Hugill’s howitzer halts winning run for Lowe and co
RYAN LOWE refused to be downbeat despite Preston being knocked off top spot after missing out on a magnificent seventh straight win.
Liam Lindsay’s towering header earned a point to maintain North End’s impressive unbeaten start.
But the Lilywhites dropped to third after Deepdale old boy Jordan Hugill reminded them just what he can do by breaking the deadlock in stunning style before the break.
Lowe was happy to take a point back across the Pennines after his side were denied by Millers keeper Viktor Johansson.
The Preston boss insisted: “I’m pleased because it’s a good point.
“We probably couldn’t have done any more to win it. This was always going to be a tough place to come for various reasons and we made sure that, if we couldn’t win it, we at least didn’t lose.”
Hugill forged his reputation during a fouryear spell at Preston earlier in his career but there was no love lost against his old club as the striker surged forward to curl a sumptuous effort beyond Freddie Woodman from outside the area 10 minutes before the interval.
It was the 31-year-old’s second of the season and both have come against former clubs. Preston made most of the running but Johansson stood firm to twice deny striker Milutin Osmajic and midfielder Ryan Ledson in a stand-out display.
But the Sweden Under-21s international was helpless when Lindsay was allowed a free run to find the net with a thumping header from Robbie Brady’s 45th-minute corner.
Tyler Blackett sliced Brad Potts’ late cross onto his own post as the Millers hung on for a point.
But that didn’t prevent them from falling into the bottom three.
Matt Taylor now faces a one-game touchline ban for his latest yellow card after remonstrating with referee Sam Allison.
The Rotherham boss said afterwards: “Preston are a good team but credit to my players, we went toe-to-toe with them.” ROTHERHAM: Johansson 8; Lembikisa 7, Humphreys 5 (Revan (46) 6), Blackett 7, Bramall 6; Clucas 6 (Nombe (73) 6), Tiehi 6, Rathbone 7; Green 5, Hugill 7 (Kelly (90) 5), Onyedinma 6 PRESTON: Woodman 7; Storey 6, Lindsay 8, Hughes 6; Potts 6, Mccann 4 (Whiteman (71) 6), Ledson 6 (Stewart (88) 5), Brady 6 (Millar (70) 3); Holmes 7 (Frokjaer (70) 4), Browne 6; Osmajic 6 STAR MAN: Viktor Johansson – The Swedish keeper earned the Millers a point with a fine display.
Sam Allison 7