Ipswich Town
Leggi Looks At: PNE
By Aston
August 7 2008
Singing The Blues message boarder Leggi is back after his summer break and now looking at Town's opponents again, on Saturday it Preston North End at Portman Road. Preston North End
Preston travel the 254 miles across the country, to Portman Road on Saturday, to open their 2008/2009 season against the mighty blues.
Their pre-season form is the same as ours with only one defeat (against Everton) but looking to the last few weeks of last season it tells a very different story with only one win in their last 6 games of a very unpredictable campaign. Ipswich on the other hand having only lost 1 of their last half dozen.
Managed by ex-Blackburn player, Alan Irvine, The Lilywhites had an up and down year, eventually finishing in 15th place in The Championship 13 points behind Town, with Irvine doing what he was brought in to do and keep Preston in the Division after a very poor opening 3 months under ex-gaffer Paul Simpson., And Irvine will of course be looking to improve on last seasons mid-table ending, a few decent additions to the squad have been made during the summer months, including, Barry Nicholson and loanee Ross Wallace. Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor will be leading the attack for Preston, but I feel he'll need to better the 9 goals he notched last term to save the Lancashire outfit from a relegation fight this time around.
Town won this corresponding fixture last season by 2 goals to 1, Tommy Miller and Alan Lee with the goals. Whilst, up at Deepdale, North End all but ended Towns play-off ambitions with a 2-2 draw, Jon Walters and a last gasp Tommy Miller strike saving the Blues from defeat.
Match fact: Town have only won 1 of the last 7 meetings against Preston home and away.
Our league record Vs Preston at Portman Road:
Played: 10
Won: 6
Drawn: 1
Lost: 3
Goals:
For: 18
Against: 13
Our biggest victory is a 4-0 scoreline achieved in 1968, and our heaviest defeat at the hands to Preston is a 5-1 reversal in 1964. The highest attendance came in 2003 when 24,666 turned up to watch Town win by 3 goals to nil. Although I feel this attendance will be bettered on Saturday. The lowest gate came in 1967 when just 12,758 sat through a 0-0 encounter.
Tommy Miller is our leading all time goalscorer against Preston with 5 goals, Darren Bent notched 3 whilst Alan Lee is amongst 4 players with 2 goals.
9 players have represented both clubs, they include, Marcus Stewart, Alex Mathie and Tommy Miller.
Key man:
I feel will be Ipswich's Midfielder Tommy Miller, the ex-Preston loanee seems to relish playing against his former club, he tops our all time scoring charts against North End, and with odds of 9/2 could be worth a punt on adding to his tally this weekend. He's bagged us a few goals in pre season too, lets hope we see the Miller 'of old' back in the blue shirt this season.
Leggi predicts:
This is the easiest of our opening month of games, I feel, and should be a home banker for the betting public. Our summer new boys have settled in well, and even without the missing Jon Walters, I think Preston are no match for the boys in blue!! 3-1 (Lisbie, Counago and Miller) to the good guys.
Agree with Leggi, leave your view below.
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Preston travel the 254 miles across the country, to Portman Road on Saturday, to open their 2008/2009 season against the mighty blues.
Their pre-season form is the same as ours with only one defeat (against Everton) but looking to the last few weeks of last season it tells a very different story with only one win in their last 6 games of a very unpredictable campaign. Ipswich on the other hand having only lost 1 of their last half dozen.
Managed by ex Blackburn player, Alan Irvine, The Lillywhites had an up and down year, eventually finishing in 15th place in The Championship 13 points behind The tractorboys, with Irvine doing what he was brought in to do and keep Preston in the Division after a very poor opening 3 months under ex-gaffer Paul Simpson., And Irvine will of course be looking to improove on last seasons mid-table ending, a few decent additions to the squad have been made during the summer months, including, Barry Nicholson and loanee Ross Wallace. Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor will be leading the attack for Preston, but I feel he'll need to better the 9 goals he notched last term to save the Lancashire outfit from a relegation fight this time around.
Town won this corresponding fixture last season by 2 goals to 1, Tommy Miller and Alan Lee with the goals. Whilst, up at Deepdale, North End all but ended Towns play-off ambitions with a 2-2 draw, Jon Walters and a last gasp Tommy Miller strike saving the Blues from defeat.
*MATCH FACT* Town have only won 1 of the last 7 meetings against Preston(H&A)
OUR LEAGUE RECORD V PNE AT PORTMAN ROAD
Played 10
Won 6
Drawn 1
Lost 3
Goals:
For 18
Against 13
Our biggest victory is a 4-0 scoreline achieved in 1968, and our heaviest defeat at the hands to Preston is a 5-1 reversal in 1964. The highest attendance came in 2003 when 24,666 turned up to watch Town win by 3 goals to nil. Although I feel this attendance will be bettered on Saturday. The lowest gate came in 1967 when just 12,758 sat through a 0-0 encounter.
Tommy Miller is our leading all time goalscorer against Preston with 5 goals, Darren Bent notched 3 whilst Alan Lee is amongst 4 players with 2 goals.
9 players have represented both clubs, they include, Marcus Stewert, Alex Mathie and Tommy Miller.
KEY MAN
I feel will be Ipswich's Midfielder Tommy Miller, the ex-Preston loanee seems to relish playing against his former club, he tops our all time scoring charts against North End, and with odds of 9/2 could be worth a punt on adding to his tally this weekend. He's bagged us a few goals in pre season too, lets hope we see the Miller 'of old' back in the blue shirt this season.
Leggi predicts
this is the easiest of our opening month of games, I feel, and should be a home banker for the betting public. Our summer new boys have settled in well, and even without the missing Jon Walters, I think Preston are no match for the boys in blue!! 3-1 (Lisbie, Counago and Miller) to the good guys.
