DEEPDALE PITCH INVASION PNE 2 QPR 1

Preston squeezed into the Championship play-offs by the narrowest of margins after they beat QPR and Cardiff lost at Sheffield Wednesday.

Both sides end the season on 74 points with a +12 goal difference, but Preston have scored one goal more - 66-65.

Jon Parkin put Preston ahead from a tight angle, but Patrick Agyemang slid in a leveller before Sean St Ledger headed the winner with 15 minutes left.

Preston cleared two QPR shots off the line in injury time as they held on.

But the Lilywhites were not to be denied as they leapfrogged Cardiff, whom they beat 6-0 just two weeks ago, to claim the final play-off spot and set up a two-legged tie against Sheffield United.

They dominated for long periods of the game, but were unable to turn their possession into goals.

Chris Sedgwick did have the ball in the net, but his effort was ruled offside, while St Ledger mis-kicked from eight yards after Neil Mellor's low cross had found him unmarked.

Rangers threatened sporadically with Mikele Leigertwood sending a 25-yard strike narrowly wide, while Rowan Vine shot tamely at North End keeper Andy Lonergan from 12 yards.

But the home side ended the first half strongly and Simon Whaley saw his twice deflected shot loop inches over the bar before Parkin broke the deadlock by seizing on a weak backpass from Kaspars Gorkss and rounding Radek Cerny to score from a tight angle.

Whaley should have doubled the lead but shot straight at Cerny from six yards after after Agyemang and Hogan Ephraim went close for Rangers at the start of the second period, the former - an ex-Preston player - levelled after racing onto a neat through ball from Vine and sliding the ball beyond Lonergan via a slight deflection.

Preston piled forward in response and Cerny kept out a glancing header from St Ledger but he could not keep out another effort from the defender after Jon Parkin's long throw had been flicked on by Chris Brown.

Rangers finished the stronger, however, and the home side were left clinging on as Youl Mawene cleared off his own goal-line in the third and final minute of injury time and, from the resulting corner, Darren Carter kicked Matt Connolly's header out from under his own crossbar with the last kick of the game.




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Preston: Lonergan, Jones, St. Ledger, Mawene, Nolan, Whaley (Nicholson 79), McKenna, Carter, Sedgwick, Parkin (Elliott 88), Mellor (Brown 61).
Subs Not Used: Neal, Chilvers.

Booked: Jones, St. Ledger.

Goals: Parkin 37, St. Ledger 74.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Connolly, Gorkss, Delaney, Routledge, Leigertwood, Mahon (Balanta 83), Ephraim, Agyemang (German 75), Vine.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Hall, Alberti.

Booked: Leigertwood, Connolly.

Goals: Agyemang 57.

Att: 18,264

Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• preston
• north
• end
• deepdale
• pitch
• invasion
• qpr
• football
• soccer
• CRAZY

[02baldwincc]

enjoying league 1 stil?

[ToastedCheeseyMong]

and that was back when you could fill your stadium, your support is fucking SHIT, 10,000 in a 23,000 stadium,disgraceful you inbred cunts.

[burnley4life12]

hahaha stil there now burnley til i fuKIN DIE , 3.1 AND U FUKED IT UP 3.1 TOO ALL YOU PRESTON FANS OUT THERE U SHIT CUNTS AND GET 2 LEAGUE 1 AT END OF THIS SEASON HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA SUPPPER SUPPER CLARETS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[LidolMiss]

What an amazing game!!!!!!! LOVED IT <3<3<3<3<3

PRESTON NORTH END FOR LIFE! <3<3<3

[4adams4123]

hahaha 02 tht was a gud 1 never mind leeds will make it in the championsship hopefully and when thy do oh wel be ready for them in the premiership

[JammasG]

i went on that was so cool

[ridemydonkey27]

wanna see something funny?

watch this abuse come through for me now...

IM A LEEDS FAN HONEST TRUTH !!!

and now to wait =P

[geddy8995]

LMAO! I ran on! WADDA MATCHH

[JKANDJOSH]

Nice one Preston. We did you a favour knocking Cardiff out now do us a favour and knock United Out!