Middlesbrough have won four and drawn one of their opening five Championship games under new boss Rob Edwards (left)
Sontje Hansen scored his first Middlesbrough goal in stoppage time to maintain the Teessiders' unbeaten start to the Championship season on a dramatic day at Deepdale.
Hansen, signed in the summer from Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, netted during a frantic goalmouth scramble in the second minute of added time.
Although early leaders Middlesbrough missed the chance to win their opening five league games for the first time in their 149-year history, they showed plenty of fight to twice come from behind.
Preston thought they had snatched victory in the 88th minute when defender Jordan Storey headed home to restore their lead.
But Rob Edwards' side refused to be beaten and Hansen netted to salvage a point and maintain their lead at the top of the Championship.
Middlesbrough, who handed a second-half debut to Slovakia striker David Strelec, had lost their past five visits to Preston and Edwards was thrilled with the character they displayed.
North End, meanwhile, will be disappointed not to have won after Lewis Dobbin fired them ahead with a superb opener.
Dobbin looks determined to get his career back on track after failing to make an impression at Aston Villa following a £10million move from Everton last summer.
The on-loan winger impressed on the left for Preston and beat Luke Ayling to fire home from the edge of the box after 22 minutes.
Ayling and Michael Smith spurned chances for each side before Matt Targett volleyed home on 72 minutes to haul Middlesbrough level after great trickery from teenager Sverre Nypan.
When Storey powered home a late header from six yards from a corner, Preston thought their winning run against Boro at Deepdale would continue.
But then Hansen stepped up to deny them to send the 5,600 away fans wild after Boro peppered the home goal in time added on.
'Deflated when you concede so late' - reaction
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "As I've said to the players, we're a little bit deflated in there when you concede late.
"If we had the same performance levels and if they had not scored a really late equaliser, we would all be jumping through hoops.
"So I think we have to reflect on the overall game and I'm really pleased with it. It was a really entertaining game and I'm proud of them."
‘I’m proud of them. A good performance against a good side’ - Heckingbottom
Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards told BBC Radio Tees: "I really enjoyed the game. I thought it was a cracking game of football. I really enjoyed the performance.
"No one is going to make it easy for us and no one has a God-given right to turn up and win games of football.
"Preston are good and they have shown that here with the teams they have beaten. What we did today was show lots of character and we came from behind twice, which we have not had to do yet this season."
Edwards: 'I loved the reaction from the team'
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