Preston North End 2 Middlesbrough 2: match report

24 October 2009 18:14
When Gordon Strachan was handed his first managerial post, Coventry City were languishing in the Premier League's relegation zone. Fast forward 13 years and Strachan will officially take charge of Middlesbrough on Monday with his latest club sitting fourth in the table, three points behind leaders Newcastle United. Related Articles * Championship table * Telegraph player rater * Sport on television * Championship fixtures * Championship Round-up: Middlesbrough and Newcastle lead the way at top of table * Football Fixtures 2009/2010: Championship It would have been much better had Preston not been allowed a late equaliser with the type of defensive lapse that cost Gareth Southgate his job earlier this week. Strachan's first task will be to raise spirits after the team he is about to inherit dominated at Deepdale only to have a deserved victory snatched from them in first minute stoppage time. Strachan chose to stay away as Colin Cooper was put in temporary charge ahead of the Scot's official arrival. Despite the late heartbreak, the former Manchester United player will have been encouraged by what he saw had he been present. Adam Johnson, the 22-year-old midfielder, typified his team's excellent first half performance. Everton manager David Moyes was in attendance with some of his backroom staff, apparently running the rule over Johnson, and the player did not disappoint. He went close to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute before Gary O'Neil forced Andy Lonergan a fine save from a free-kick. Lonergan then denied Emnes, but just when it seemed Middlesbrough's good work would go unrewarded, O'Neil scored from a 20-yard free-kick which Lonergan got a hand to but failed to keep out. Preston, much better in the second half, levelled through Paul Parry before Middlesbrough, who were given permission to field Sean St Ledger, their loan signing from Preston, regained the lead through Johnson. But a traumatic week for Middlesbrough ended in further agony when Billy Jones headed an equaliser following Ross Wallace's free-kick. "I was speaking to Gareth on the phone last night and he was wishing the team all the best," said Cooper, whose long association with Middlesbrough is in doubt with Strachan's imminent arrival. "I've spent two-thirds of my life at this club. I don't want to leave." Match details Preston North End (4-4-2): Lonergan, Jones, Chilvers, Collins, Nolan, Carter (Brown 76), Wallace, Shumulikoski (Chaplow 56) Parry, Mellor (Elliott 90), Parkin. Subs: Henderson, Hart, Mawéné, Sedgwick. Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Jones, Hoyte, St Ledger, Wheater, Bennett, O'Neil, Digard, Williams, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Francis 90). Subs: Coyne, Pogatetz, Yeates, Arca, Grounds, McMahon. Referee: K Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Source: Telegraph