QPR 0 PNE 0

THE BACK injury to Tepi Moilanen gave David Lucas the opportunity of a rare league outing and the Preston keeper took it with both gloves to turn in, at times, a breathtaking demonstration of goalkeeping at its very best to keep out a second-half onslaught from QPR on Saturday (September 9).

North End started well, Steve Basham had a 20-yard drive brilliantly saved by Lee Harper at full stretch in the bottom corner and then Paul McKenna was set up by Jon Macken to hammer in a powerful shot from the edge of the box but, again Harper was equal to it.

Preston kept coming forward and Jon Macken tried a cheeky chip of the keeper but put the ball just over the cross bar and Michael Appleton's low shot from a difficult angle was well saved by Harper.

Rangers responded with a blistering header from Stuart Wardley that just cleared the crossbar and from a well struck corner kick by Rowland, Wardley brought a fine save from David Lucas.

The opening 20 minutes of the second-half saw QPR totally dominate the action and the Preston defence was under siege. Wardley was sent clear in the box looking a certain scorer, he did everything right but Lucas beat the ball out and when it fell to Chris Kiwomya it looked a simple tap in but again Lucas saved well pushing the ball to its left.

However, it ran into the path of Kiwomya. But although Lucas wasn't able to stop the shot he did enough to limit the angle and amazingly Kiwomya shot wide.

Back came QPR in wave after wave of attacks, Wardley got his head to Langley's free-kick and the ball sped like a bullet to the top right hand corner and the home crowd was on its feet ready to salute a goal. Enter David Lucas once more, a long arm stretched to the top corner of the net and he clawed the ball around the post. Breathtaking stuff.

Sure now QPR would score as that man Wardley was in on goal again, only eight yards out, only Lucas to beat and he positively lashed in a shot at goal.

Lucas took off to his right again, again the arm was stretched and again he made a save of sheer quality and Preston were still level.

Preston hit back as QPR became increasingly frustrated and Paul McKenna sent a 20-yard drive towards the bottom corner of the net but the ball took a slight deflection for a corner.

In the time added for stoppages, Paul McKenna hit in a powerful shot from the edge of the box but it bounced off Clarke Carlisle to safety.

That was the end of the action and Preston took a valuable point to leave them in fifth position in the division.

North End deserved it on the evidence of their first-half performance and on their defensive role in the second-half.

But, the day belonged to David Lucas, he was absolutely magnificent and an automatic choice for the man of the match award.

Preston boss David Moyes said: "We have always known David is a good keeper.

"We have started well and we have got a point, but I always thought we could get and goal and might have won it."