Preston 1-1 Ipswich: Jordan Hugill nicks late point for North End

An 89th-minute strike from Jordan Hugill helped Preston earn a well-deserved point in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

Tom Lawrence grabbed his sixth goal in as many games after 15 minutes to give the Tractor Boys the lead. And it was one they held on to until a minute from the end when Hugill chested down a cross from substitute Daryl Horgan before smashing clinically past visiting goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

The point now means Preston have lost just once in their last nine Sky Bet Championship games.

Leicester loanee Lawrence opened the scoring at Deepdale in spectacular fashion, turning North End defender Marnick Vermijl inside and out before crashing a curling effort across goalkeeper Chris Maxwell and into the top corner.

With their tails up Ipswich almost doubled their lead minutes later when Freddie Sears drove in a powerful shot which Maxwell saved at the second attempt.

As the interval approached, Preston began to look more dangerous and Hugill and Paul Gallagher both went close. Wideman Aiden McGeady then cut menacingly through the Ipswich defence before curling a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors replied with Sears producing more expert work, clipping the ball cheekily over defender Paul Huntington before seeing a shot saved by the legs of Maxwell.

Preston fluffed a great chance to level three minutes after the restart. Callum Robinson was in plenty of space as he met Gallagher's measured pass, but he fired straight at Bialkowski. McGeady then went on a mazy run, before shooting disappointingly over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Ipswich rallied somewhat as the final 20 minutes approached, and striker Brett Pitman probably ought to have done better when he lashed a shot well over the angle of post and bar from just inside the box. The same player wasted another presentable opportunity a minute later when he drilled over the top from 10 yards.

Back came Preston and McGeady must have thought he had scored, only to see his well-struck shot palmed away brilliantly by Bialkowski.

Just before Hugill's late equaliser, Preston substitute Jermaine Beckford was denied by a breath-taking point-blank stop from Bialkowski, but the home side got the draw their endeavour deserved.

Preston boss Simon Grayson:

"It was always going to be tough against Ipswich. They're resilient and well-organised, and we struggled to break them down. It wasn't our best performance, but we kept plugging away and asking questions, and in the end we gained our reward.

"I hope he [Hugill] keeps scoring goals of course. He did well to follow up his couple at Villa with another well-taken one here. He deserves credit because he definitely didn't let any of the speculation get to him.

"It's been a funny week for him, but when it's come round to game day he's shown just how great a finisher he can be. It wasn't an easy goal to score, but the way he took the ball down and slotted home showed exactly what he is capable."

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy:

"We're disappointed to be honest. Of course we thought we'd done enough to hang on, but the late goal was a big blow. It wasn't the best of crosses at the end, and then sod's law the ball falls to Hugill. To be fair to the lad he tucked his shot away well.

"We defended really well throughout the game, but then to concede so late is frustrating. We could have done with a bit better concentration at the back there, but I can't complain too much. As I said before it's sod's law that the ball fell to Jordan at the end.

"When he'd scored I nudged Simon Grayson and he said to me 'that's four million quid we want now'. We'll just have to see what develops with that one now."