Richard Cresswell was Preston's saviour for the second successive game as his equaliser earned them a point against Watford.

The striker headed home in the 72nd minute to add to the late leveller he scored against former club Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Cresswell's goal, which gave Craig Brown's side their sixth draw in eight league games, cancelled out Paul Robinson's 31st-minute opener for the Hornets.

Watford ultimately paid the price for sitting back on their slender lead rather than trying to make the game safe against a Preston side that had looked lost for the first hour.

But the half-time team talk from the former Scotland coach seemed to do the trick for Preston, injecting some much needed life into a dour encounter.

Preston, however, had started the match promisingly enough and they almost went into the lead in the fourth minute, with Ricardo Fuller rolling Eric Skora's centre across goal and inches past the opposite post from eight yards.

Fuller attempted to turn provider moments later, but his cross was too deep for the onrushing home players and when the ball finally fell to Dickson Etuhu on the edge of the area, his shot was poorly directed.

Watford were on the back foot in the early exchanges, but their occasional counter attacks kept the home defence on their toes.

Tommy Smith found space on the end of Neal Ardley's long ball in the 12th minute, although his sidefooted shot was easy pickings for Teuvo Moilanen.

In another warning for North End, Danny Webber - on loan from Manchester United - made space for himself inside the area and drove narrowly over the crossbar.

Webber was then involved in giving the Hornets the lead just after the half-hour mark. The striker's attempt to reach Robinson's left-wing cross put off Moilanen, with the ball eluding the goalkeeper and nestling in the far bottom corner.

Preston tried desperately to pull themselves back level in the closing stages of the half, Cresswell forcing a good save out of Alec Chamberlain with a low angled drive in the 40th minute.

The home side looked determined to put their dismal opening 45 minutes behind them as they began the second period by pinning the visitors back.

But again, poor passing was letting them down as Watford found it far too easy to break down their forays forward.

With 61 minutes gone and the home crowd growing increasingly impatient, Cresswell decided to go it alone, his 20-yard effort drifting just wide of Chamberlain's left post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Preston, though, were soon back to their old ways, with only Moilanen's fingertip save denying Webber after an awful mix-up between Graham Alexander and captain Chris Lucketti.

Watford were also living dangerously, defending deep in a bid to protect their 1-0 advantage.

That tactic backfired in the 72nd minute with North End's equaliser, Marlon Broomes' long throw-in bounced through to Cresswell and the striker had the easy task of nodding home from five yards.

Cresswell could have won it for the home side six minutes from the end but he hesitated, allowing Micah Hyde to dispossess him despite having the goal at his mercy after Chamberlain had pushed out Fuller's stinging shot.

Preston: Moilanen, Alexander, Lucketti, Murdock, Broomes, McKenna, Skora, Etuhu, Keane, Cresswell, Fuller. Subs: Lucas, Jackson, Lewis, Healy, Rankine.

Watford: Chamberlain, Doyley, Cox, Dyche, Robinson, Ardley, Hyde, Hand, Nielsen, Webber, Tommy Smith. Subs: Vernazza, Glass, McNamee, Helguson, Lee.

Referee: T Parkes (W Midlands)