Derby claimed a 2-2 draw with Preston after defender Jordan Stewart scored the pick of the goals.
Spoils shared at Pride Park after spirited rear-guard action
Derby claimed a 2-2 draw with Preston after defender Jordan Stewart scored the pick of the goals in Tuesday's Championship clash.
Rob Hulse gave Paul Jewell's side the lead in the eighth minute but Callum Davidson cancelled out Derby's opener when he equalised from the penalty spot.
Preston took control of the first half and grabbed a deserved lead in the 29th minute when Neil Mellor struck from 18 yards out but Stewart volleyed home from distance to level before half-time.
Derby dominated the possession and carved out the best chances after the break and Preston were indebted to goalkeeper Andy Lonergan who made a string of saves to ensure his side collected a share of the points.
Positive
Preston started positively and Chris Brown brought a save out of Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll in the fourth minute with a header from Richard Chaplow's cross.
Derby took the lead five minutes later when Paul Green flicked the ball on from a free-kick to Hulse on the left edge of the penalty area.
The Rams striker evaded the attentions of the North End defence and confidently smashed a low shot past Lonergan.
Preston almost levelled in the 17th minute when a Davidson cross picked out Mellor, but the former Liverpool striker was unable to control his shot from just outside the box.
Alan Irvine's side equalised four minutes later though when the lively Ross Wallace was brought down by Derby striker Emanuel Villa inside the area.
Referee Keith Woolmer pointed to the spot and Davidson gave Carroll no chance as he powerfully dispatched the resulting spot-kick into the top corner.
Preston were now firmly on top and took the lead in the 29th minute.
Mellor created a shooting opportunity on the right side of the area and struck a low shot past Carroll from 18 yards.
However, Derby equalised in the 32nd minute with a spectacular long-range volley from Stewart.
Pressure
Derby defender Lewin Nyatanga then went close before the half-time break when he brought a smart save out of Lonergan from inside the six-yard box.
And the home side were presented with a chance two minutes after the interval when Preston defender Sean St Ledger fouled Nathan Ellington on the edge of the box.
Rams midfielder Przemyslaw Kazmierczak struck a powerful free-kick at goal which beat Lonergan but rebounded back out off the crossbar.
Preston were now on the back foot and moments later Kazmierczak's corner was met by the head of Darren Powell but Lonergan was alert to save.
The home side continued to look dangerous from set-piece situations and a dangerous outswinging corner from Kazmierczak in the 51st minute was met by Miles Addison but he could only direct his attempt straight at Lonergan.
North End weathered the storm and Brown twice went close to putting his side ahead from two successive corners midway through the second half.
Carroll parried a Brown header to safety after he had met a corner from Wallace and the striker flashed another header, this time from a Chaplow corner, over the bar.
Derby had the best chance to secure maximum points nine minutes from time through Hulse.
Poland international Kazmierczak whipped a superb ball into the box and Hulse powered a header at goal but Lonergan saved superbly to ensure the match finished all square.
