[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Brady, Riis Blackburn Rovers 2 Szmodics, Gallagher

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Whiteman, Browne, Brady (McCann, 81); Frøkjær, Riis (Osmajić, 81), Keane (Stewart, 69). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson, Woodburn, Whatmough, Seary.

Blackburn Rovers line-up: Pears; Hyam, McFadzean, Wharton; Brittain, Fleck (Garrett, 17), Tronstad, Hedges (Chrisene, 64); Dolan (Sigurðsson, 64), Szmodics, Gallagher. Subs not used: Wahlstedt, O’Riordan, Markanday, Telalović, Ayari.

Attendance: 20,924 (4,722 Blackburn Rovers fans).

Referee: Mr D Webb.

On the Deepdale mudflats the two Lancashire rivals fought them selves to a standstill in a thoroughly entertaining game, fair result in my view. Given we were two down half way through the first period and to get something out of it was a bonus.
On yet another soggy day we did our usual poor start bit of a trend at the moment not starting to get into games until after 30 minutes. Both Rovers goals came from less than impressive defending, Szmodics had time and space to easily score and another bit of woeful defending let Gallagher in to push the ball past Woodman. The home faithful were less than impressed.
Things started to turn though Frokjaer twice got Riis in down the inside right channel both his efforts were blocked and went for corners, from the second Brady's poor corner found it's way back to him on the corner of the box, it rocketed into the net, great strike, his first goal in five years.
Back in the game and level by half time with a scrambled close range effort from Riis, momentum with us sadly though half time came and stopped the flow towards the Rovers goal.
The pitch was probably the winner in the second period in truth neither keeper was unduly troubled, we had the best of the play with a small period of Rovers pressure, two sets of knackered players at the end.
Metion for the referee took into account conditions some tremendous slide tackles full on game fair result

Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It's a good point in a local derby and you have to pay the opposition some respect.

"But it is frustrating because we were in the ascendancy and when we got the two goals back there was only one team that looked like winning it and that was us.

"When you're two goals down and you get it back to 2-2, you've got to be pleased because both teams were out on their feet at the end.

"To be unbeaten in five, however you take it, the points are on the board and I thought the lads were fantastic."

Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I've very proud of the group and their efforts. I thought they were outstanding the way they dug in, in a few really difficult moments in the game. That was rewarding.

"Obviously we wanted the three points and the way we started the game was exceptional.

"There were a few tired bodies - you could see that - and just the decision making, we lost a couple of duels late in the first half.

"I'm disappointed [not to win] but there's lots of positives to take out of the game - the way we defended against a very physical team like Preston and I think this group of players have been questioned on that commitment this season to keep the ball out of the net and that's the most pleasing thing for me in getting the point."