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Middlesbrough have won four and drawn one of their opening five Championship games under new boss Rob Edwards (left) Sontje Hansen scored his first Middlesbrough goal in stoppage time to maintain the Teessiders' unbeaten start to the Championship season on a dramatic day at Deepdale. Hansen, signed in the summer from Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, netted during a frantic goalmouth scramble in the second minute of added time. Although early leaders Middlesbrough missed the chance to win their opening five league games for the first time in their 149-year history, they showed plenty of fight to twice come from behind. Preston thought they had snatched victory in the 88th minute when defender Jordan Storey headed home to restore their lead. But Rob Edwards' side refused to be beaten and Hansen netted to salvage a point and maintain their lead at the top of the Championship. Middlesbrough had lost their past five visits to Preston and Edwards was thrilled with the character they displayed. North End, meanwhile, will be disappointed not to have won after Lewis Dobbin fired them ahead with a superb opener. Dobbin looks determined to get his career back on track after failing to make an impression at Aston Villa following a £10million move from Everton last summer. The on-loan winger impressed on the left for Preston and beat Luke Ayling to fire home from the edge of the box after 22 minutes. Ayling and Michael Smith spurned chances for each side before Matt Targett volleyed home on 72 minutes to haul Middlesbrough level after great trickery from teenager Sverre Nypan. When Storey powered home a late header from six yards from a corner, Preston thought their winning run against Boro at Deepdale would continue. But then Hansen stepped up to deny them to send the 5, 600 away fans wild after Boro peppered the home goal in time added on. Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "As I've said to the players, we're a little bit deflated in there when you concede late. "If we had the same performance levels and if they had not scored a really late equaliser, we would all be jumping through hoops. "So I think we have to reflect on the overall game and I'm really pleased with it. It was a really entertaining game and I'm proud of them. " This video can not be played ‘I’m proud of them. A good performance against a good side’ - Heckingbottom Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards told BBC Radio Tees: "I really enjoyed the game. I thought it was a cracking game of football. I really enjoyed the performance. "No one is going to make it easy for us and no one has a God-given right to turn up and win games of football. "Preston are good and they have shown that here with the teams they have beaten. What we did today was show lots of character and we came from behind twice, which we have not had to do yet this season. " This video can not be played Edwards: 'I loved the reaction from the team' After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 13th September 2025 at 17: 57 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Paul Heckingbottom Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Rob Edwards Formation: 3 - 4 - 3 Manager: Paul Heckingbottom Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Rob Edwards Formation: 3 - 4 - 3 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Preston North End are unbeaten in each of their last three league matches against Middlesbrough (W2 D1), while they’ve won six of their previous 10 league games against them (D1 L3). Middlesbrough have lost each of their last five away league games against Preston North End; they last lost six successive away league games to side in May 2017 against Chelsea. Preston have won both of their home league games so far this season; they last won three in a row in the league at Deepdale in February 2024, with the third win in that run coming against Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough remain the only side in the Championship with a 100% record, winning all four of their games so far and conceding only once. They’ve never won their opening five league games of a Football League campaign before. Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway has scored in his last two league games, with both strikes ultimately acting as the winning goal. He last scored in three consecutive matches in August 2022 with Bristol City. Match ends, Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 2. Second Half ends, Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 2. Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough). Ali Mc Cann (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Ali Mc Cann (Preston North End). Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End). Goal! Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 2. Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner. Attempt saved. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) with an attempt from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Luke Ayling. Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lewis Gibson. Attempt blocked. Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett. Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Pol Valentín (Preston North End). Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sontje Hansen replaces Alfie Jones. Goal! Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 1. Jordan Storey (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman with a cross following a corner. Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Matt Targett. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.