AN explosive moment, four minutes into added time in the first half, saw Preston skipper Sean Gregan, pictured, given the red card and a match which North End looked like winning turned, in that agonising clash with Paul McCarthy, into one that Preston now needed to avoid losing as they battled through the following 45 minutes with ten and a re-jigged formation.

Goals just had to come and they did, two in the space of five minutes with North End scoring first.

A well-worked free kick out on the left was crossed by Alexander high to the back post.

The ball dropped perfectly to the unmarked Nogan. It was a goal of quality.

Five minutes later Bates played a free kick from the centre circle onto the head of McCarthy; he touched the ball into the path of Devine who had the ball beyond Lucas into the net.

McKenna came on for Eyres and North End played with three in the middle of the park.

Only heroics by David Lucas and some good defending kept Wycombe at bay to give PNE a point.

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