Thierry Small scored an unfortunate own goal to help QPR extend their unbeaten run to four games after a 1-1 draw at Preston.

QPR, who had won their previous three Championship matches, lacked a spark until Small’s wayward clearance beat Daniel Iversen in the 82nd minute.

It came after Preston were managing to hold off Rangers’ dangerous attacks and maintain the lead that was given to them by Brad Potts a minute into the second half.

QPR failed to display any goalscoring threat for large parts of the game at Deepdale while Preston, who extended their unbeaten run to three, showed more intent early on.

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Alfie Devine had a shot deflected wide within 18 minutes, and two minutes later a flurry of crosses created a chance for Lewis Dobbin, but the striker’s scuffed effort was easily managed by Joe Walsh.

QPR trio Paul Smyth, Harvey Vale and Rayan Kolli all combined to carve an opening for Jonathan Varane to shoot, but his arrowed effort flashed wide in the 34th minute.

Within one minute of the restart, Potts put Preston ahead. It started with a surging run by Devine just past the halfway line, and as he cut in towards goal he found Potts, who stroked it past Walsh with a cool finish.

It seemed to ignite both sides into life, with QPR aiming to respond quickly. Smyth had picked up promising positions throughout the game, and on this occasion he swivelled on the ball before smashing it off the post.

Kolli drilled a shot just past Preston’s post on the hour mark as the away side started to apply more pressure.

Despite sitting deeper, North End were able to cope with QPR as they forced the in-form side into more speculative efforts.

Daniel Bennie nipped in front of his marker and tried to glance a header goalwards but struggled to get clean contact, and with 11 minutes remaining Richard Kone cut in from the left but rolled his shot straight at Iversen.

QPR’s equaliser came from a drilled cross into the box which evaded everyone apart from Small, who, with little pressure on him, sliced an attempted clearance into his own net with eight minutes left.

Preston were again on the back foot, with Bennie flicking a header goalwards that was parried away by Iversen to preserve Preston’s point.

The managers

Preston’s Paul Heckingbottom:

“I feel for everyone, for the staff and players, over the past two games.

“I have said to everyone get around Thierry (Small), no one wants to be that player.

“The frustrating thing is we scored a fantastic goal, similar to Friday but today was a purely freak goal. There is no blame. It could have happened to anyone.

“I thought we lost a bit of calmness when they equalised and that is the bit of the game we need to manage.

“I think everyone was beat up a little bit by the way we conceded the goal.”

QPR’s Julien Stephan:

“I thought first-half offensively there wasn’t enough connection or technical quality but that changed completely in the second half.

“We were very dominant, we deserved to win the game with the chances but we need to be efficient but I enjoyed the reaction from the players.

“It is important to learn from different games and sequences and sometimes we had some difficulties, especially away from home to react in the first part of the season.

“Today we were able to react and we didn’t accept the situation. It was important to show that and it shows we have improved even with this young team.

“In the last minute, Kone was the one who offered a ball and normally it is an assist.

“Offensively and defensively he did a great job today, he is a really important player for us. He will continue to improve but we enjoy to work with him.”