Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was delighted to see individual players step up in their 4-2 victory over Preston.

The promoted hosts kept pace with Sky Bet Championship leaders Leicester and extended their lead over third-placed Preston to eight points after making it six games unbeaten.

A clever set-piece routine for Conor Chaplin’s opener and a superb solo goal from Brandon Williams ignited the Tractor Boys’ display.

McKenna said: “Our substitutes bought fresh energy and helped us kill the game off as well.

“We had a threat right throughout the game with some great goals and we have to take a lot of positives and the players deserve a lot of credit not just today but certainly across this block of games.”

McKenna was delighted with the “well-executed” set-piece which produced the first goal for Chaplin, as well as Manchester United loanee Williams’ goal.

“Credit to the staff as well, it didn’t look as good as that in training but sometimes things are better in the arena. Really well executed and a great way to get us started,” McKenna said.

“Brandon showed that drive and that determination all game up and down the pitch and the goal typified that today – and we needed it.

“We weren’t at our very best as a team and we’re not always going to be… individually we need people to step up and Brandon did that especially with his goal.”

Chaplin fired Ipswich ahead before the visitors levelled through Mads Frokjaer-Jensen. Williams’ effort restored Town’s advantage, which was added to by Nathan Broadhead.

Ben Whiteman got Preston back in it but Kayden Jackson’s late fourth ensured promoted Ipswich’s extraordinary start to the season continued as they inflicted a third successive defeat on the visitors.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe said it was a “tough afternoon” for his team and urged them to learn from their mistakes.

Lowe said: “Obviously (I’m) disappointed with the first half and I think the first three goals, you can’t give a good team like Ipswich three goals and we have done.

“It was good goals from them, especially the first one, but we knew what was coming and we worked on it yesterday.

“We give ourselves a lifeline at half-time and make a few changes and came out a lot better and when we were really pushing, second half they do us on the counter and come out with the ball when we should win those duels. So overall (it’s) a tough afternoon.

“They all admit it’s not good enough. It’s probably been one of the toughest weeks since I’ve been here in terms of the goals we have conceded.

“If you want to do anything in the division you have to be better all round.”

Kieran McKenna says his table-topping Ipswich side must “stay humble” as they rescued a late point in a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield.

The high-flying Tractor Boys leapfrogged Leicester to the Championship summit thanks to Brandon Williams’ leveller three minutes from time.

Delano Burgzorg’s second-half opener looked destined to hand Darren Moore a win in his first home game in charge.

However, McKenna’s valiant outfit fought back with Williams’ first goal since 2019 extending their unbeaten away league run to 14 games.

Despite their high standing and fifth league outing without defeat, the Ipswich boss wants his side to stay grounded.

“We need to stay humble and keep learning,” McKenna said.

“There’s parts of the team and the group that are relatively inexperienced at this level and we’ll learn lots from a game like today.

“We’re in the middle of a busy schedule and against a motivated team with a new manager and that makes for an excited crowd and energetic group of players.

“It was a tough-fought and competitive game; we had to fight really hard for the point and we can take positives in the way that we kept going.

“We were the team at the end of the game that looked likelier to get the winning goal and that shows good resilience and ambition from the group.

“It’s a good point because we didn’t play anywhere near our best but we just need to keep focussing on our performances.”

McKenna also singled out praise for stopper Vaclav Hladky, who produced an inspired display with a string of impressive saves.

“He did really well; it was a difficult game for him and you need a good performance from your keeper on a day like today and he certainly delivered.

“He is an example in terms of how he’s conducted himself and trained over a long period of time to wait for his opportunity and then take it.

“But we’ve got lots of examples within that group of good professionals who’ve worked hard to get here and are now flourishing at a higher level.

“That’s a really positive thing and a good boost for our culture and a good lesson for the players here or anyone coming to the club.”

Meanwhile, Huddersfield also extended their unbeaten league run to five games and the performance provided encouragement for their new boss.

“It was a good, solid performance,” Darren Moore said.

“We set out our stall early in the game by disrupting Ipswich from settling into their play and their rhythm.

“And then we got the ball into real threatening areas of the pitch; we could have capitalised more with the chances we created.

“We had the more clear-cut chances in the afternoon and I was pleased when we got the goal because we deserved to get noses in front.

“I’d have liked to have seen us extend that because the game was disrupted by the substitutions we were forced to make.

“When Ipswich did score, we didn’t allow them to go on and win the game, which was pleasing because it would’ve been a travesty from our point of view.

“It was a positive afternoon of football played by us; on the front foot, engaging our opponents and setting a positive atmosphere at home.

“Their keeper won them a point today in terms of the saves, but the boys are getting in the right positions and I’ll fancy us to score more goals moving forward.

“It was a great game; it’s credit to us and to the players for taking on board and carrying into the game what we’re trying to do with them.

“We’ve got to continue to work and keep building; we’ll do the journey together as a whole, the fans, staff, players and everyone.”

Ipswich assistant manager Martyn Pert praised his side for “doing the simple things” as they overcame League One Reading on penalties after a 2-2 draw to progress to the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Reading went ahead in the second minute courtesy of a Brandon Williams own-goal but Cameron Humphreys levelled in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage-time.

Freddie Ladapo gave Town the lead near the hour mark but Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan equalised in the 87th minute.

Reading missed three of their spot-kicks in the shootout to help ease Ipswich’s passage.

“I’m really happy and delighted to get through,” Pert said. “It was exciting in the end and, with Reading scoring early, they made it a real challenge for us.

“They were really well organised and didn’t give us much opportunity. It was so difficult for us to create any chances that were open.

“We were wondering where we were going to get a goal from but we just kept doing the simple things and then eventually we got the equaliser.”

Reading’s Charlie Savage, Caylan Vickers and Ben Elliott all failed from the penalty spot.

“It was a very tough game but we made it a tough game,” Reading manager Ruben Selles said. “But the boys did an exceptional job and they showed what they can do.

“In the end, unfortunately, we didn’t get it in the penalties. For some of our players, it was the first time in professional football that they were in front of that situation.

“We have to take that as a learning process and next time will be more ready for those situations.

“Yes we always practise penalties but it is very difficult to replicate the stress under pressure in those moments.

“We didn’t make it but hopefully next time we will be better.”