Preston North End 1-1 MK Dons. Points Shared.

Milton Keynes Dons and Preston fought out a 1-1 draw at Deepdale on Saturday, but both clubs lose pace with leaders Bristol City and Swindon Town.

Preston fought back from a goal down to seal a point from the game but in all honesty, they could have come away from the game with all three points and at the same time leapfrog the Dons into third place in the table.

Preston missed a golden opportunity to take the lead but Kevin Davies missed when it looked easier to score on 20 minutes, maybe he was feeling a bit rusty making his first start of the season, who knows? But the ball went high over the bar and the chance was gone.

And hearts was in mouths a few moments later when the Dons were appealing for a penalty after Paul Huntingdon put in a challenge on Deli Alli who went down in the box but the referee waved play on.

The game reached the half hour mark and Preston saw another chance go by, this time there was nothing wrong with the effort that Jermaine Beckford put in from close range, it was just that Martin in the Dons’ goal pulled off a great save.

And Preston then fell a goal behind on the 40 minute mark when Alli showed a moment of magic and speed down the wing which ended in the ball being given to Carl Baker who had the easiest of chances to tap the ball home and put the visitors in front.

Half-time: Preston 0-1 MK Dons.

The home side upped their game from the start of the second half and when a long throw cased panic in the visitor’s defence, Paul Gallagher fired a shot in from 12 yards, unfortunately it was straight at Martin who saved easily.

Preston were now looking the team most likely to score the next goal and they would have had it with a Huntingdon header but that man Martin made another good save to deny him his third goal in three games.

And when Tom Clarke fired narrowly over the bar just after, you just knew that a goal would not be long in coming.

And then Beckford got in a header that was going hopelessly wide, but Davies chased down the ball and put in a cross which was met by Scott Wiseman running in and he smashed a volley home.

Then there should really have been a red card shown to Kyle McFadzean when he brought down Beckford just inside the Don’s half of the field, it looked like the ref was going to send the Dons player off but instead produced a yellow card much to the anger of a majority of the crowd.

There was then a chance from Kyel Reid but his drive went well wide of the target.

Andy Little was welcomed back for his first appearance in three months with five minutes left on the clock and soon after it looked like Davies had come up with the winner with just two minutes of normal time left when he got in a downward header, but once again Martin got down to make another good save.

Preston: Stuckmann, Wiseman, Clarke, Huntington, Laird, Humphrey (Reid, 63), Welsh, Kilkenny, Gallagher, Beckford (Little, 84), K Davies.

Subs not used: Jones, Woods, King, Browne, Brownhill.

MK Dons: Martin, Lewington, McFadzean, Kay, Potter, Reeves (Bowditch, 72), Spence, Baker, Alli, Powell (Carruthers, 79) Afobe (Grigg, 90).

Subs not used: McLoughlin, Hodson, Green, Baldock.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)

Attendance: 9,856.