Milutin Osmajic rescues point for Preston against Watford

Milutin Osmajic came off the bench to rescue a point for Preston in a thrilling 2-2 draw with fellow play-off hopefuls Watford at Deepdale.

The 26-year-old returned to the squad after his three-match suspension and bagged his sixth goal of the season on 70 minutes to claw the Lilywhites level.

Preston had taken the lead through a well-taken Lewis Dobbin strike in the 19th minute but were pegged back by Othmane Maamma’s cool 55th-minute leveller and fell behind due to an unfortunate own goal from Odel Offiah two minutes later.

It was the first match in charge for new Watford boss Edward Still, brother of former Southampton manager Will, and the 35-year-old would have been pleased with his team’s second-half efforts.

Watford nearly shot themselves in the foot in the opening stages with Saba Goglichidze reacting brilliantly to block Dobbin’s goal-bond strike after Daniel Jebbison found his strike partner in the box.

After a decent start, North End got themselves in front as Dobbin got in front of Matthew Pollock to direct Ben Whiteman’s low ball across Egil Selvik and into the corner.

At the other end, Maamma nearly turned provider for an equaliser in the 34th minute, picking out Luca Kjerrumgaard in the six-yard box, only for Dai Cornell to make an excellent save, and the Welshman also had to be on his toes to keep hold of Imran Louza’s long-range effort seven minutes later.

Watford started the second half strongly and Maamma burst in behind and forced Cornell into a save at his near post but, just a minute later, the all-action Moroccan found himself in bags of space on the left and he shifted inside Jordan Storey before sliding the ball into the corner for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Momentum had suddenly swung and Watford stormed into the lead as Offiah inexplicably turned half-time substitute Kwadwo Baah’s drilled cross into his own net.

Watford were in control and then, against the run of play, substitute Osmajic levelled with almost a carbon-copy of Maamma’s goal, shifting inside of Pollock after latching onto Callum Lang’s pass, but the Montenegrin instead powered a strike past Selvik at his near post.

Nonetheless, the visitors continued to probe, and twice nearly restored their lead in spectacular fashion as Edo Kayembe volleyed narrowly wide via a deflection from 20 yards before Nampalys Mendy rattled the inside of the post with another volley from 25 yards.

Still’s men looked likelier to win but Storey headed over Alfie Devine’s free-kick in added time from a decent position in the game’s final chance.