Preston 1-1 Millwall: Zian Flemming scores beauty to earn Lions point in first game after Gary Rowett's departure

Report and free match highlights from Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Millwall at Deepdale on Saturday; Zian Flemming earned Lions point after Mads Frokjaer-Jensen rolled in early opener for hosts

Saturday 21 October 2023 17:33, UK

Preston halted a run of three straight defeats with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to managerless Millwall.

Now without the departed Gary Rowett, the Lions turned in a solid display as the hosts struggled to find a way through their resolute defence.

An at-times feisty encounter produced an eye-catching opening half-an-hour, but after that it never really scaled the heights at any point.

Preston's Duane Holmes had already gone close before Adam Barrett's second stint in caretaker charge of the Lions got off to a nightmare start.

In only the third minute a smart North End move culminated with Will Keane flicking the ball to Mads Frokjaer-Jensen, and the talented Dane coolly slotted past Bartosz Bialkowski from 12 yards.

Ryan Lowe's hosts had flown out of the blocks, but Millwall were then thwarted by the woodwork in the eighth minute.

Aidomo Emakhu darted down the right before seeing a deflected strike brilliantly palmed onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

A real ding-dong battle continued with North End going close again when Holmes ran energetically through the middle before his rasping shot was beaten away by Bialkowski.

At the other end, Emakhu charged towards the heart of the North End defence before seeing Woodman calmly hold on to his 20-yard drive.

A cracking strike evened the scores on the half-hour mark as Allan Campbell played a neat touch to Zian Flemming, with the Dutchman then curling home sweetly into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Millwall created the first opening of the second period, with tidy approach play setting up Campbell inside the box, but he fired disappointingly straight at Woodman.

As the Lions continued to press, Flemming dived in spectacularly but could not quite stretch enough to meet Brooke Norton-Cuffy's super cross.

Finally the hosts found themselves some forward rhythm, only for the Lions' rear-guard to continually stand strong.

As the 70-minute mark passed there was precious little goalmouth incident, though North End threatened when Brad Potts' volleyed cross deflected off Millwall's Joe Bryan before being saved by an alert Bialkowski.

Ched Evans - on as a substitute after missing seven months out injured - also went close with a flicked header.

Millwall replied with Flemming firing a rather disappointing free-kick way off target with the final action of the game, something that summed up what had been a hugely below-par effort from both teams in the second 45 minutes.

The managers

Preston's Ryan Lowe:

"It's all about finding a way to get points on the board, and we've done that today. We were fantastic in the first 15 minutes, but then they pegged us back. Flemming is a top player, and he's put their equaliser right in the top bins. We've got bodies up the pitch and we created a really strong impetus, but it just wasn't enough unfortunately.

"Millwall were really hanging on towards the end, but as I've said many times before, if you can't win, just make sure you don't lose. The final ball just quite wasn't there I suppose. It was a 90 per cent performance from us today, but we need another per cent. We know exactly what Millwall are like. They're a decent side, but we have to move on now and see what Wednesday brings."

Millwall caretaker Adam Barrett:

"I was delighted with the application and the attitude of all the lads. It's been a hectic few days with what's gone on, but the lads are experienced and it's all been quite seamless really. This is football, and we move on. I'm delighted with the point. It was quite a nervy start from the lads, and we didn't get out of the blocks in the manner I'd have liked.

"We reacted really well after that opening 10 or 15 minutes, though. We moved the ball well and got ourselves a great goal. The second half was a bit scrappy, and a bit too stop-start. I was pleased with how the lads dug in, though. This is a good point away at a really strong Preston side."