Tommy Miller ground out a precious but scarcely-deserved Coca-Cola Championship point for leaders Ipswich to deny upwardly mobile Preston their eighth victory in 10 matches.
David Nugent, making his first start for the club since completing a recent £100,000 move from League Two outfit Bury, handed fourth-placed Preston an interval lead to put them on course for their first victory against Ipswich
since 1966.
However, after the hosts failed to make their dominance pay, Miller struck in the game's final quarter to extend Ipswich's lead at the Championship summit to six points.
Preston manager Billy Davies had been dealt a massive blow prior to kick-off with goalkeeper Andy Lonergan ruled out for at least six months after damaging knee ligaments in a training ground accident on Thursday.
Gavin Ward replaced Lonergan between the posts while Paul McKenna, Callum Davidson and Nugent came in for suspended winger Eddie Lewis and dropped pair Dickson Etuhu and Patrick Agyemang respectively.
Ipswich boss Joe Royle handed James Scowcroft a second debut for the club - replacing injured 15-goal top-scorer Shefki Kuqi in attack - after he rejoined from Leicester on loan until the end of the season earlier this week.
Eyebrows were raised at the recall of Kevin Horlock at the expense of Jim Magilton in midfield, with Royle looking to the former Manchester City man to nullify Preston in the battle zone and halt their rich run of form.
However, Nugent's strong running and darting intent soon became a telling feature of his side's play and he wasted no time in linking up superbly with strike partner Richard Cresswell.
Nugent embarked on a delightful run down the left flank and skipped past Jason De Vos before delivering a low cross across the face of goal, where De Vos managed to retreat and block McKenna's stinging goal-bound drive.
Cresswell and Nugent were giving De Vos and Richard Naylor a torrid time at the back, and nine minutes before the restart their dominance was rewarded with a thoroughly-deserved goal from Nugent.
Brian O'Neil delivered a superb piercing through ball which sent Nugent scampering away from just inside the visitors' half and the pacy striker displayed outstanding poise to sweep the ball home left-footed past Kelvin Davis
from 12 yards.
Nugent almost notched a second after combining superbly with Cresswell, but Davis produced a brilliant save to keep out his curling effort.
Understandably disappointed with his side's listless first-half display, Royle replaced midfield duo Horlock and Currie with Magilton and Dean Bowditch at the interval.
But Nugent remained virtually unstoppable and shortly after the restart, referee Matt Messias incurred the wrath of the Preston supporters by denying home claims for a penalty after De Vos looked to have flattened Nugent inside
the box.
Neither the referee or his assistant saw any wrongdoing, but seconds later, O'Neil fired in an effort from fully 35 yards which Davis was forced to tip around the post as Preston went in search of a killer second goal.
However, it was not forthcoming and with little more than 20 minutes remaining, the visitors drew level.
Darren Bent, who had seen precious little of the ball all evening, played Miller in and although Ward blocked his first effort, the Ipswich midfielder followed up to fire the ball home and hand his side a somewhat fortuitous
equaliser.
Ward was then stretchered off after a nasty collision with Ian Westlake and his replacement, Chris Neal, saved well from Bent with his first touch before Matt Hill went close for Preston.
Tensions threatened to spill over during a frantic final period, but neither side proved capable of finding a winner.
Teams
Preston Ward (Neal 83), Alexander, Lucketti, Mawene,
Davidson (Etuhu 75), Sedgwick, O'Neil, McKenna, Hill,
Nugent (Agyemang 75), Cresswell.
Subs Not Used: Davis, Smith.
Booked: Sedgwick, Agyemang.
Goals: Nugent 36.
Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Unsworth,
Currie (Magilton 45), Miller, Westlake, Horlock (Bowditch 45),
Bent, Scowcroft.
Subs Not Used: Richards, Karbassiyoon, Price.
Booked: Scowcroft.
Goals: Miller 69.
Att: 14,418
Ref: M Messias (S Yorkshire).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook