COLIN Murdock scored Preston's first goal of the campaign -- much to the relief of manager David Moyes who is still waiting for his side to fire on all cylinders.

A 5-0 loss at Gillingham last week was a freak result but it looked like it could be more misery for North End when newly promoted Walsall surged ahead.

Former Preston loan player Darren Byfield looked like he used his hand before taking the ball past Michael Jackson and he whipped in a cross which Brazilian Erivelto fired into the net on 36 minutes.

By this stage North End should have got on the scoresheet but James Walker produced a superb save from David Healy and Saddler Andy Tillson hit the post with a header as he jumped up with David Lucas to reach a Dean Keates free kick.

The ball landed out to Jorge Leitao but Jackson was back to scramble off the line.

North End came out in determined mood in the second half and went ahead four minutes after the break when a short corner was fired in by Graham Alexander and defender Murdock got his head to it and powered the ball into the net.

Preston made a double substitution bringing on a new forward line with one-month loan signing Kevin Gallacher and Richard Cresswell as Healy and Jon Macken struggled to find a way through.

But it was Ray Graydon's double substitution which almost paid off. Darren Wrack and Don Goodman worked well together after their introduction and came close to grabbing the winner nine minutes from time.

Wrack found his way past Iain Anderson and Rob Edwards and set up Goodman in the box. His shot was saved by the legs of Lucas, it bounced out to Wrack but his shot then trickled just wide.

Gallacher then almost became an instant hit when he raced through but the Walsall defence blocked the effort with their legs.

Then, in injury time, Wrack had another good effort saved by Lucas.

"It was a massive improvement on last week," said Moyes. "But we are still not where we want to be and have not reached the highs of last season -- but we will get there.

"We just lacked something in the final third, whether it was the final ball, the final pass or the finish and their keeper made some good saves.

"Walsall are a good side, well organised and their two forwards are a handful.

"But I'm delighted for Colin to get the goal. I'd have taken a goal from anywhere and we need defenders to chip in with a few as the season goes on."

Graydon was disappointed his side, promoted with the play-offs last season, didn't come away with the win.

"At the start we would have been delighted with a point but at the finish I was disappointed we didn't take all three.

"We did not pass the ball well but we kept our shape and frustrated Preston.

"But saying that Preston are a good team. I know they like to pass the ball. They have excellent players."

Of his goalscorer, Graydon said: "Erivelto is still an unknown quantity to me. He was a Brazilian playing in Portugal.

"He has some good touches and has body strength and crosses the ball well.

"Once he gets used to the way I want him to play he will be a useful addition."

SCORE: Preston NE...1 Wallsall...1