ANYONE who was not at Saturday's (February 14) match and saw the scoreline: Brentford 0 PNE 0, could be forgiven for thinking that it was a drab affair.

It was never that, it could have been 4-4.

Preston gave a debut appearance to on-loan signing John Mullin from Sunderland, once of Burnley.

He really looked the part in the opening exchanges as Preston came at Brentford, looking for their first league win since mid-December in what was a relegation six-pointer.

North End looked certain to take the lead when Lee Ashcroft showed some fine skill down the left to get into the box and play a neat low ball that only required a deflection from Nogan to score.

He couldn't apply it and the chance was gone.

Brentford took time to settle down, but they had a great chance to take the lead when Paul Watson's perfect corner was met by Hogg completely unmarked, but his header went just over the crossbar.

Cockerill got into the act for Brentford and his powerful shot was destined for the back of the net until Moilanen made the first of many fine saves to keep the ball out.

Inspired by Appleton and Gregan in midfield, Preston's attack created a good chance for Mullin who raced at the Brentford defence.

His shot was blocked by the keeper but came back to Nogan and a goal looked likely.

Again, Nogan couldn't direct the ball into the net.

Cartwright produced a good run down the right and it took a great interception by Hutchings to prevent him squeezing the ball in at the near post.

Then Sean Gregan hit a rocket from 35 yards that would have taken the goalnet from its moorings had it gone in.

Sadly for North End it was a foot wide.

Having survived, Brentford came at Preston and Moilanen produced another fine save to stop a scorching header from Hutchings.

Rapley headed just wide for Brentford and then he just wanted the ground to swallow him up when he missed the chance of the season.

Five yards out, the goal at his mercy, he shot so wide that the ball didn't go out of play and the home fans just couldn't believe it.

Taylor looked to have won it for Brentford with a 30-yard blockbuster that was going high into the net.

Moilanen took off after it and a wonderful one-handed save steered the ball over the crossbar.

In a late onslaught by Preston in stoppage time, Ashcroft was only a few inches away from netting the winner. On the whistle, Ashcroft again went close as the ball took a deflection and went wide.

Man of the match, by a mile was keeper Tepi Moilanen as the flying Finn had his best ever game .

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