Preston North End 2 Middlesbrough 2

ANOTHER late goal denied Boro their fifth away win of the season, writes GORDON COX from Deepdale.

Colin Cooper made just one change for his first game in charge, one which was injury enforced as Jeremie Aliadiere missed the game with ankle problems. The Frenchman was replaced by Marvin Emnes.

Alan Irvine made two changes to the Preston side that won at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday as Richard Chaplow and Chris Sedgwick dropped to the bench to make way for Veliche Shumulikoski and Paul Parry.

Boro fans had endured a testing journey through fog, heavy driving rain, surface water and wind, but sunshine greeted them at Deepdale and a following in excess of 3,000 was in great voice.

Sean St Ledger received a warm reception from the fans of his parent club as the teams were announced.

It was the Boro supporters who were in full voice in the early exchanges as their team set off with a positive attitude and at a good pace.

Emnes peeled away just to the right of centre and pulled a fine ball back to Leroy Lita but his first touch let him down, allowing Liam Chilvers the chance to clear and he needed no second invitation.

Boro continued to dominate as Adam Johnson saw a low drive blocked on the edge of the penalty area then Andy Lonergran produced a fine save away to the top right-hand corner to palm away a 30-yard Gary O'Neil free-kick.

Lonergran produced another fine stop a few minutes later as he dived full length to his right to turn an edge of area Emnes drive round for a corner, a save made better as the shot had taken a deflection off Shumulikoski.

When Neil Collins under-headed a back pass to Lonergran there was a half chance for Emnes, but he seemed to lack belief he could get there ahead of the goalkeeper.

Preston had peppered Boro's domination with quick breaks but Boro defended stoutly and when pressure was extended they remained firm.

A low drive from Didier Digard from the edge of the Preston penalty area whistled inches wide of Lonergran's right-hand post as Boro went back on the offensive in a first half that saw them do every but take advantage of a defence that at times looked ponderous.

That was until the 43rd minute, when they made the breakthrough the deserved as Gary O'Neil smashed in a 20-yard free-kick that Lonergran could only help into the net.

It was a lead that ought have been doubled when Johnson cut into the box, but with options to his left he went for a flash finish and pulled a shot across the face of goal and out for a throw-in.

Half-time: Preston North End 0 Middlesbrough 1

Preston set off as though they meant it at the start of the second half and Jones was twice called on to deal with potentially dangerous crosses.

But it was Boro who created the best chance in the early sparring when Emnes was left with options inside the Preston box, one of which was fire a near impossible pass to Digard, whose first touch wasn't the best either and Preston cleared more easily than they ought to have done.

Preston's persistence paid off when they drew level with 59 minutes played. Jones made a fine save to deny Jon Parkin and Neil Mellor's follow-up was deflected away from goal but Paul Parry followed up to smash home from close range.

Lifted by their start and now the goal, Preston went for more and fancied their chances.

But their high hopes were brought crashing down with Adam Johnson's ninth of the season as he cut in from the left and just in from the right-hand edge of the penalty area smashed a low grasscutter across and well beyond Lonergran with 66 minutes played.

Boro almost added a third when Digard, out on the right for the second half, sent over a horribly over-hit cross, Johnson refused to give it up as a lost cause and stopped it from going out for a goal kick.

He delayed crossing but eventually powered one over that was turned clear, but Rhys Williams followed-up and superbly controlled a low drive that thumped back off Lonergran's right-hand post.

There was no let up in an end-to-end second half and entering injury-time Preston won a free-kick midway inside the Boro half on the left.

A deep delivery wasn't defended and Billy Jones rose high at the back post to turn in from the edge of the six-yard box.

At the same time as Preston equalised, Newcastle scored a second to come from behind to win at home to Doncaster. From having potentially been second in the table, Boro remained in fourth.

Preston North End: Lonergran (Capt.); Jones, Chilvers, Collins, Nolan, Carter (Brown 77), Wallace, Shumulikoski (Chaplow 56), Parry, Mellor (Elliott 89), Parkin. Unused subs: Henderson (gk); Hart, Hart, Mawene.

Middlesbrough: Jones; Hoyte, Wheater (Capt), St Ledger, Bennett, O'Neil, Williams, Digard, A Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Franks 89). Unused subs: Coyne (gk); Pogatetz, Grounds, McMahon, Arca, Yeates.

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Bookings

Preston North End: Wallace, 82, dissent.

Middlesbrough: Bennett, 52, foul; Digard, 86, foul; Johnson, 90+3, kicking ball away.

Attendance: 16,116

Conditions: Dry, relatively warm and breezy.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Gary O'Neil