Paul Smyth delivered a dramatic 90th‑minute equaliser for a reduced‑strength Queens Park Rangers, rescuing a point after they rallied from a two‑goal deficit to finish the match level at 2-2 against a struggling Preston side. The opening goal came from Johnny Kenny, who marked his debut for the North End with a swift strike just 64 seconds after kickoff. Kenny, a recent acquisition from Celtic, gave Preston a comfortable lead early in the game, putting them in a commanding position in what was the first fixture following the dismissal of manager Paul Heckingbottom. However, the balance shifted in the second half when Kwame Poku found the net for QPR, narrowing the gap midway through the period.
The decisive blow came in stoppage time when Smyth, capitalising on a long throw from Jimmy Dunne, slipped a low finish past goalkeeper Daniel Iversen to secure a point for the west‑London club. Preston have endured a disastrous run of form, losing six of their last seven Championship matches and sitting at the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table. The poor run led to Heckingbottom’s departure, and caretaker boss Jason Euell, formerly a first‑team coach, was thrust into the helm. Euell could not have hoped for a smoother start to his interim tenure.
The opening minutes saw Stan Mills launch a long ball that should have been easily dealt with by Dunne near the halfway line. Instead, the Preston captain hesitated, allowing Kenny to intercept, sprint forward and calmly slot the ball past QPR goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
The early goal set the tone for what appeared to be a dominant display by the home side. The early advantage was amplified when defender Dennis Cirkin was sent off after a reckless challenge on Leo Leroy just after the 15‑minute mark, reducing QPR to ten men. With a man advantage, Preston could have extended their lead further, and a chance fell to Andrew Hughes, who headed Alfie Devine’s cross wide despite being unmarked.
That miss proved costly. In the 26th minute, Mills broke into the box from the right, and after a brief scramble involving Ronnie Edwards and Nicolas Madsen, Kenny seized the loose ball and fired a low first‑time shot into the far corner, doubling Preston’s lead. At this point, QPR appeared to be fighting an uphill battle, yet they continued to generate opportunities. Just before the break, Poku attempted to connect with a cross from Kealey Adamson but failed to find a clean strike.
The half‑time whistle blew with Preston leading 2‑0, and the home crowd were confident of a comfortable victory. The second half saw QPR adopt a more aggressive approach. Edwards’ volley drifted wide, substitute Koki Saito struck a post, and both Madsen and Amadou Mbengue sent shots over the bar.
Their persistence paid off in the 66th minute when winger Kwame Poku, on his first goal for the club, capitalised on a chaotic moment. Dunne tried to flick on Smyth’s long throw, but Poku created a pocket of space at the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a low drive that slipped past Iversen, reducing the deficit to 2‑1. Preston were forced to cling to their lead as the match intensified.
Both sides rattled the woodwork: Callum Lang’s header from an Andrija Vukcevic cross struck the top of the bar, while Alfie Lloyd’s effort hit the bar on the opposite end before being denied by Iversen at close range. In the dying moments, Smyth’s 20‑yard strike found the back of the net, drawing QPR level. Iversen managed a crucial save earlier, denying Madsen, but could not prevent the final equaliser. The match ended 2‑2, a point that felt more like three for the QPR faithful.
After the game, QPR midfielder Julien Stephan reflected on the comeback: "In the second half we didn’t feel like we were a man down; the support from the fans made it feel like we had a full eleven. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my career – this night will stay with me for a long time. It’s just one point on the board, but it feels worth three in the hearts of the supporters and the players." Preston caretaker manager Jason Euell expressed disappointment: "It’s frustrating. When you’re 2‑0 up against ten men you expect to walk away with more than a point.
At half‑time I told the squad I was both loving and hating them – loving the fact we were two goals ahead and doing the right things, but hating the way we allowed them back into the game. This is a learning curve; we need to stay calm and manage the game better when we’re in the lead.
We’re disappointed and I know the fans are too. You get a point, but you also drop two." The result underscores the volatility of the Championship, where a single lapse can erase a comfortable lead, especially when a team is reduced to ten men. For Preston, the draw adds another drop‑point to a bleak season, while QPR can take heart from their resilience and the ability to fight back despite being shorthanded. Both managers will have plenty to analyse as they look ahead to the next round of fixtures.
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