Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna caught a glimpse of target-man Kieffer Moore’s potential impact despite his side going down 3-2 at Preston.
A nightmarish opening 10 minutes saw the Tractor Boys go 2-0 down, with the final result seeing them drop out of the automatic promotion places.
Bournemouth loanee Moore was introduced at the interval and changed the game with two goals in 12 second-half minutes to give the visitors a late sniff.
And although Ipswich still came up short, McKenna feels Moore can play an important role in future matches.
“You’re always trying to have that variety you need in your playing squad,” said McKenna. “Having options like Kieffer means you can help to have variety in your play, especially in your attacking play.
“I think that’s something we’ve done really well over the past 12 months. We’ve been good at finding those different ways to threaten teams.
“My belief has always been that we have to adapt to the quality of the players at our disposal and try our best to utilise their best attributes. That’s while staying true to our beliefs about how we want to play and how we want an Ipswich team to look.”
Ultimately Ipswich’s shocking start would prove their undoing as they failed to shake off the scars of last week’s FA Cup humbling at the hands of non-league Maidstone.
Will Keane fired home from 20 yards via a heavy deflection off George Edmundson, who was again left cursing his luck when he directed the ball into his own net three minutes later.
Keane then made it 11 for the season after 36 minutes when Mads Frokjaer pounced on an awful pass out from keeper Vaclav Hladky and teed up his striker to slot home from close range.
“It proved to be a really difficult first half at what is a difficult place to come to,” said McKenna.
“We lacked enough profile and presence in that first half and ultimately it cost us.
“We needed to improve of course, and we did, and by the end of the game I thought we probably deserved to get something out of the game.
“It’s a blow at this stage of the season, but we can only improve on that first-half performance. There’s still a long way to go.”
Moore gave Ipswich hope by rising highest to nod home a cross after 74 minutes and then tapped home with three minutes left to make for a nervy conclusion, but the Lilywhites held out for a second successive home win.
Preston manager Ryan Lowe said: “The lads have been fantastic. I thought everything they did from start to finish was brilliant.
“It had to be because Ipswich are a top quality side. It was great to be three up at half-time, but we knew Ipswich weren’t out of it and they’d fight so hard in the second half.
“We knew there would be a reaction. They brought Moore on and he was a real handful, and they went a bit more direct but we defended brilliantly.
“The players have showed a terrific mentality today. We’ve shown we can beat a top side like Ipswich, so now it’s maybe about beating more of the teams in and around us if we’re going to challenge near the top.
“Even at 3-0 at half-time I was a little bit scared to say too much in the dressing room.
“That was for fear of upsetting our rhythm too much, but we’ve hung on against a good team with a great manager who has really got them going this season.”
Martino resigns as Inter Miami coach after early playoff exit
Gerardo Martino has resigned as Inter Miami's head coach due to personal reasons, the MLS side have confirmed.
The Argentine ends his 17-month stint in charge of the Herons following their MLS Cup exit just under a fortnight ago.
Martino, who oversaw Miami's Leagues Cup triumph soon after his arrival last season, guided the franchise to this year's Supporters' Shield with a regular-season record tally of 74 points.
However, they were eliminated by his former side Atlanta United in round one of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Miami opened their best-of-three series against Atlanta with a 2-1 win, only to lose by the same scoreline in Game 2 before falling to a dramatic 3-2 defeat in the decider.
“It has been an honour to work at such a special club, and to lead such a special team," Martino said.
"I’ve enjoyed my stay at Inter Miami and will treasure the memories made and relationships forged here for the rest of my life.
"I depart with nothing but gratitude for my time here and would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone that made it possible."
Fonseca: Milan have 'respect' but 'are not afraid' of Juventus
Paulo Fonseca said Milan have plenty of "respect" for Juventus, but his side "are not afraid" of their rivals ahead of their Serie A clash on Saturday.
After a slow start to the season, Milan are six points adrift of Juventus in the table, but only a place behind them, as they aim to make up the ground on the top six.
The Rossoneri have played a game less than Thiago Motta's side, and could catapult themselves back into the Scudetto picture with a win this weekend.
Milan return to the San Siro for the first time since a 2-0 defeat to Napoli at the end of October, and could register two consecutive home defeats in Serie A for the first time since between October and November in 2023.
"It is not decisive, but it is important, like all of them," Fonseca told reporters ahead of Saturday's game.
"I can't say that the game against Juve is more important than the next one against Empoli because we need consecutive victories.
"It's a different game, but I always think positively. We are Milan, we have a lot of respect for the 'Bianconeri', but we are not afraid. We are here ready to win."
A boost for Milan is that Juventus will be without top scorer Dusan Vlahovic for Saturday's clash after returning from international duty with a muscle problem.
Despite the Serbian's absence, Fonseca was aware of the danger his probable replacement, Timothy Weah, would pose, having managed him during his time at Lille.
"Juve knows how to adapt very well. I don't know if Weah will play," Fonseca said.
"Weah is very fast and attacks deep, not like Vlahovic. It will not be the same thing of course.
"We will have to pay attention to movements in depth and less to support work, because he is a player who does less of this job."
While Fonseca has endured a stuttering start to his tenure at the San Siro, Milan have shown they have the ability to match the very best.
They beat rivals Inter in October before stunning Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in their last Champions League encounter, keeping their play-off hopes alive.
"I believe it's a matter of motivation and not pressure," Fonseca said.
"Against Inter, Juve and Real it is easy to be motivated, it's more difficult to go to Cagliari and have the same motivation.
"Pressure is always with us, every day. If we don't want to have pressure, then we shouldn't be here."
'Right guy at the right time' - Amorim confident of changing Man Utd's fortunes
Ruben Amorim believes he is the "right guy at the right time" to turn Manchester United's fortunes around.
The 39-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this month to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2027, replacing Erik ten Hag after he was sacked in October.
Amorim is the sixth permanent United manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, having left Sporting CP to take charge during the international break.
He won two Primeira Liga titles as Sporting head coach as well as two Taca da Liga trophies, while he led the club to a perfect start in the league this season, winning all 11 of their games.
United sit 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town on 15 points, though they are just four points behind Chelsea in third.
Amorim recognised the size of the task ahead of him in Manchester but is confident he can make a change.
"I'm a little bit of a dreamer and I believe in myself, and I believe in the club," he said during his first press conference.
"I think we have the same idea, the same mindset and that can help.
"I truly believe in the players; I know you don't believe a lot, but I do. I want to try new things. You guys don't think it's possible, I do.
"Call me naive, but I believe I am the right guy at the right time. I truly believe I am the right guy."
Aged 39 years and 302 days, Amorim will be the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).
United have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season, and have struggled in front of goal, netting just 12 times so far.
Expected to implement his favoured 3-4-3 formation, Amorim admitted it would take time for the club to adapt and has asked for patience as the players get used to his tactics.
"I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it's a tough league, we have to improve a lot to try to win the title," he added.
"We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don't know how long it will take."
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