THEY just never give up, they battle on and, yet again, Preston North End sent their supporters home singing with another late, late show to maintain their recent good run in the league which they have extended to eight matches with this 2-1 win.

With just three minutes of time remaining, the scoreline locked at one-one and Brentford goalkeeper, Andy Woodman, playing out of his skin Preston tried once again for a winner.

Alex Mathie received the ball on the right of the penalty box and looked to be in a good position until he was forced outside of the area.

Brentford got defenders back to cover Bjarki Gunnglaugsson at the back post and the chance looked to have gone.

Mathie looked across goal and hit a fierce low cross towards Gunnlaugsson, the ball struck defender Scott Marshall and deflected past keeper Woodman into the corner of the net to the enormous cheers of celebration from the North End supporters.

Preston came at Brentford from the start and Macken hit a powerful shot that was streaking under the cross bar until Woodman leapt upwards and backwards to tip the ball over the bar.

Immediately Brentford went ahead with a strike from defence. Lloyd Owusu sprinted down the right wing and played in a great cross which had the Preston defence in a panic.

In stormed midfielder Gavin Mahon with a flying header to send the ball crashing past Moilanen for a goal which demonstrated clinical finishing at its very best.

Preston hit back with a terrific thirty yard drive from Graham Alexander that was going inside the post until Woodman took off across his goal to get a glove to the ball and turn it around the post. A great save. As North End applied the pressure, it looked as if they had an equaliser when Nogan put over a cross from the right, in came Eyres at the far post with a powerful header but again Woodman kept the ball out.

Preston again came at Brentford in the second half but the London side looked calm and positive in defence, clearly trying to defend their one goal cushion.

North End came forward, through the middle and down both flanks but always Powell and Marshall stood firm and behind them Woodman was performing heroics.

Then on the hour mark, David Eyres who had a fine game was brought down in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Graham Alexander to take the penalty and he calmly stroked the ball wide of the excellent Woodman to put matters level.

Preston, urged on by their noisy support, battled for the winner and Edwards hit over a searching cross which the keeper lost the flight of, and the ball smashed against the far post and came back into play.

Alex Mathie then set up a chance for David Eyres but the Preston winger hit a powerful shot over the crossbar.

North End came surging forward in wave after wave of attacks but the Brentford rearguard stood firm under the pressure.

It looked as if they were going to get the point they had settled for until Mathie struck with that late effort.

Preston demonstrated that it isn't over until the fat lady sings and that is becoming a welcome habit.

North End are nicely in touch with the pace setters at the top of the division and now they take time off from the league to go on the wembley trail at Bristol Rovers on Sunday. ASKED what went through his mind when he had to take a penalty with the Brentford goalkeeper stopping everything that Preston threw at him, Graham Alexander said " I had practised them and I just put it into the right place."

Alexander went on to reveal that Brentford goalkeeper Andy Woodman came up to him as he was placing the ball for the spot kick and said: "I've already saved six penalties this season."

It was to Alexander's credit that he calmly ignored this piece of gamesmanship and scored with a quality shot.

Preston boss David Moyes said: "I am very pleased with the way we kept going, we deserved to win."

On the unbeaten run of eight league games he added: "You need runs like this during the season to keep in contention."

On the FA cup match next Sunday at Bristol Rovers the Preston manager said: "We are looking forward to it, they are a good side and it will give us a chance to see how far we have progressed."

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