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.”
Hayes enjoying tense WSL title race as Chelsea stint winds down
Emma Hayes is determined to enjoy the thrill of a title race going to the wire in her final days as Chelsea boss.
Following their defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, Chelsea's hopes of winning a trophy to mark Hayes' final season in charge looked slim heading into the run-in of the WSL season.
Yet Manchester City's defeat to Arsenal, combined with an 8-0 victory for Chelsea over Bristol City last time out, has left the Blues in with a great chance.
With the goal difference having swung in Chelsea's favour, victory over Tottenham on Wednesday would see Hayes' team go into the final day of the WSL season in top spot.
And while the pressure is on, Hayes is eager to have fun as she soaks in her final matches of a 12-year tenure.
"I'm going to enjoy being in this position," Hayes said.
"You don't often get into a position where you are competing for a title going into the last two games of a season. For those of us who have won titles, we know how hard it is.
"I’m happy to be in the position we're in. I know we have two tough games but I'm looking forward to them.
"You can't win everything all of the time. But to be in a position to compete for our fifth title in five years, I'd like to see another team do that over the next five years. The reason I say that is nobody really understands how hard that is to keep winning.
"To be in a position to compete for that, that’s all I wanted the team to be in. I just want them to enjoy the next two games."
Tottenham have lost all eight of their WSL games against Chelsea by an aggregate score of 20-5, with the Blues the only team Spurs have never won at least a point against in the competition.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost three games in the WSL this season, their most since also recording three defeats during the 2016 campaign.
After facing Spurs, Chelsea round off their season with a trip to FA Cup winners Manchester United, while City take on Aston Villa in their final game.
Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women
Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.
Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.
Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.
"The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.
"We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.
Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.
"If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.
"We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.
"We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."
Erik ten Hag: Man United fans are understanding of situation
Erik ten Hag is confident he still has the understanding of supporters after Manchester United's poor run of form continued with defeat to Arsenal.
United were beaten 1-0 by Premier League title chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday in a game that saw them create little.
While United did well to restrict Arsenal's chances, they had just two shots on target themselves - long-rangers from Casemiro and Antony.
The Red Devils have had to contend with a number of injury problems this season, not least against Arsenal with a makeshift defence fielded.
And for that reason, Ten Hag - whose job beyond this season has been called into question - believes the fanbase remain supportive.
"They understand where we are and where this club is," he told Sky Sports. "We have so many injuries in key areas.
"The fans don't get what they deserve, but they understand this and that is why they are behind the team.
"I think that is why they are with us we are united. Hopefully we can pay them back in the future."
Ten Hag pointed out that United were without seven possible starters, forcing him to field veteran Jonny Evans alongside Casemiro at centre-back.
Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal's goal as he was slow getting back up the field, meaning Havertz was onside before teeing up Trossard.
Ten Hag, though, was not willing to point the finger of blame at the underperforming midfielder.
"In that situation he is a midfielder playing in that position and making a small mistake, but it has hard consequences," he said.
"Before that, in possession we could have done better in others positions. It's details."
Eighth-placed United have won just one of their past eight league matches in a run that includes a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
The Red Devils have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, which is their most since 1977-78 when also losing 19.
Asked if he believes he is the man to turn things around, Ten Hag said: "I have no doubt about this.
"Mostly, this team has the right spirit and they execute the rules and principles of the game even if they have to adapt in their positions.
"I can only be happy and it is a big compliment for this team that they executed all that they could and they were fighting."
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