When Luton Town snatched a draw from play-off chasing Preston North End in first post-Covid game

Scott Sinclair's 53rd minute goal - scored on the counter attack - looked to have PNE on course for victory - after an absence of more than three months.

But with two minutes remaining, Hatters substitute Callum McManaman found the top corner with a shot from 20 yards - the home side's only effort on target of the contest.

PNE started the restarted season in the play-off places but fell away as the campaign went on and would only finish in ninth place, this draw left them looking over their shoulders in sixth place.

It was the first of some historic games for North End as they returned to action in the midst of a global pandemic, a game played behind closed doors with the only atmosphere available coming in through speakers of pre-recorded crowd noise.

As part of social distancing measures, the North End players arrived at the ground in their kits - they were bussed to Luton's training ground after the game to shower.

The teams and match officials came separately on to the pitch and before kick-off, the players gathered around the centre-circle for a period of applause for the NHS.

Both sides then took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

PNE started in a 4-2-3-1 system, Alan Browne filling in at right-back in place of Darnell Fisher who was only fit enough for the bench.

Ben Pearson and Paul Gallagher were given the deeper midfield roles, with Daniel Johnson in the No.10 position.

Tom Barkhuizen and Sinclair provided the width, with Luton-born Sean Maguire up front.

Maguire came close to opening the scoring with 10 minutes played, in fact it was the best chance of the first half.

He got a low shot away on the turn from the edge of the box, one which keeper Simon Sluga dived to touch past the post and behind for a corner.

In the 36th minute, Gallagher's shot from the edge of the box caught a deflection and fell into Maguire's path.

Maguire tried to flick it over the keeper but Sluga smothered well and the ball rebounded back off the striker and out for a goal kick.

North End broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half, Barkhuizen collected possession in midfield, rode a tackle and slipped the ball to Sinclair over-lapping down the left channel.

Sinclair showed a turn of pace to move into the box, cut inside and from the corner of the six-yard box fire across the keeper into the far corner.

Pearson was inches away from doubling PNE's advantage, firing a first-time shot from the edge of the box just over the bar after good work from Johnson to square the ball to him from the left-wing,

Luton's equaliser came from nowhere and was a superb strike from McManaman.

Picking up a pass from the right, the substitute let fly with a right-foot shot from 20 yards which curled into the far corner beyond Declan Rudd.