Preston North End 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons

Jermaine Beckford marked his first start of the season with a goal against MK Dons

MK Dons' hopes of Championship survival appear increasingly remote despite ending a four-game losing run in a dramatic draw with Preston at Deepdale.

Jermaine Beckford lifted the ball over Cody Cropper to put Preston ahead before Eoin Doyle's header was cleared off the line by MK Dons' Darren Potter.

After Nicky Maynard levelled, keeper Cropper was sent off for fouling Doyle.

Striker and makeshift keeper Alex Revell saved Joe Garner's penalty and both sides went close to a late winner.

A point leaves MK Dons nine points adrift of safety with four games remaining.

Beckford, making his first start since returning from knee surgery, netted his first goal since scoring a hat-trick in last May's League One play-off at Wembley to help Preston win promotion.

The hosts looked increasingly menacing as the first half continued, Greg Cunningham testing Cropper and Doyle going close after Maynard called Preston keeper Andres Lindegaard into action at his near post.

Karl Robinson's Dons came out brightly after the interval and levelled when Maynard turned in Josh Murphy's cross at the far post.

Doyle and Maynard had chances in quick succession, while a fine save from Lindegaard denied Kyle McFadzean.

Cropper's challenge on Doyle, however, gave Preston their best chance to win the game, only for Revell to take the gloves and keep Garner out.

Despite needing treatment after the save, Revell remained solid under pressure late on.

Preston North End manager Simon Grayson:

"It's probably the angriest I've been after a game for a long time. I'm not accepting that second half performance from certain individuals. I do not want this season to peter out.

"The penalty miss probably summed up the second half performance. I had a feeling that Joe was going to go and miss it. Some of our players have to look at themselves in the mirror. They've had a lot of praise this season and rightly so.

"There's few occasions where I've had to have a go at the players. But they have to look at themselves to see what they can do just to be in the team. They are still playing for places next year."

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson:

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Robinson on Preston v MK Dons

"I think we have to appeal the red card because what do you lose? We still believe that we can turn this around and it would be phenomenal. I'm a believer.

"Whilst you have belief you still have hope, but you don't have any hope without belief and we need to keep believing in some way. And if we don't achieve it then we put some pride back in the shirt.

"These kids are honest kids and they deserve some luck. I don't know where I get it from but I believe in them as people. We just got to keep going. We go again, off to Hillsborough and our backs are certainly against the wall."

Alex Revell took over in goal for MK Dons after Cody Cropper was sent off in the 81st minute

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Preston

• 1Lindegaard
• 2Vermijl
• 6WrightBooked at 66mins
• 23Huntington
• 3Cunningham
• 4PearsonSubstituted forBrowneat 72'minutes
• 32ReachSubstituted forRobinsonat 79'minutes
• 11Johnson
• 12Gallagher
• 10BeckfordSubstituted forGarnerat 66'minutes
• 13Doyle

Substitutes

• 5Clarke
• 14Garner
• 16Browne
• 19Welsh
• 25Hugill
• 37Robinson
• 43Kirkland

MK Dons

• 22CropperBooked at 81mins
• 12SpenceSubstituted forBakerat 77'minutes
• 5McFadzean
• 16Walsh
• 3Lewington
• 44Forster-CaskeySubstituted forWilliamsat 45'minutes
• 8Potter
• 9Bowditch
• 14CarruthersBooked at 48mins
• 31Murphy
• 28MaynardSubstituted forRevellat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 6Kay
• 7Baker
• 17Powell
• 18Revell
• 23Williams
• 29Burns
• 40Long

Referee:

Stuart Attwell

Attendance:

10,457

Match Stats

Home TeamPrestonAway TeamMK Dons

Possession

Home45%

Away55%

Shots

Home21

Away10

Shots on Target

Home8

Away3

Corners

Home5

Away9

Fouls

Home12

Away9

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Preston North End 1, MK Dons 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Preston North End 1, MK Dons 1.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt missed. Callum Robinson (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Cunningham with a cross.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (MK Dons) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Darren Potter.

Posted at 90'+1'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 90'

Delay in match Alex Revell (MK Dons) because of an injury.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Joe Garner (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Paul Gallagher.

Posted at 89'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Joe Walsh.

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Joe Garner (Preston North End) with an attempt from long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alan Browne.

Posted at 85'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 83'

Delay in match Alex Revell (MK Dons) because of an injury.

Posted at 83'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Alex Revell.

Posted at 83'

Penalty saved! Joe Garner (Preston North End) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the top right corner.

Dismissal

Posted at 81'

Cody Cropper (MK Dons) is shown the red card.

Posted at 81'

Penalty conceded by Cody Cropper (MK Dons) after a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 81'

Penalty Preston North End. Eoin Doyle draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Dean Lewington.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Preston North End. Callum Robinson replaces Adam Reach.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons).

Posted at 78'

Adam Reach (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, MK Dons. Carl Baker replaces Jordan Spence.

Posted at 77'

Dean Bowditch (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Daniel Johnson (Preston North End).

Posted at 74'

Offside, Preston North End. Anders Lindegaard tries a through ball, but Joe Garner is caught offside.

Posted at 74'

Attempt blocked. Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons).

Posted at 73'

Adam Reach (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Preston North End. Alan Browne replaces Ben Pearson.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Alex Revell (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Samir Carruthers.

Posted at 71'

Attempt missed. Daniel Johnson (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Posted at 70'

Attempt saved. Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dean Bowditch with a cross.

Posted at 69'

Jonathan Williams (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Paul Gallagher (Preston North End).

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Daniel Johnson (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Paul Gallagher.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Dean Bowditch (MK Dons).

Posted at 68'

Greg Cunningham (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, MK Dons. Alex Revell replaces Nicky Maynard.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Preston North End. Joe Garner replaces Jermaine Beckford.

Booking

Posted at 66'

Bailey Wright (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 66'

Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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