Preston North End 2-2 Southampton: Last-gasp Ched Evans own goal hands Saints a point

Southampton salvaged a last-gasp point at Preston in the Championship thanks to Ched Evans’ own goal.

Milutin Osmajic had come off the substitutes’ bench at half-time to inspire a North End turnaround after Kyle Walker-Peters’ excellent strike put Saints ahead.

Osmajic volleyed home an equaliser and then delightfully played in Brad Potts for a counter-attacking second, but the late drama extended the visitors’ unbeaten run to five and means the Lilywhites have now gone six without a victory.

These two teams, meeting for the first time in the league for 15 years, had seemed to be heading in different directions lately.

Ryan Lowe’s side followed a sprint start of six wins in their first seven games by failing to win in their next five, while Saints had surged up the table with a four-match unbeaten run.

That divergence of fortunes seemed to be continuing when Walker-Peters attacked down the right flank and, showed the inside by Liam Millar, curled a lovely left-footed shot beyond Freddie Woodman in the Preston goal.

Lowe responded to an ineffective first half from Mads Frokjaer-Jensen by replacing him with Osmajic, and the switch paid off in spectacular fashion.

The striker was perfectly positioned when Ben Whiteman’s free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box and struck a first-time volley past Bazunu, just seven minutes after coming on.

Osmajic was pivotal again three minutes later as Potts broke up a Southampton attack deep in his own half and continued his run after playing the ball up to Duane Holmes. The USA international fed Osmajic, with his back to goal, and he neatly turned the ball round the corner and into the path of Potts, who held off a challenge and slid his shot under Bazunu.

Preston dug in but deep in added time Bazunu’s header made its way into the net off substitute Evans to earn the visitors a point.

North End boss Ryan Lowe:

“First and foremost I’m really proud of the boys. It’s a sucker punch at the end, but I’ve no complaints about that one. We should have seen the game out by that stage.

“I’ve had to lift the lads up, they’re all disappointed because we were worthy of getting the three points. We’ve got to pick ourselves up for another big game at the weekend now.

“The Championship is a rocky road, there’s always lots of ups and downs, but I never get too frustrated any more because I know the players always give me 100 per cent effort and application.

“We’ve got a squad we can rotate and everyone knows they have to keep performing.”

Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

“We were good for 35 minutes and then 10 minutes either side of half-time have cost us the lead and changed the temperature of the game and the atmosphere here completely.

“Then the subs came in, with relentless energy and we scored a late goal again because of that, so I can’t be unhappy with the performance as a whole.

“Shea (Charles) going off was a big moment for us because he was playing really well and has tweaked his groin, hopefully not too badly.

“I’m frustrated it took Gavin Bazunu to score, and get a point out of the game, but also really proud that they stuck at it and dug in. We are five games unbeaten and have the chance on Saturday to turn it into a really brilliant week.”