Ryan Fraser's second-half stunner fired Ipswich Town to a 2-1 win at Preston North End this afternoon.

The 21-year-old's curler, alongside some resolute defending from the Tractor Boys, proved just enough to see off a dangerous Preston side.

Preston started the better of the two sides, with Joe Garner and Paul Gallagher linking up on numerous occasions to create chances for the home side.

However it was the away team who took the lead, against the run of play, when Brett Pitman headed home Freddie Sears's cross from 10 yards out.

Simon Grayson's men were dealt a further blow when Greg Cunningham was injured and had to be replaced by Callum Woods.

Despite the setbacks, five minutes before half time the Lancashire outfit got their reward for their early pressure as Daniel Johnson coolly slotted home to round off a swift counter-attack.

Both sides threatened at the start of the second half, but it was Mick McCarthy's team who took the lead thanks to a stunning effort from Fraser, who found the top corner from 25 yards.

Preston looked set to equalise for the second time but were thwarted first by Dean Gerken's save and then by Jonas Knudsen's superb block.

In desperation for a goal, Grayson turned to play-off hero Jermaine Beckford, who came off the bench for his first appearance of the season, but the striker could not salvage a point for the Lancashire outfit.