Millwall 1-1 Preston North End: Brad Potts earns Lilywhites draw at Lions

Zian Flemming scores for Millwall against PrestonImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Zian Flemming has scored for Millwall in both games against Preston this season

Brad Potts' equaliser earned Preston a point at Millwall in the Championship.

The Lions made the perfect start by going ahead when Zian Flemming headed home George Honeyman's fifth-minute cross - the Dutchman's sixth goal in four league appearances against North End.

Potts netted just after the half-hour mark, and in the second half Ben Whiteman kept Preston on level terms by clearing Wes Harding's header from Joe Bryan's corner off the line.

The result moved Millwall up a place in the table, to 17th, while Preston remain 12th and are four points away from the play-off places.

Millwall recently won three matches in a row following the appointment of Joe Edwards as boss, but this draw came after back-to-back league defeats.

Their home form remains a problem. They had lost nine of their previous 16 matches at The Den - and two victories under Edwards during last month's purple patch are their only wins there since September.

Japhet Tanganga, making his full debut following his recent loan move from Tottenham, was involved in the build-up to the opening goal.

However, a subsequent mistake by the defender proved costly.

After Tanganga had given the ball away, Potts collected Mads Frokjaer-Jensen's perfect pass and fired past keeper Matija Sarkic.

Prior to the match, fans gathered for the official opening of John Berylson Way, a road leading to the stadium which was previously Zampa Road and has been renamed in honour of Millwall's former owner.

Berylson died in a car crash in his native United States in July at the age of 70.

The new road was unveiled by his son James, who took over as chairman following his father's death.

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards told BBC Radio London:

"It's certainly frustrating because, for most of the game, we were the more comfortable team - the better team without being high-quality or really exciting today.

"You want to go and win those games, but it's really important you don't lose them. So we'll take the point, knowing that we need to improve.

"The kind of intensity we want from the start, we've done it again and got our rewards today, and when you go 1-0 up at home after five minutes you want to go again.

"But it's not always that easy. Preston are not an easy team to break down. Then an error leads to the [equalising] goal and that can happen.

"We regrouped in the second half but we're getting to the final third and just not quite having that final answer at the moment. We need to keep working, keep improving and ask more questions in these home games."

Preston boss Ryan Lowe:

"It was a fair result, I think. Both teams tried to win it.

"The first half was disappointing - conceding another early goal. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but I was pleased with the reaction of the boys.

"We had to withstand a lot of pressure from them - not just the team but from the fans as well. You have to keep them quiet.

"We got into some good areas, we just could not finish it off, but it was not through lack of trying.

"We are disappointed with the first goal but I am pleased with the reaction and resilience to keep going to the end and to try and win it."

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