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Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Preston: Paul Smyth strikes equaliser in comeback for 10-man QPR

Paul Smyth scored a 90th-minute equaliser for 10-man QPR as they came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with struggling Preston.

Johnny Kenny's first goals for North End - including an opener after 64 seconds - left them in a great position in their first match since the sacking of boss Paul Heckingbottom.

But Kwame Poku pulled a goal back for Rangers midway through the second half and Smyth's late strike rescued a point for the west London side.

A run of six defeats from seven games left Preston bottom of the Sky Bet Championship, and this week cost Heckingbottom his job.

Johnny Kenny celebrates after scoring for Preston at QPR

Image: Johnny Kenny celebrates after scoring for Preston at QPR

But Irish striker Kenny, a recent signing from Celtic, put them in control at Loftus Road, scoring from the first attack of the game and then doubling their lead after Rangers' Dennis Cirkin had been sent off.

First-team coach Jason Euell, placed in caretaker charge following Heckingbottom's exit, could not have wished for a better start.

Stan Mills' long ball should have been routinely dealt with by Jimmy Dunne near the halfway line, but the R's skipper hesitated and Kenny robbed him before racing through and slotting past goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

Worse followed for Rangers on the quarter-hour mark when Cirkin was shown a red card after clattering into Leo Leroy.

Andrew Hughes should then have made it 2-0 but headed Alfie Devine's cross wide of the target when unmarked.

That was a let-off for Rangers, but they were punished for more sloppy defending in the 26th minute.

Mills burst into the box from the right-hand side, Ronnie Edwards and Nicolas Madsen attempted to stop him but got in each other's way and Kenny met the resulting loose ball with a low first-time shot into the far corner of the net.

That left QPR battling against the odds, but they did create openings, the first of which came just before half-time when Poku was just unable to connect with Kealey Adamson's cross.

Rangers continued to attack after the break and Edwards volleyed wide, substitute Koki Saito also fired past a post, and both Madsen and Amadou Mbengue sent shots over the crossbar.

They were rewarded for their persistence with a goal after 66 minutes - winger Poku's first for the club.

Dunne was crowded out as he tried to flick on Smyth's long throw but Poku skillfully created some space for himself near the edge of the penalty area and thumped a low shot past Daniel Iversen.

Preston then had to cling on, with both teams hitting the woodwork as Rangers searched for an equaliser.

Callum Lang's header from Andrija Vukcevic's cross hit the top of the bar and, at the other end, Alfie Lloyd hit the bar shortly before being denied by Iversen at point-blank range.

Iversen could do nothing about Smyth's 20-yard rocket but did produce another fine save in the final seconds, this time to deny Madsen.

The managers

QPR's Julien Stephan:

"In the second half we didn't play with one less player, (it felt like) we played with 11 on the pitch because the fans were unbelievable.

"Honestly, I don't remember something similar to this in my career. This second half will stay in my mind and my heart for a very long time.

"It's one point but probably more like three points in the hearts of the fans and the players."

Preston caretaker boss Jason Euell:

"Disappointing, really. I feel that when you're 2-0 up and you put yourself in that type of position, and playing against 10 men, you want to be coming out of that with more than a point.

"Even at half-time, I said to the players that I was loving them and hating them in the same breath - loving the fact that we're 2-0 up and doing the right things, but hating you right about now because we are putting ourselves in positions where we're allowing them to get stronger in the game even with the extra player.

"It's a learning curve for the players, being in this situation where we're 2-0 up against 10 men and allowing QPR to be the more dominant team for a long period. This is where we need to have that calmness and focus in game management.

"We're disappointed and I know the fans will be. Great, you've got a point, but you know you've dropped two."

What the result means and next fixtures...