Billy Jones rescued a point for the Lilywhites as North End came from behind twice against Middlesbrough.

Jones stooped to head home an unlikely equaliser in the second minute of added time to grab a share of the spoils after Boro's managerless team had threatened to continue their fine away form with another victory.

Gary O'Neil had put the North East side ahead just before the break when his free-kick found its way through the Preston wall before squirming underneath Andy Lonergan. The Lilywhites were back on level terms midway through the second half when Paul Parry squeezed the ball home at the far post, his first goal since making a return from injury.

The ever dangerous Adam Johnson looked to have won the game when he slid home a shot on 66 minutes but Billy Jones was the hero of the day nodding home Ross Wallace's free kick as the game looked to have slipped beyond the home team.

Preston boss Alan Irvine made two changes to the side which had done so well to grab all three points in the midweek trip to Hillsborough. Darren Carter came in for Richard Chaplow, whilst Paul Parry made his first start since the 12th September replacing Chris Sedgwick on the right flank.

Boro started the game brightly backed by an impressive chorus of more than 3,000 fans and it was no surprise to see the presence of Sean St. Ledger travelling forward for early set-pieces. St Ledger had nothing to do with Middlesbrough's first dangerous set-piece though. Gary O'Neil hitting a free-kick from 30-yards which was headed for the top corner before Andy Lonergan pulled off an impressive flying save to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Preston's first strike at goal came in the 19th minute, Ross Wallace picking up the pieces after Jon Parkin's huge frame had caused a momentary panic in the Boro backline, Wallace's shot across the face of goal though was heading across the face of goal and away from danger the moment it left the Scotsman's left boot.

Young French midfielder Didier Digard got a little closer with an effort on 25 minutes. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box he cut inside the challenge of Shumulikoski and hit a volley which had Lonergan scrambling across goal, to see the ball bounce just on the outside of the post.

North End were almost masters of their own demise on 29 minutes when Billy Jones' back header fell a touch too short for Lonergan and Marvin Emnes almost pounced to knock the ball into the net. Lonergan was down quickly to the ball though and blocked the ball from crossing the line.

PNE looked to be in trouble again in the 33rd minute, Gary O'Neil beat Liam Chilvers to the ball on the half-way line and for a moment the visitors had a three on two situation. O'Neil played the ball to his left where Leroy Lita surged into the box before flashing a strike just a yard or two over the crossbar.

The Lilywhites were the next to have a strike at goal, a corner from Wallace on the right and Brad Jones could only punch the ball towards the edge of the box where Parry smashed a volley towards goal, Gary O'Neil was brave to block the ball away for a corner.

Jon Parkin had been looking for a clean header at goal and he finally got one six minutes before the break. Eddie Nolan finding time and space on the left flank to deliver a great cross with his left foot onto the head of Parkin, the big man could get no power on the header though and his header was easily saved by Jones.

Managerless Boro took the lead two minutes from the break. Paul Parry was deemed guilty of blocking Adam Johnson on the edge of the box, Gary O'Neil stepped up to hit the free-kick and his low shot somehow found its way through the wall and under the body of Lonergan.

The second half saw North End create plenty more chances than they did in the opening 45 minutes. The first of those chances came when Mellor was challenged on the edge of the box and the ball fell kindly into the path of Carter, the midfielder took the ball in his stride before hitting a low curling effort that was only inches wide of Jones' right-sided post.

Preston's next opportunity created the equaliser. Ross Wallace provided a delightful ball to the near post, Parkin's bullet header was kept out by Jones but he could only parry it into the path of Carter, Carter's shot was blocked to the far post where Paul Parry managed to squeeze the ball home for a triumphant return to Deepdale action.

Colin Cooper's team were back in front on 65 minutes. Plenty had been said about the talents of Adam Johnson prior to the match and he justified all those words of praise when he danced in from the left flank before drilling a low shot across the face of goal which nestled into the back of the net.

Jon Parkin could have levelled matters on 71 minutes when he beat the offside trap to get onto a Neill Collins ball over the top. Parkin took the ball inside St. Ledger and with only the keeper to beat he tried to bend the ball around Jones but he could not get the necessary curl on the ball and the ball went beyond the far post.

The game could have been all but over in the 75th minute, Adam Johnson again was North End's tormentor, his delivery was cleared to the edge of the box where Rhys Williams hit an almost unstoppable volley that flew through a crowd of players before striking the post and falling to Johnson who was flagged offside.

North End had to wait until the second minute of injury time for their equaliser. It looked like it was never ever going to come. Paul Parry was fouled out on the right touchline and Ross Wallace again delivered a fantastic ball into the box, Billy Jones arrived late to power a header beyond a helpless Jones. The Deepdale faithful erupted as one to celebrate an equaliser that felt like a winner - Preston will be hoping that they can now take the momentum on to their next game, at home to Crystal Palace in seven days time.