Report: PNE 2-2 Town
By Aston
April 27 2008
Town have taken their bid for a top 6 finish into the final day of the season after getting a point away at Preston yesterday.
Town started brightly and took the lead in just the 11th minute when Tommy Miller scored his 7th career goal against the Lilywhites when he was first to react to a poor clearance from the Preston defence and fired the ball low into the net.
Preston striker Chris Brown tried his luck with an overhead kick into the arms of Bywater while at the other end Youl Mawene cleared to stop Pablo Counago racing through on goal.
Bywater, who has been criticised by Town fans since joining on-loan from Derby County, pulled off a magnificent save to deny Preston a leveller, reacting quickly to stop Neil Mellor's shot before Danny Simpson blocked Sedgwick's follow up effort.
The homeside levelled in the 34th minute when Chris Brown's shot took a deflection which wrong footed Bywater and went into the net. Brown should have given Preston the lead 2 minutes later but he headed over when unmarked in the box as the teams went in for half it was 1-1.
Counago came close to restoring Town's lead seconds into the second half but his shot hit the inside of the post and rolled along the line before being cleared by the Preston defence. Quinn fired inches wide soon after and again failed to find the target with a shot that flew just over.
Town thought they had taken the lead when Pablo Counago had the ball into the net only for it be ruled offside.
Alan Lee was the first change of the game when he came on for Danny Haynes in the 65th minute which caused a slight shuffle in the Town midfield, Jon Walters moving to where Haynes was on the right and Lee going up front with Counago.
David Wright should have gave Town the lead again in the 70th minute but the defender was unable to find the net from 6 yards.
Bywater again denied Mellor not long before Shefki was introduced by Town but denied a goal by Lonergan soon after.
Simon Whaley came on for the final 12 minutes and made an immediate impression with his cross setting up Mellor who gave Preston a 2-1 lead.
Velice Sumulikoski replaced Quinn straight after the goal as Town looked for a goal of their own to keep the play-off chase alive and thankfully Jon Walters provided it.
Owen Garvan's pass cutting through the Preston defence allowing Walters to run free before slotting the ball into the net to make it 2-2.
Preston: Lonergan. Hart, Mawene, Trotman, Davidson, Sedgwick, McKenna, Chaplow, Neal (Whaley 78), Brown, Mellor. Subs not used: Carter, Hawley, Hill, Neal.
Town: Bywater, Simpson, De Vos, Bruce, Wright, Haynes (Lee 65), Miller, Garvan, Quinn (Sumulikoski 78), Counago (Kuqi 72), Walters. Subs not used: Colgan, Sito.
What do you think, should Town have done better? Can we still make the play-offs? Leave your view below.
