BILLY DAVIES, the Preston North End manager, emphasised the need for consolidation after losing key players from the team beaten by West Ham United in last season’s play-offs final. On the evidence of this comprehensive victory, however, Davies may have to reassess his target of the top half of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Ipswich Town had made much the better start to the campaign, despite having their ranks depleted by summer departures and injuries. But at Portman Road yesterday, they were undone in the first half by two splendidly-taken goals from David Nugent and a first senior goal by David Jones, 19, who is on loan from Manchester United.

Nugent, linked with Everton, exposed the soft centre of a defence missing the steadying influence of the suspended Richard Naylor, whose replacement, Aidan Collins, 18, had a nightmarish afternoon.

Davies described Nugent’s finishing as “top-class”, but added a reprimand for the 20-year-old for responding to taunts from the crowd after an early booking. “It was stupid,” the manager said. “He still has a lot to learn. We are not in a position to turn down bids from bigger clubs. Fingers crossed that we get past the transfer window, sign maybe one or two new players and move on from there. We have had a difficult start to the season, but we are starting to settle down and we played some really good stuff today.”

Joe Royle, the Ipswich manager, who has signed James McEveley from Blackburn Rovers on a season’s loan, said: “It was a strange game. Take out the goals and our ’keeper has hardly had a shot to save.”

Preston set the pattern when a deep cross from Tyrone Mears was headed against a post by Daniele Dichio when he should have scored. Jim Magilton threatened for Ipswich with a firm drive from the edge of the penalty area that needed a full-length save from Carlo Nash. But once Nugent was into his stride, it was all Preston. Receiving a defence-splitting pass from Jones, Nugent showed admirable coolness before slipping the ball beyond Lewis Price with the outside of his right boot.

Three minutes later, Nugent skipped past two defenders to fire a shot across the goalkeeper and inside the far post. Then, Jones played a one-two with Dichio before angling his low shot into the opposite corner.

A 25-yard drive by Fabian Wilnis that was held by Nash raised hopes of a comeback, but Royle’s three substitutions made little difference and Patrick Agyemang, the Preston substitute, completed the rout, muscling his way past Collins before delivering another emphatic finish.

“We were well beaten in the end, but considering we have lost six players, our start to the season has been magnificent,” Royle, who hopes to have Jason De Vos, the defender, fit for their next game, against Sheffield United, said.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-5-1): L Price — L Castro Sito, A Collins, F Wilnis, M Richards — D Currie, J Magilton (sub: J Juan, 52min), K Horlock (sub: D McDonald, 40), O Garvan (sub: J Peters, 52), I Westlake — S Parkin. Substitutes not used: S Supple, D Bowditch.

PRESTON NORTH END (3-5-2): C Nash — G Alexander, C Lucketti, C Davis — P McKenna, D Jones (sub: D Etuhu, 56), B O’Neil, T Mears, M Hill — D Nugent (sub: C Sedgwick, 75), D Dichio (sub: P Agyemang, 82). Substitutes not used: C Neal, A Nowland. Booked: Nugent, McKenna.

Referee: B Curson