IPSWICH Town old boy Wayne Brown is intent on heaping yet more pressure on the shoulders of Roy Keane.

IPSWICH Town old boy Wayne Brown is intent on heaping yet more pressure on the shoulders of Roy Keane.

Experienced defender Brown, who came up through the youth ranks at Portman Road in the early 1990s, faces his former team at Deepdale this afternoon.

Brown moved from Leicester to Preston over the summer, and has been helping to kick-start the struggling Lilywhites into action after a woeful first four months of the campaign.

Although Preston are still rooted to the foot of the Championship, they have drawn their last two matches against Millwall and at Cardiff.

And to that end, Brown is confident of success against a club for whom he made 50 senior appearances between 1995 and 2002.

Speaking to the EADT last night, Brown revealed: “After the sort of start to the season that we have had, every point is vital to us.

“But we have taken more positives out of the last two games than we have from the whole of the season so far.

“So we’re full of confidence, especially as we’re at home,” added Brown.

Defensive lynch-pin Brown, who can operate either as a centre-half or left-back, is surprised to see his old club Ipswich down in 17th spot, just four points above the relegation zone.

But he reckons that Town boss Roy Keane will not be affected by the added pressure that comes with such a terrible run of results - eight defeats in their last 10 league games.

“It’s hard to comment on my old club Ipswich, but I see that Roy has spent a lot of money since he’s been there,” continued Brown.

“The players have not been performing for him on the pitch, and we are living in an age where the manager gets the rap. He is the one getting stick in the press.

“But Roy is man enough to take it!

“On paper, Ipswich look a good team, but you can say that about a lot of clubs in the Championship.

“Obviously the defeat at Norwich will have been a difficult one to swallow. I know that, speaking as an old Ipswich player.

“We know that Ipswich will be desperate to get back to winning ways against us, but we are feeling confident again,” added Brown.

Preston’s dreadful start to the season can in part be explained by a glut of injuries, although these are now clearing up.

The experienced defensive double act of Sean St Ledger and Callum Davidson have both recovered from recent injuries, and are in today’s squad.

The impact of several loanees has also had a positive impact on Preston’s recent form, not least the arrival of young defender Ritchie De Laet from Manchester United, and the duo of Michael Tonge and Danny Pugh from Stoke.

Midfielder Tonge netted Preston’s goal at Cardiff (1-1 draw) from a free-kick, while De Laet has impressed in his three outings at the back.

Brown confirmed: “It’s been a transitional period for the club. The gaffer was told to get rid of several lads over the summer, to save money, and there’s been no funds to bring new players in.

“So the squad has been thin on the ground, and we’ve been asking kids to come in and do men’s jobs. But the loanees have made us more solid.”