Doncaster Rovers: Bittersweet emotions for Dickov as Rovers are denied at death

Strikes in the final ten minutes from Curtis Main and Harry Forrester looked like securing sixth-placed Rovers their biggest scalp of the season against a side who have won their previous five league matches and who were unbeaten in the league on home soil since Bradford City triumphed 2-1 in mid-November.

But Rovers, eyeing a fifth win in seven matches to cement their play-off spot, were thwarted by ex-Leeds United striker Beckford, who hit a marvellous leveller at the death.

While Dickov professed to being really disappointed in the aftermath of the game, in the cold light of day, he also took plenty of solace in the fact that his side outplayed one of their strongest sides in the division, with North End having lost just once at home in League One this term - turning Deepdale into a fortress

Dickov, whose side had turned the tables to take the lead after Daniel Johnson had put Preston in front early on, said: “We are really disappointed.

“Even in the first half, at times we were the better team. I thought we were magnificent in the second half.

“We passed it, moved it, we made the right decisions at the right time and we had a belief.

“After winning on Saturday, a point would have been good, but we are disappointed.

“At times out there, we outplayed them, but at the end we’ve been pegged back by a really great finish from a top striker.”

Despite being pegged back, Dickov says his side can look forward to the run-in with plenty of confidence, with Rovers back in action on Saturday with a long trip to Gillingham.

Dickov added: “Yes, we are a bit frustrated, but with 12 games to go we can head into this final spell of the season full of confidence.

“We have proved again that we can compete with the very top sides in this division.”