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Grayson can't ask for more

Image: Simon Grayson: Satisfied with the result

Preston boss Simon Grayson praised his side's "fantastic spirit" after Jermaine Beckford struck late on in a 1-1 draw at Crewe.

North End looked like they were going to slip to their first defeat in six league games after Crewe substitute George Cooper struck nine minutes from time. But Beckford - who had earlier missed from six yards out - ran on to a flick-on from Kevin Davies to slot the ball past Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt to level two minutes later. "We're disappointed, but satisfied as well," said Grayson. "Crewe are a bogey team for us and they have had two good results. We couldn't have done any more to win a game - the only shot they had hit the back of the net. "We created and missed numerous opportunities, but I can't ask any more from the players as they performed ever so well. "We have taken seven points out of nine over the Christmas period. We're disappointed we've dropped two, but we showed good character to come back. "I did think it wasn't going to be our day, but we showed fantastic spirit and the players who came in did well for us as I knew they would. "You have to give credit to their keeper and Jermaine missed a couple of chances, but kept going and got the equaliser for us. We put so much pressure on for the away team." Veteran forward Davies kept Preston's promotion bandwagon rolling. His classy back-heel helped set up Paul Gallagher, but the first-half chance went begging when the Scot swept the ball all too comfortably into Garratt's arms. Preston upped the tempo after the break with John Welsh crashing a long-range shot at Garratt, who then did well to come off his line to thwart Andy Little. Beckford was flung on to pep up the visiting attack, but the on-loan Bolton striker was left with his head in his hands after slicing wide. It looked a costly miss when Cooper hit a low right-footed finish into the bottom corner for the home side after being set up by Nicky Ajose. But Beckford kept his cool to finally beat Garratt and Davies went close to winning it in stoppage time when he had an effort charged down in front of goal. Improving Crewe have picked up seven points from their nine festive games and boss Steve Davies said: "We want better, the players, staff and supporters. We are moving in the right direction. "Our form hadn't been good, but we've started to get some belief from our performances and we're not only finding a way of winning, but a way of not losing. "It was a really hard game for us as they pressurised us all through the second half and in the end we succumbed to that. "The Oldham game (on Boxing Day) with 10 men really took it out of the players. "But although we didn't create a lot of chances we defended really well."

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