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Dickov content with stalemate

Image: Paul Dickov: Happy to share the spoils

Paul Dickov felt Doncaster deserved a point after Nathan Tyson grabbed an injury-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Preston.

Rovers were staring at a second straight defeat when Chris Humphrey's 66th-minute wonder strike flew into the top corner of the net, but Tyson netted amidst a goalmouth scramble with time running out. "I thought overall, considering we lost Rob Jones early doors, had a change of system and new players coming in, it was fantastic," said Dickov. "Considering the age of the back four and they were up against the likes of Joe Garner, Paul Gallagher and Chris Humphrey, who tore Scunthorpe apart on Saturday, I thought they did really well and showed a lot of maturity beyond their years. "We asked the boys to be patient. We know Preston are a strong team going forward and defensively they get a lot of bodies back and make it very hard." On Jones' injury, which prompted the Rovers skipper to leave the pitch inside the first 10 minutes, Dickov added: "He's okay, he's a little bit down but he took an elbow to the side of his neck and head early on and it was a sore one so we brought him off. He'll have a scan and we'll hope for the best." After Jones' departure Rovers responded well, with James Coppinger and Kyle Bennett both going close. Coppinger's brilliant run ended with a shot into Jamie Jones' midriff, before the North End goalkeeper denied Theo Robinson just before the break. In the second half, Marc De Val nearly caught Jones out with a free-kick from 40 yards, but he got back to tip the ball over. Preston finally mustered a response and Jed Steer did well to palm away Alan Browne's effort, before the visitors went ahead when Paul Gallagher's cross was headed out to Humphrey and he blasted a stunning effort past Steer. But right at the death, there was a scramble in the Preston box and substitute Tyson was on hand to thump home from close range. It was a double-edged sword for Simon Grayson. The North End boss was frustrated to see his side denied a win, although he was happy to pick up a fourth away point in four days following Saturday's 4-0 success at Scunthorpe. "It hurts to concede late on, but that's what happens," he said. "We scored the other week late at Notts County to equalise - it will equal itself out over the course of the season. "I thought we put in a real professional performance as we were expecting a reaction from Doncaster after their defeat at the weekend. We knew it was going to be tough and they gave us the respect in that they changed their formation for the first time this season to match us up by playing a 4-3-3. "I'm not too despondent, though, as to take four points from the two games this week is very pleasing."

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