TO put pressure on league leaders Brentford, Preston North End knew that they had to start putting a run of wins together - but January 1938 went out as it began, with yet another 1-1 draw.

It was an unchanged team that took on bogey team West Bromwich Albion (29/1/38).

A patchy, goalless first half ensued, but during the break it was decided once again that Dougal and O'Donnell exchange places for the fourth game in succession.

The game's first goal arrived on 64 minutes.

It was somewhat of a fluke as Tom Smith had the misfortune to head past his own goalkeeper when trying to clear Heaselgave's centre.

This setback inspired Preston and not for the first time since his arrival George Mutch was the hero as he equalised six minutes later.

Att: 16,299.

A mid-week game away at Liverpool a few days later saw Bobbie Beattie rested, with Maxwell taking his place.

Liverpool had ex-North Ender Willie Fagan keen to impress against his former team-mates.

By half-time he had done the necessary damage in helping Liverpool to a 2-0 advantage, making the opening goal for Balmer and scoring the Red's second himself, albeit from the penalty spot.

Never-say-die Preston reserved their real form for the second period when they overran Liverpool for a long spell.

The transformation from an inept first half performance to a lively, methodical second half display was an eye opener.

Only six minutes had been played when North End pulled one goal back through Bill Shankly, who had tried his luck from distance.

It was his first goal for more than three years.

The equaliser just had to come - and it did, 14 minutes from time when Bud Maxwell headed home from a Mutch centre.

Att: 16,852.

Next week: PNE meet Arsenal in front of 72,000 fans.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.