Sheffield Wednesday scored twice in three minutes as they came from behind to earn a draw on manager Alan Irvine's return to Preston North End.
Billy Jones saw a shot blocked by Darren Purse but Neil Mellor reacted quickly to put North End ahead with a right-foot strike.
Lee Grant denied Mellor before Paul Coutts scored with a low shot.
But Andy Lonergan failed to stop Tommy Miller's 30-yard strike and Marcus Tudgay equalised with a lofted finish.
It was Irvine's first visit to Deepdale since he was sacked as Preston manager in December.
And his struggling team might have collected all three points but Lonergan made two excellent late saves to deny Leon Clarke.
Preston manager Darren Ferguson: "It was an awful result. We were 2-0 up and cruising. I just don't know what happened.
"When you're 2-0 up you expect to win a game. Andy Lonergan lets in a complete howler and goals do change games.
"I just felt we lacked composure when they got the first goal. It's points dropped and really disappointing."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Irvine: "It was a great response.
"People are telling me it's a long time since Sheffield Wednesday have had a comeback like that.
"I'm delighted that we were able to do that but I wasn't happy that we got ourselves in that position.
"I've had a lot of letters, e-mails and phone calls from people saying that I would get a nice reception, but I didn't quite expect that level of reception that I got.
"It was very humbling and something that I'm really grateful for."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Preston
2-2
Sheff Wed
FT
(HT 1-0)
Mellor 29
Coutts 53
Miller 57
Tudgay 60
Preston
01 Lonergan
03 Davidson
12 St. Ledger
14 Chilvers
19 Jones
07 Sedgwick (Mayor 67)
15 Coutts
23 James
25 Wallace (Treacy 88)
09 Brown (Parkin 61)
33 Mellor
Substitutes
22 Henderson,
02 Hart,
06 Collins,
04 Chaplow,
16 Treacy,
35 Mayor,
26 Parkin
Sheff Wed
01 Grant
02 Spurr
04 Purse
15 Beevers
32 Nolan
06 Miller
14 Potter
17 O'Connor
23 Johnson (Soares 9)
07 Tudgay
19 Varney (Clarke 67)
Substitutes
22 O'Donnell,
05 Hinds,
20 Simek,
33 Gray,
30 Soares,
09 Jeffers,
18 Clarke
Ref: BoyesonAtt: 12,311
PRESTON
SHEFF WED
Possession
Preston48%
Sheff Wed52%
Attempts on target
Preston9
Sheff Wed13
Attempts off target
Preston7
Sheff Wed1
Corners
Preston12
Sheff Wed8
Fouls
Preston8
Sheff Wed9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:35 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+2:50 Corner from the right by-line taken by Paul Coutts, Jon Parkin has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.
90:00+2:27 Corner taken left-footed by Keith Treacy from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Tommy Spurr.
90:00+1:38 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
90:00+1:14 James O'Connor takes a shot. Sean St. Ledger gets a block in.
90:00+0:39 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Paul Coutts, clearance made by Marcus Tudgay.
90:00+0:20 Paul Coutts takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Mark Beevers.
90:00+0:10 Paul Coutts crosses the ball, Tommy Miller gets a block in.
89:41 Corner taken by Keith Treacy.
89:31 The ball is sent over by Keith Treacy, blocked by Tom Soares.
88:55 Neil Mellor produces a cross, save made by Lee Grant.
87:35 Lee Grant takes the free kick.
87:35 Substitution (Preston) makes a substitution, with Keith Treacy coming on for Ross Wallace.
87:35 Jon Parkin challenges Mark Beevers unfairly and gives away a free kick.
86:55 The official flags Leon Clarke offside. Sean St. Ledger takes the free kick.
86:01 Corner taken by Darren Potter played to the near post, clearance by Neil Mellor.
85:36 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Darren Potter, Jon Parkin manages to make a clearance.
85:09 Corner taken by Darren Potter, Leon Clarke takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
84:52 Leon Clarke takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
83:55 Centre by Eddie Nolan, clearance by Billy Jones.
83:06 The ball is swung over by Tommy Spurr. James O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
81:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Chilvers by Marcus Tudgay. Paul Coutts takes the direct free kick.
76:12 Ross Wallace crosses the ball, clearance by Mark Beevers.
75:14 Jon Parkin takes a shot. Blocked by Darren Purse.
74:55 A cross is delivered by Callum Davidson, Eddie Nolan gets a block in.
74:27 Eddie Nolan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Neil Mellor. Callum Davidson takes the direct free kick.
74:02 Leon Clarke crosses the ball.
73:05 Shot from just outside the area by Matthew James misses to the right of the target.
72:43 Paul Coutts takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Beevers.
71:29 Corner taken by Ross Wallace, Close range header by Danny Mayor misses to the right of the goal.
71:22 The ball is swung over by Ross Wallace, clearance by Darren Purse.
71:11 A cross is delivered by Callum Davidson.
70:33 The referee penalises Leon Clarke for handball. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
70:01 Marcus Tudgay takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
69:33 Tom Soares produces a cross, Danny Mayor gets a block in.
69:03 Marcus Tudgay takes a shot. Blocked by Sean St. Ledger.
68:39 Unfair challenge on Eddie Nolan by Danny Mayor results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Grant.
68:15 The ball is swung over by Darren Potter, save made by Andy Lonergan.
68:02 Short corner worked by Darren Potter.
67:46 Darren Potter decides to take a short corner.
67:34 Tommy Miller produces a cross, Shot by Marcus Tudgay. Sean St. Ledger gets a block in.
65:56 Free kick taken by Lee Grant.
65:56 Substitution Leon Clarke is brought on as a substitute for Luke Varney.
65:56 Substitution Danny Mayor comes on in place of Chris Sedgwick.
65:56 The referee penalises Jon Parkin for handball.
64:38 The ball is delivered by Ross Wallace, Mark Beevers makes a clearance.
64:05 Tommy Miller sends in a cross, save by Andy Lonergan.
62:32 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Darren Potter from the left by-line to the near post.
62:27 Tommy Spurr produces a cross, clearance by Liam Chilvers.
62:01 Darren Potter fouled by Matthew James, the ref awards a free kick. Darren Potter takes the free kick.
60:44 Substitution (Preston) makes a substitution, with Jon Parkin coming on for Chris Brown.
59:01 GOAL - Marcus Tudgay:Preston 2 - 2 Sheff Wed Marcus Tudgay gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the area low into the middle of the goal. Preston 2-2 Sheff Wed.
57:19 The ball is delivered by Ross Wallace, Mark Beevers makes a clearance.
56:15 GOAL - Tommy Miller:Preston 2 - 1 Sheff Wed Tommy Miller scores a goal from a long way out to the bottom left corner of the goal. Preston 2-1 Sheff Wed.
53:57 Tommy Miller delivers the ball, Sean St. Ledger manages to make a clearance.
52:50 The assist for the goal came from Billy Jones.
52:50 GOAL - Paul Coutts:Preston 2 - 0 Sheff Wed Paul Coutts grabs a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Preston 2-0 Sheff Wed.
50:37 Chris Brown fouled by Darren Purse, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
50:27 The ball is swung over by Marcus Tudgay, clearance by Chris Sedgwick.
48:41 Darren Purse gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Brown. Paul Coutts restarts play with the free kick.
48:06 Shot by Marcus Tudgay from 12 yards. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
47:41 The ball is swung over by Eddie Nolan, Tommy Miller takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Chilvers.
46:56 Centre by Callum Davidson.
45:51 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Darren Potter, Sean St. Ledger makes a clearance.
45:46 Tommy Miller sends in a cross, Sean St. Ledger manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+1:08 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+0:08 Free kick awarded for a foul by Callum Davidson on Eddie Nolan. Direct free kick taken by Darren Purse.
40:23 Billy Jones produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Brown misses to the left of the goal.
40:02 Chris Sedgwick takes a short corner.
39:46 Chris Sedgwick crosses the ball, Neil Mellor takes a shot. Mark Beevers gets a block in.
38:22 The assistant referee flags for offside against Tommy Miller. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
36:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marcus Tudgay by Sean St. Ledger. Darren Potter produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
35:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ross Wallace on Eddie Nolan. Direct free kick taken by Darren Purse.
35:01 Corner taken by Ross Wallace, Close range shot by Neil Mellor misses to the left of the goal.
34:45 Chris Brown has a volleyed shot. Lee Grant makes a save.
34:11 Corner taken by Ross Wallace from the left by-line, clearance by Mark Beevers.
34:02 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Lee Grant makes a save.
31:26 Foul by Chris Brown on Darren Purse, free kick awarded. Lee Grant takes the direct free kick.
30:55 Tom Soares gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Sedgwick. Free kick taken by Liam Chilvers.
29:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Brown by Luke Varney. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
28:23 Assist on the goal came from Billy Jones.
28:23 GOAL - Neil Mellor:Preston 1 - 0 Sheff Wed A goal is scored by Neil Mellor from inside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Preston 1-0 Sheff Wed.
28:18 The ball is crossed by Billy Jones,
25:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Beevers on Chris Brown. Ross Wallace takes the free kick.
23:21 Corner from the right by-line taken by Darren Potter, clearance by Matthew James.
22:56 The ball is swung over by Eddie Nolan, Marcus Tudgay takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
21:24 Chris Sedgwick fouled by Luke Varney, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Coutts.
19:41 Outswinging corner taken by Ross Wallace from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Marcus Tudgay.
19:16 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace from the left by-line, Chris Brown takes a shot. Blocked by Darren Purse.
18:37 Corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace from the left by-line, Billy Jones takes a shot. Save made by Lee Grant.
18:32 The ball is crossed by Ross Wallace, Darren Purse manages to make a clearance.
18:06 Tommy Miller produces a cross, save by Andy Lonergan.
13:43 James O'Connor handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ross Wallace, clearance made by Darren Purse.
13:04 Foul by Marcus Tudgay on Sean St. Ledger, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
12:12 Effort from just outside the area by Matthew James goes over the target.
11:33 Eddie Nolan delivers the ball, Luke Varney takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
9:38 The referee blows for offside against Neil Mellor. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.
8:55 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Brown. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.
8:25 Substitution Tom Soares on for Jermaine Johnson.
8:09 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, clearance by Luke Varney.
5:52 Paul Coutts takes a shot. Lee Grant makes a save.
4:49 Unfair challenge on Darren Potter by Paul Coutts results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Darren Potter.
3:28 Chris Sedgwick sends in a cross.
3:18 A cross is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, blocked by Tommy Miller.
0:29 The assistant referee flags for offside against Ross Wallace. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?