In the first minute, Preston left winger Ross Wallace fouled Liam Rosenior and Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan saved Jack Colbeck's left-foot right-wing free kick.
Referee Jon Moss of West Yorkshire gave Richard Chaplow the first yellow card of the game for a mis-timed challenge on David Norris after 29 minutes.
Norris had a shot saved after 33 minutes and Neil Mellor had a cross saved by Ipswich goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett after 38 minutes.
Chaplow's cross was saved after 41 minutes.
Grant Leadbitter had a shot saved at the start of the second half and Rosenior had a cross saved after 49 minutes.
Tamas Priskin headed home an Ipswich free-kick and wheeled away to celebrate but the linesman spotted an infringement.
North End took the free-kick quickly and Mellor ran down field, rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the back of the net.
However, that goal was also disallowed as the ball had still been rolling when North End's free-kick was taken.
Michael Hart's cross was saved after 57 minutes.
Neill Collins replaced Youl Mawene, Gareth McAuley was booked and Wallace's free-kick was saved after 59 minutes.
Preston made it 1-0 when substitute Collins got up and powered a header home from a Chaplow right-wing cross after 64 minutes.
Pablo Counago replaced Priskin after 65 minutes and Owen Garvan replaced Jaime Peters after 63 minutes.
Counago found Jon Stead on the edge of the box and he forced a good save low down from Lonergan after 66 minutes.
Garvan, who was booked with Leadbitter after 68 minutes, fouled Wallace.
Wallace's cross was saved after 75 minutes.
Stern John replaced Stead three minutes later and Leadbitter's left-wing corner was saved after 79 minutes.
Jon Parkin replaced Mellor after 81 minutes.
Danny Welbeck made it 2-0 on his home debut on loan from Manchester United in the 84th minute with a chip from just outside the area low into the middle of the goal from Parkin's assist.
Rosenior was booked and Darren Carter replaced Wallace after 86 minutes.
Norris fouled Hart and was booked and Parkin's shot was saved from Carter's cross in the 88th minute.
John had a volleyed shot saved right at the end.