BARNSLEY 1 (Ferenczi 43)
PRESTON NORTH END 0

ISTVAN Ferenczi may have scored the goal but Heinz Muller was the Reds hero with a fantastic last minute penalty save to earn all three points.

Barnsley manager Simon Davey made two changes to the side that slumped to defeat at Leicester City last weekend with a debut for new signing Jon Macken. Macken partnered Ferenczi up front after the Hungarian's shock inclusion after shaking off an ankle injury. Ferenczi had trained since Tuesday and came back into the side after almost a month out. Goalkeeper Heinz Muller was also included in the starting eleven after recovering from illness.

Preston created the first chance of the game on two minutes after Rob Kozluk had been harshly judged to have fouled Chris Sedgwick. Darren Carter swung the free kick into the area but Dennis Souza did well to clear the danger under pressure from Brett Ormerod.

Muller then had to use all his six foot seven frame to turn Kevin Nicholls' corner kick away from the goal on four minutes as North End started strongly.

Barnsley responded and took the game to North End. Brian Howard sent in a great free kick on seven minutes for Lewin Nyatanga to attack but the Reds defender was fouling his marker as he rose to meet the ball on the six yard line.

The Reds really should have been in front on eleven minutes when Howard and Macken combined wonderfully well to free Ferenczi in the centre but the big striker was denied by Andy Lonergan's outstanding low save.

Barnsley went even closer on 16 minutes when Ferenczi's deflected shot bounced through to Macken in the six yard box. The striker turned quickly but saw his shot hacked away off the line by Matt Hill. Ferenczi and Macken again went close as the loose ball bobbled around but the North End defence somehow managed to clear.

North End were always a threat and Karl Hawley brought a world class save from Muller on 18 minutes after the ball broke on the edge of the area but the Reds keeper was in inspired form to turn his well-struck effort over the bar. Sean St Ledger then went close on 20 minutes as he rose above Stephen Foster to meet Darren Carter's corner but put his header over the top.

Muller was beaten on 28 minutes as the ball struck Sedgwick in the area and looped goalward but fell wide of the post.

Barnsley almost got it right again on 34 minutes as Sam Togwell did well to dig out a cross from the right by Macken could not get his header on target from 12 yards out. At the other end Muller had to get across his goal quickly a minute later to grab McKenna's effort.

Oakwell was finally on its feet on 43 minutes when Ferenczi stole a yard on the North End defence to meet Howard's pinpoint free kick and thundered his header past Lonergan into the back of the net.

North End were rattled and Carter was rightly shown a yellow card on 45 minutes after hacking down Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Preston could have grabbed a equaliser just seconds after the restart as Carter somehow managed to beat Foster and Campbell-Ryce to race in on goal but Muller was quickly clear the danger at the near post.

Liam Chilvers then tested his shooting boots on 51 minutes as he let fly from 35 yards but Muller was able to watch the ball fly wide of the target.

At the other end Togwell flashed a volley wide of the mark on 56 minutes after great play by Macken on the edge of the area.

The Reds should have been further in front on 58 minutes as Campbell-Ryce's cross beat the North End defence but Howard could not get his free header on target from six yards out. Howard then smashed a low shot against St Ledger a minute later as the Reds piled forward.

Barnsley goalkeeper Muller showed exactly why he is rated as one of the best outside the top flight on 64 minutes as he flung himself to pull Carter's goalbound header out of the top corner. It was one of the best saves seen at Oakwell for a long, long time.

Martin Devaney then showed up John Halls for pace down the left on 70 minutes and crossed well but Campbell-Ryce could not get his volley on target at the back post.

Campbell-Ryce turned provider just two minutes later as he raced past Hill before chipping the ball into the middle but Togwell managed to head over from six yards out.

Preston came on strong in the closing stages as Paul Simpson threw on Patrick Agyemang, Neil Mellor and Simon Whaley. The changes almost worked on 79 minutes when McKenna smashed a shot against Lewin Nyatanga and the ball fizzed just wide of the far post with Muller flat-footed.

Ferenczi should have put the result beyond all doubt on 86 minutes as he raced clear onto Howard's fine pass but Lonergan was quickly off his line to make a fine low save.

Campbell-Ryce, who had frustrated Preston with some neat showboating in the dying seconds, should have netted his first goal in stoppage time as he found himself free in the area but blazed high over the bar with only Lonergan to beat.

The game almost ended in controversy when St Ledger threw himself to the ground as if he had been shot in the area as he tussled with Kozluk. The referee gave a penalty but Muller was in no mood to let his clean sheet go as he clawed Mellor's spot kick out of the corner with an outstanding save to earn the points.

BARNSLEY: Muller, Nyatanga, Kozluk, Togwell, Howard, Ferenczi (Mostto 88), Foster, Souza, Campbell-Ryce, Macken (Odejayi 80), Devaney.
Subs: Reid, McCann, Ricketts.

PRESTON NORTH END: Lonergan, Halls, Sedgwick, Hawley (Agyemang 72), Carter, St Ledger, Chilvers, McKenna, Ormerod (Mellor 72), Hill, Nicholls (Whaley 78).
Subs: Davidson, Neal.