Callum Robinson has scored 13 goals this season, despite missing four months through injury
Preston ended a four-game losing streak in the Championship with a comfortable win over already-relegated Ipswich at Deepdale.
Striker Callum Robinson scored two fine goals for the hosts before the break, firing into the corner from the edge of the box before volleying in his second.
Lukas Nmecha almost made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time but his header was scrambled away by Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Manchester City loanee Nmecha did get his goal in the second half, tapping in after Robinson's initial effort was saved, and he then squeezed home Preston's fourth.
Kayden Jackson came closest to scoring for the Tractor Boys but saw his strike bounce off the crossbar at 3-0.
Preston are still mathematically in with a chance of making the play-offs, but they are seven points behind sixth-placed Middlesbrough with three games remaining.
Alex Neil's men will have to win their final three matches - away at Wigan and Brentford, either side of a home game against Sheffield Wednesday - and hope other results go their way to get in the top six.
It has still been a remarkable turnaround for the Lancashire side who were bottom of the table in October. It was only an extremely tough start to April with losses to Sheffield United, Leeds and West Bromwich Albion that all-but ended their promotion hopes.
Ipswich are preparing for life in League One, having been relegated after their failure to beat Birmingham last weekend, and have won only four of their 43 league matches this season.
Preston North End manager Alex Neil:
"We had good quality at times when we needed it and Callum Robinson was involved in all four goals, so I think that shows his importance to us.
"He's a good player, he is one of our key players. What he did here, not every player can do. He had the quality to damage them.
"After the last week it was important we came out and put on a good performance and put things right.
"I felt we played well and, although we were a bit loose at times, we got four goals, so I'm really pleased with that."
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert told BBC Radio Suffolk:
"We were really, really poor. We got what we deserved. That's the worst game we've had since we came [into the club].
"They [the players] know my feelings. You can't play the game of football if you're going stand off people and not make a challenge.
"We were outplayed in every aspect today. I'm not going to stand here and sugar-coat it. That [style of defeat] won't happen again."
