Tim Mercer's PNE fans' panel verdict: Defensive mistakes cancel out each other
A patched-up North End secured a draw down in South Bermondsey in a match decided by defensive mistakes.
With nine players out, it was nice to see Preston get their noses in front in the opening 15 minutes.
There was the added ‘glee’ of it being down to a poor pass back to the Lions’ keeper, which Michael Smith latched on to and clipped into the net.
The one thing we learn as long-suffering fans is to be careful what you crow about, as an even worse howler gave Millwall an equaliser in the 36th minute.
The normally excellent Daniel Iversen was about to make a routine clearance with his left foot when the ball brushed his right toe, leaving him swiping thin air and falling over.
A simple follow up and tap into an empty net drew the hosts level and it was now the Millwall fans’ turn to enjoy the moment at our expense.
The last time I can remember a keeping error this bad was by a certain Tepi Moilanen back in our lower division days.
On that occasion, it was made worse by the match being live on Sky when that was still a rarity for clubs outside of the top flight – and especially so in the third tier.
In truth it had been pretty even up to this point and it was therefore no surprise to this fan that we went in at half-time with it still 1-1.
Early in the second period, Iversen made some amends with a good save at his near post: an important stop for him in terms of confidence.
With the Lions now starting to get on top and likely to break the impasse, Paul Heckingbottom turned to the more attacking options he had on the bench.
It worked a treat and it was now the men in Lilywhite shirts who started to create, with two of the substitutes – Thierry Small and Lewis Dobbin – having opportunities to steal the points in the closing stages.
Small’s strike went through the keeper’s legs for what we all thought was a certain goal.
Unfortunately, it squirmed out from beneath him with the contact being enough to deflect the ball agonisingly wide of a gaping goal.
Dobbin again showed how dangerous he is on the break, with a trademark cut into the box and a shot that the Millwall shot-stopper did well to save with his legs.
It was probably a fair result by the end and one that leaves Preston sitting fourth in the table going into yet another international break.