Preston North End 1-1 Blackburn Rovers - Dominic Hyam own goal gives hosts a point
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Preston are two points outside the play-off places with two games left after their draw with Blackburn
Blackburn suffered heartbreak in added time for the second time in four days as they drew with Preston to slip out of the Championship play-off places.
A late own goal by Dominic Hyam cost Rovers a victory that seemed certain after Sammie Szmodics had grabbed the opening goal with 10 minutes left.
That came after they had lost the lead at home to Coventry on Wednesday, when Sky Blues goalkeeper Ben Wilson scored from a corner, both goals coming in the fourth minute of added time.
The result means Blackburn are out of the top six for after a run of six games without a win, while Preston's hopes of sneaking into the play-offs were also dented with the spoils shared in a game that both needed to win to strengthen their hopes.
Rovers had slipped out of the play-off positions for the first time in two months after Coventry's win over Reading earlier in the day, but they staged a fierce onslaught on the home team's goal in the second half to force the issue, and deservedly took the lead.
Szmodics was sent through by Lewis Travis' cutting pass and feinted to shoot with his left foot before cutting the ball back onto his right and stroking it into the far corner to give them the lead.
But, with time running out, substitute Ryan Hedges made a hash of a one-on-one that would have sealed the win, Preston broke and on-loan Manchester City striker Liam Delap, also on as a substitute, crossed from the right for Hyam to deflect the ball past his own keeper for the equaliser.
Preston, who could have moved on to level points with sixth-placed Millwall with a victory, gave as good as they got in the opening 45 minutes but Tom Cannon, who has been in fine goalscoring form, sent their best effort skidding past the far post after he was teed up by Josh Onomah's pass.
Szmodics had the ball in the net for Rovers in that opening period, but the celebrations of the 5,000 travelling supporters were quashed by the assistant referee's raised flag.
Blackburn were much sharper after the break, and when Hedges crossed from the right, both Szmodics and half-time sub Ben Brereton Diaz were queuing up to tap the ball home, only for Ben Whiteman to lunge in for an excellent block.
Patrick Bauer almost struck for Preston against the run of play when his goalbound header was blocked by a mass of Blackburn bodies, and he could not turn home the rebound.
It was Blackburn, however, who turned the screw and Szmodics had the ball in the net with a spectacular diving effort, but it was clear he had used his hand and received a yellow card for his troubles.
The midfielder's next attempt did count, however, and looked set to be enough to seal a vital win, especially when Blackburn keeper Aynsley Pears pulled off a crucial stop to deny Ali McCann.
However, Preston refused to give up and were finally rewarded for their efforts with barely a minute left when Hyam turned the ball past Pears and could only stare the ground in disappointment.