Saturday 26 September 2015 22:15, UK
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett praised the officials and Kevin McDonald after the midfielder's late equaliser earned his side a 1-1 draw at nine-man Preston
Daniel Johnson's 10th-minute goal looked like it was enough to earn the hosts just their second Championship win of the season but North End made life tough when striker Joe Garner was sent off nine minutes later.
Preston's Bailey Wright was also dismissed on 81 minutes following a second bookable offence and McDonald made them pay with a curling right-footed effort from 25 yards in added time.
"It was tense. Obviously the red cards are the talking points of the game but I think the referee was right. I thought they were the right decisions. I felt he just did his job," said Jackett.
"You need craft and guile but when they're down in the box sometimes you need brute force. Fair play to Preston, though; they do defend their box well and did so for an awful long time. We're disappointed that we haven't converted enough to win the game."
The game burst into life when Johnson put Preston in front with his fourth league goal of the season but moments later Garner was shown a straight red card for a high boot which caught Wolves captain Danny Batth.
Preston keeper Jordan Pickford made a number of saves, most notably from Jed Wallace, before Bailey was given his marching orders for a second yellow card after fouling Dominic Iorfa.
Pickford made another terrific save in the 90th minute to palm away Batth's near-post header but McDonald curled a right-footed effort home a minute later to salvage a point.
"It was a great goal from Kevin McDonald, a great strike but we had other chances which all came late on and by the end we were disappointed with a point," added Jackett.
"Kevin McDonald is a big player for us and we feel he can add goals to his game and he's started to do that this season. Quite often over the last couple of seasons, when he's played well the club have played well."
Preston boss Simon Grayson said: "I'd like to say a few things but obviously I can't. First and foremost credit to the players for how they did. They started the game, 11 versus 11, and passed it around and looked to get on the front foot.
"The way they put their bodies on the line, the keeper making saves and the players working their socks off to get the three points, makes me hugely proud of what we've done.
"It's tinged with disappointment for them because the result has been taken out of our hands to a certain degree. Joe Garner's gone for the ball mid-air but not seen that the defender is there. There's no intent to hurt him.
"I've been in to see him (referee Trevor Kettle). I stick up for referees because I know they have a very tough job but there are certain referees that you know you're in for a tough afternoon from."
