PNE 2 BURNLEY 3

FOR the second successive match Preston North End were mugged in injury time and now face a battle against the drop.

With the score locked at 2-2 and three minutes of injury stoppage time played, Burnley got a corner on the right.

Everyone except Burnley goalkeeper Marlon Beresford came forward as Matthew played the kick towards the penalty spot.

Up went skipper Neil Moore and his header scorched into the top of the net and Burnley celebrated a win in what was a nailbiting Lancashire derby.

Burnley had started well and could have had a penalty inside the first minute when Weller was brought down in the box.

Then Glen Little was sent clear and only a brave save by David Lucas prevented him scoring.

It was Preston who took the lead with a goal of quality on 34 minutes.

Gregan won the ball in midfield and played a perfect pass to Cartwright on the right.

He beat Weller for pace and sent a lovely low pass to Nogan and the ex-Burnley man fired the ball past Beresford. North End 1-0 up at half-time and the Town End loved it.

Then it all went wrong in the space of nine minutes.

Andy Payton always looked to be a danger and three minutes into the second half he was given space on the edge of the box.

Although his low shot was stopped by Lucas, the Preston keeper allowed the ball to slip from his grasp and the ball rolled over the line into the net.

Then Moore came forward and knocked the ball down towards the goal and in a flash Andy Cooke had the ball high into the net.

Preston claimed a penalty when Lee Cartwright was through and bundled over in the box, but the referee turned down the appeals.

The Burnley lead lasted four minutes.

From a set piece on the right, David Eyres floated in a high cross which Beresford came for in a packed goal area.

Preston defender Michael Jackson got the touch and forced the ball into the net.

Rankine shot just wide for Preston and Davey also went close.

At the other end, Henderson got high above the Preston defenders and his header just skimmed the crossbar.

The referee had several looks at his watch, allowing the match to continue at a frantic pace.

Then came that corner for Burnley.

This result means that Preston have collected just three points out of the last 24. The relegation warning bells ring loudly through the corridors of the Tom Finney stand.

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