By: Omar Jatta

Mustapha Carayol took off in his first start for Ipswich with and impressive all round performance against Preston on Saturday.

The star who lasted for just 45 minutes in the game at Deepdale, scored the game’s only goal to earn Mick McCarthy’s side a 1-0 away victory despite coming back from an illness earlier in the week, which was instrumental in his early substitution at half time.

The Gambian International, who had been in mesmerising form throughout the half, took his goal brilliantly, after nicking the ball off the head of a Preston player, dashed towards the edge of the penalty box, opened up his body wide before sweeping home a calm finish past Declan Rudd in goal.

This followed an earlier effort that went wide after firing from close range. With his electric pace he was too hot to handle for the Preston defence, particularly, right fullback, Calum Woods, whom he’d terrorised throughout the half, forcing the beleaguered defender to be substituted at half-time.

The 29-year old, who was in the thick of the action from Ipswich, did all the hard work after collecting the ball just after the halfway line, cut infield to skip pass couple of challenges, but his shot was well saved by Rudd, the rebound fell for the Nottingham forward but he fired wide to the gasp of the watching crowd.

Carayol congratulated by teammates after scoring opener against Preston

But all credits to him, he got his head down and continued to run at the Preston defender’s at every given opportunity and his determination paid off in the 21st minute when he fired his team ahead.

Carayol joined Ipswich from Nottingham Forest last month following what he described as the ‘worst moment of his career’, after failing to earn himself a regular place in the team during the two year spell at the City ground. He was signed on a short term contract at Ipswich, till the end of season. But if he can replicate more of such performances, Mick McCarthy will have no hesitation to keep him beyond that duration.