Jon Parkin struck a dramatic late equaliser as Preston preserved their long unbeaten run at Deepdale with a 1-1 draw in their Coca-Cola Championship clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Francis Jeffers looked to have secured three points for the Owls when he stabbed home Sean McAllister's cross on the half hour.

However, Parkin fired home a left-footed shot from 12 yards in the second minute of injury-time to snatch a share of the spoils for Alan Irvine's men, who have not lost a league game on home turf since their 3-2 defeat to Southampton on November 1.

The result was harsh on Wednesday, who were denied on numerous occasions by home goalkeeper Andy Lonergan and also saw Jermaine Johnson strike the post shortly after the interval.

Parkin headed against the bar for Preston in the closing stages of the first-half, but Preston rarely looked like breaking down an Owls defence which had leaked 37 goals on their travels prior to this game - the worst record in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The result sees Preston drop out of the top six and also dents Wednesday's slim hopes of claiming a play-off place.

Parkin and Paul McKenna returned to the Preston side after missing the 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace through suspension, while Chris Sedgwick was also named in Alan Irvine's starting XI following a recent hernia injury.

For Wednesday, Jeffers replaced the injured Leon Clarke in attack, while Mark Beevers and Darren Potter came in for Richard Hinds and James O'Connor.

The opening stages of the game provided little in the way of entertainment as both sides struggled to create a clear-cut chance.

After 18 minutes, Preston's Ross Wallace forced Lee Grant into the first save of the match with a driven left-footed effort from 20 yards.

At the other end of the field, the impressive Andrew Davies was on hand to block strikes from Tudgay and Jeffers.

Wednesday then went ahead on the half hour as Jeffers grabbed only his second goal of the season.

Lonergan produced a stunning acrobatic stop to keep out a 25-yarder from Gray as the Owls pushed for a second, before Parkin headed a Wallace cross against the woodwork in first-half stoppage time.

Wednesday began the second period strongly and Gray saw another effort parried away by Lonergan before Jeffers lifted a shot over the bar from Lewis Buxton's cross.

Johnson then struck the post with a curling effort from 18 yards and the Jamaican saw another strike blocked by Davies as the Owls bombarded the North End goal.

Preston briefly threatened themselves after 56 minutes, although Billy Jones' dipping long-range effort provided little problem to Grant.

Wednesday were soon back on the attack, and Lonergan saved his side once again, palming away a header from Jeffers after the forward had rose to meet Gray's inswinging corner.

Preston introduced Neil Mellor for Carter on the hour mark and minutes later Davies hobbled off to be replaced by Youl Mawene.

The French defender almost got his side back on level terms after 69 minutes when he met a corner from Barry Nicholson, who had replaced the injured Wallace at the break, but his header was tipped over by Grant.

The Owls keeper was called upon to make further stops from Eddie Nolan and Parkin as Preston desperately threw men forward late on.

And the hosts were finally rewarded in the dying seconds as Parkin grabbed his fifth goal in eight games.

Teams

Preston Lonergan, Jones, St. Ledger, Davies (Mawene 65),Nolan, Sedgwick, McKenna, Carter (Mellor 60),Wallace (Nicholson 46), Elliott, Parkin.

Subs Not Used: Neal, Brown.

Goals: Parkin 90.

Sheff Wed Grant, Buxton, Beevers, Wood, Spurr, Gray,McAllister, Potter, Johnson (O'Connor 90), Tudgay,Jeffers (Sodje 81).

Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Hinds, Simek.

Goals: Jeffers 30.

Att: 12,381

Ref: Andy Penn (W Midlands).