IF ever there was a game of two halves this match between two of the founder members of the Football League, had to be it.

Preston were hit by a three-goal salvo inside 18 minutes as Blackburn started like an expresss train and ran Preston ragged.

Early damage was done by Matt Jansen as he took advantage of a ricochet off the legs of Sean Gregan and he scored with a delicate left-footed shot.

Just three minutes later, Jansen got away and produced a cross which Mark Hughes steered in from four yards.

Rovers then came at North End with wave after wave of attacks and after 18 minutes, Jansen again hit the socresheet with a splendid header from a corner.

David Healey struck a drive from 25 yards, only for it to be clawed out of the corner of the net by Blackburn's Brad Friedel.

North End had little more to offer in the first half.

But whatever manager David Moyes had to say at half-time must have made an impact.

North End started to storm at Blackburn.

Macken, on eight minutes into the second half, hit the ball on the volley, giving Friedel no chance and the fight was on.

North End found renewed spirit and the five and a half thousand fans they brought to the game were vocal as it was looking like Blackburn had lost the plot.

Michael Appleton's 30-yard shot was driven just over the crossbar.

Blackburn, it seemed, could barely get out of their own half and North End, spurred on by the crowd, stormed Blackburn.

Rankine's shot proved too much for Henningburg and his hand-ball gave Healey the chance to score from the penalty spot on 73 minutes.

There was a couldron of noise as for the remainder of the match Preston battled away for a point.

And with three corners in quick succession hopes were high -- and Blackburn were in complete and utter panic.

With two agonising minutes of added time Preston fans were vocal about their hopes for a draw.

But it was not to be.

It was one of the greatest matches between the two teams-- but after the disappointments of the first half for North End, it proved a bridge too far.

Tom Parker