Doncaster Rovers 1 Preston North End 1: Rovers end poor run but could have had much more

Preston remain second-bottom, seven points shy of safety with five matches remaining following an entertaining contest at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Doncaster led through Brian Stock’s 77th minute strike, but the lead was short-lived as Hayes made an instant impact.

Both sides enjoyed a host of chances in an end-to-end affair, while Preston were furious not to be awarded a penalty when Eddie Johnson went down under James O’Connor’s challenge in the second half.

The result does more favours for Sean O’Driscoll’s Rovers, who halted a run of three straight defeats and sit eight points clear of the drop zone.

Doncaster almost had the perfect start when Stock’s perfectly-measured first-time pass found left-back George Friend in the area. Friend let fly with a rasping effort that had Preston goalkeeper Iain Turner at full-stretch to beat over the bar.

The game developed a cat-and-mouse feel as Preston worked tirelessly to thwart clever Doncaster interplay around their own penalty area, while Iain Hume and Keith Treacy carried a menacing threat on the counter.

Doncaster resumed the ascendancy as half-time approached but had O’Connor booked for simulation after he burst through a hail of bodies in the Preston box and went theatrically to ground.

After the hour Hume, again the danger man, expertly brought down a clearance from Turner and darted menacingly into the Doncaster box, where Friend blocked his goalbound shot.

O’Connor’s teasing 70th-minute cross forced Turner into a splendid reaction save. Doncaster pressed once more and after Franck Moussa’s exquisite 25-yard volley cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar they were in front.

Simon Gillett’s clever cut-back caught out the massed ranks of Preston defenders and left Stock free to rifle into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Preston immediately sent on Hayes for Johnson and the former Scunthorpe man snatched a quick-fire equaliser.

He immediately found space in the Doncaster area, forcing Matthew Kilgallon to divert his shot behind.

From the resulting corner Bongani Khumalo shot against the crossbar and Hayes was on hand to bravely nod home the rebound from a tight angle.

Doncaster Rovers: Gary Woods, O’Connor, Martis, Kilgallon, Friend, Coppinger (Shiels 86), Oster (Thomas 82), Stock, Gillett, Moussa, Hayter (Euell 90). Unused substitutes: Sullivan, Hird, Wilson, Mason.

Preston North End: Turner, Nicholson, Morgan, Khumalo, Jones, Johnson (Hayes 78), Ashbee, Carter, Treacy (Ellington 89), Hume (Proctor 90), Chris Brown. Unused substitutes: Lonergan, Coutts, Barton, Wright.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).