DESPITE being warned at half-time by Blues boss Jim Magilton of the potential danger, Ipswich Town threw away a two-goal lead against Preston to slump to a 3-2 defeat - their third defeat in a row.

By Derek Davis

DESPITE being warned at half-time by Blues boss Jim Magilton of the potential danger, Ipswich Town threw away a two-goal lead against Preston to slump to a 3-2 defeat - their third defeat in a row.

Jon Macken scored Ipswich's 3,000th home goal when he converted a penalty and Alan Lee put Town two-up by half-time. But Town were stunned as Preston hit back with second-half goals from David Nugent, Liam Chilvers and Simon Whaley.

Magilton had told his players during the break that the third goal would decide the game one way or another. He said: “For 45 minutes we were more than a match for a team second in this division. We showed a lot of guts and character after Saturday and it was a game where we really didn't want the first half to end.

“We sat them down, reassured them, then warned them that the next goal is the most important goal. If we scored the third then the game is dead, but if they scored they get belief.

“It was a shocking first goal, an even worse second goal and the third was a joke, so it was very disappointing.”

Magilton is still convinced the Blues will be fine. He said: "I still have every belief in this group of players. It will be a topsy-turvey season but my belief in my players is not going to ebb away.”

In a bid to swing the game back in Ipswich's favour, Magilton threw on new loan signing Gary Roberts, from Accrington Stanley. He is at Portman Road for an initial three months, with the view to a permanent move.

Preston boss Paul Simpson said: “We knew at half-time that we could get something from Ipswich. Fortunately we produced the sort of football that is now expected.”