A RELIEVED Tommy Miller has spoken of his delight at finally ending an 18-month goal drought.The Blues midfielder scored what turned out to be the winner against Preston and extend the Blues' successive home wins to eight.

By Derek Davis

A RELIEVED Tommy Miller has spoken of his delight at finally ending an 18-month goal drought.

The Blues midfielder scored what turned out to be the winner against Preston and extend the Blues' successive home wins to eight.

Miller had said on the eve of the match how much he wanted to end the barren spell, and that Preston, where he spent a loan spell last season, were a team he usually scored against.

After finally scoring for the first time since April 2006, when he banged one in for Sunderland at Portsmouth in the Premiership, Miller said: “It is long overdue so I'm delighted to have scored.

“I am renowned for scoring goals so to go this long without one was a worry. I can remember the last one I scored and that was in the Premiership for Sunderland so it was a while ago.

“I have had a few chances over the past few weeks, I have hit posts and keepers have made good saves so it was good to finally get a goal.”

Inevitably it was a lovely piece of interplay with Pablo Counago that led to Town's second goal in the 2-1 victory over Preston and Miller's seventh career goal against North End.

Miller said: “I was delighted to see Pablo come back to the club and we found each other well again. His back heel for me was outstanding and I couldn't really miss from there.

“We do have a good understanding and it has come off again.”

Miller's best season at Town saw him notch 15 goals in 2004/05 and he has been set a target of double figures for this campaign.

He said: “I should get double figures and the manager has mentioned it a few times. I have been getting stick for not scoring and the coaches and the lads were saying to me before the game 'is this the day?' and it was.

“Every time I have played against Preston I have scored and that goes back to my Hartlepool days.”

Following his release by Sunderland, Preston were among a number of clubs who wanted Miller's signature but even though he had enjoyed his loan spell at Deepdale, he chose the Blues

“It was hard going they set out to make it difficult for us but we found a way.

“Preston is a superb club with a brilliant up and coming young manager in Paul [Simpson].

“They are a great set of lads and I enjoyed my time there but it was no contest coming back to Ipswich when I knew they wanted me again.”