Preston manager Ryan Lowe felt a “moment of brilliance” was the only thing missing from his side’s performance as their winning streak came to an end with a 1-1 draw at Rotherham.
North End’s red-hot form had seen them win their last six games and emerge as the early leaders in the Championship.
But a goal from one-time Preston forward Jordan Hugill put them on the back foot in South Yorkshire and, although they managed to level before the break through Liam Lindsay, a winning goal proved elusive.
Lowe said: “It’s a fantastic point for us.
“We know coming here was always going to be tough. We would have loved three points, of course, but we say if you can’t win it, don’t lose it.
“We thought we opened them up quite a bit to get the winner, but it wasn’t to be.
“We were disappointed to concede, but it’s a great goal from Jordan. Credit where it’s due.
“I thought they had some flashes and good moments, but we were the team looking to win it. I thought we had the opportunities.
“We just did not have that moment of brilliance. We probably could not have done any more other than put it in the back of the net.”
Milutin Osmajic had a golden opportunity to put Preston in front when he was found by Duane Holmes, but his close-range header was kept out by Viktor Johansson.
Instead, Hugill gave the Millers the lead after 35 minutes with a stunning solo goal, holding off a challenge before lashing a shot into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Tyler Blackett then stopped Lindsay’s flicked header from crossing the line.
Preston’s set-pieces caused no end of problems for the home side and Lindsay rose highest from a wicked delivery from Robbie Brady to head in the equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
There were fewer chances in the second period, but it was Preston pushing to get the winner.
They almost got it when Brad Potts’ dangerous cross was turned against a post by a diving Blackett.
Millers manager Matt Taylor said: “It was a good game of football. Things seemed to go against us at certain moments.
“They’re a good team and you can see that.
“We had to rejig things at half-time and tried to go toe-to-toe with a very good team. I did not envisage having that defence in the second half, but it was a case of needs must. Tyler was what I want him to be, a man mountain.
“The most sensible thing was to go to a back five, but it had legs about it. It’s certainly a formation I have used in the past. We have got to keep finding ways to adapt during games.
“It was more of a structured game. It was not pretty for the first 20 minutes, but it was solid.
“It was not spectacular in any way, but it calmed a few bodies down. Then the game disconnects and space appears.”
Taylor will now face a touchline ban after picking up a booking for complaining about decisions.
He added: “I have to somehow find a way of highlighting the deficiencies. It’s my third booking now.
“I will keep getting fined and paying them. Somebody has got to stand up for Rotherham United. I have to fight for my players.
“We have got full-time referees at Championship level, but it doesn’t look like it.
“Will anything get done? Time will tell.”
Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Watford: Two-goal Gray rescues point for Rooney's side
Andre Gray scored twice against his former club to salvage a point for struggling Plymouth Argyle as they drew 2-2 with Watford on Friday.
Gray curled in an equaliser in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to seal a crucial point for Wayne Rooney's side in their bid for survival in the Championship.
The visitors made a quick start at Home Park when Ivorian striker Vakoun Bayo bundled in a cross from Yasser Larouci only eight minutes in.
Plymouth did, however, equalise against the run of play in the 23rd minute when Lewis Gibson's long ball into the box was met with a spectacular volley from Gray.
Watford regained the lead before the break when Imran Louza's free-kick was knocked back by Mattie Pollock, with centre-back Ryan Porteous on hand to steer the ball home.
But just as it looked like Watford would go home with all three points, Gray picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired home a stunning effort beyond Daniel Bachmann.
Tom Cleverley's Watford sit in fifth place and trail leaders Sunderland by five points, while Plymouth are 17th with 17 points from 16 matches.
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
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