Mick Harford paid tribute to Lee Camp after the QPR goalkeeper turned in a superb display to frustrate Preston.
QPR caretaker manager Mick Harfordpaid tribute to Lee Camp after the goalkeeper turned in a superb display to frustrate Preston.
The former England Under-21 international saved a first-half penalty to deny Paul Gallagher as well as producing numerous other timely stops.
The Hoops may remain rooted to the foot of the table but Harford is adamant there is room for new-found optimism after back-to-back draws against North End and Ipswich at the weekend.
"I thought some of our defending was first class and obviously Lee will get all the plaudits for the saves he made but overall I was delighted with the result," said Harford, who has been in charge at Loftus Road since Rangers parted company with John Gregory at the start of the month.
Difficult
"Lee is a good goalkeeper and his all-round goalkeeping was good today."
Harford added: "I'm pleased with a clean sheet because this is a difficult place to come. Preston are a good team at home.
"We've only let in one goal in the last three games which is very pleasing and if you can do that you have got a chance of winning games.
"We created some decent openings on the attack and if the final ball was correct we could have won the game. I know Preston had a lot of sustained pressure but on the break we looked very dangerous and it was just our final ball that let us down."
Harford said he was in the dark over his immediate future as speculation mounts over Gregory's permanent successor.
Reflected
"I've been asked about it over the last few weeks and I can't affect it and all I can do is prepare the team," conceded Harford.
"But no one has said anything to me or reflected on what is going to happen to me."
Gallagher was handed the ideal chance to give North End what would have been a deserved lead when Martin Cranie was penalised for handball.
However, the on-loan Blackburn striker saw his weak effort saved by Camp and Preston boss
Paul Simpson was left to rue a third missed spot-kick this season by his side.
"If you get penalties you have to score them and we didn't," said Simpson.
"It's something we need to address because that is three we have missed this season and you can't afford to do that because you have got to be ruthless in everything you do and that includes penalties."
Simpson also bemoaned North End's toothless attack, who were thwarted by Camp's heroics.
He added: "We created enough opportunities to win the game but I'm still disappointed with the performance. We didn't really have any pace in our game and didn't have any drive to go and give them problems."
