Paul Lambert praised the Ipswich fans for their support and said he thought his side were the better team in the 1-1 draw with Preston.

But that was countered by his opposite number Alex Neil, who thought his players should have come away with all three points despite having to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men.

The visitors will be more satisfied with the point while Lambert’s new reign at Portman Road failed to get off to a winning start.

The visitors had goalkeeper Chris Maxwell sent off in the 75th minute after he received a second yellow card, but they held on for the point.

The goals came from a penalty by Freddie Sears in the 45th minute and a direct free-kick for the visitors from substitute Paul Gallagher, who was then turned into a makeshift goalkeeper when Maxwell received his marching orders.

Lambert said: “The excitement was unbelievable, the atmosphere was brilliant and I loved it. I thought we were the better team.

“I thought we started really well and couldn’t have asked for any more, they gave us absolutely everything. I’m proud of them and they were fantastic.

“If we were playing like that at the start of the season I wouldn’t be here sitting her talking to you. We never got the win but it was not through the lack of trying.

“The big thing for me was the reaction of the supporters. You get the crowd going and we wanted to win but I’m pretty sure that was more exciting than it’s been for a long while here.

“I just picked Roberts as we needed a focal point up top and I thought the boy was unbelievable for coming on for his first game, I thought he was outstanding.

“But the atmosphere was great throughout the game and I’m pretty sure the lads enjoyed it.”

Neill said: “In the grand scheme of things it’s not a bad point but I thought we should have won the game.

“It’s never dull for us at the minute but I think in terms of us defensively I felt today that Ipswich had one shot at goal other than the penalty and other than that I did not think they had an opportunity to score.

“We defended really well apart from the cutting edge at the top end. We had two or three good opportunities but our use of the ball let us down.

“I think it was always going to be a tough match and in Paul’s (Lambert) first match he was always going to get his team up and in your face and make it difficult.

“I thought both teams were a little bit scrappy but don’t think there was huge amounts of football played first half but to be honest I did not think there was much in it.

“I thought that we should have won the game as Lukas Nmecha had the best opportunity in the game so I did not feel that when we were down to 10 men they (Ipswich) did not have the ascendancy.”