a good result for us. We need one or two new faces to freshen things up and I am pushing the chairman as much as I can.”
The Tractor Boys manager Keane added: “From our point of view the first goal came from unbelievably bad defending. We don't score enough goals so we are putting ourselves under pressure all the time.”
PNE line-up: Lonergan, Hart, Mawene (Collins, 59), St. Ledger, Jones, Nolan, Chaplow, Wallace (Carter, 86), Brown, Welbeck, Mellor (Parkin, 81). Subs not used: Henderson, Chilvers, Barton, Mayor.
Ipswich Town line-up: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, McAuley, Balkestein, Rosenior, Leadbitter, Norris, Peters (Garvan, 63), Colback, Stead (John, 78), Priskin (Counago, 65). Subs not used:
McLoughlin, Wright, Edwards, Quinn.
Referee: Mr J Moss
Attendance: 12,087