Leyton Orient defender Mathieu Baudry claimed Preston striker Craig Davies dived to win a controversial penalty which cost the O’s two points at Deepdale.

The Frenchman had given the visitors the lead shortly before half-time but was adjudged to have hauled down Davies halfway through the second period.

Joe Garner scored the resultant penalty but Baudry was adamant it was the wrong decision – and his manager Russell Slade agreed that it was a dive by the on loan Bolton forward.

He said: “I thought it was really soft.

“He tried to hold me and I was trying not to get too tight but he threw himself into me and dived.

“It was good to get a goal. Every time I go up for set pieces I’m looking to get on the ball. I was disappointed to miss the first chance but for the goal I saw Kevin going for the ball and I knew where he was going to put it.”

The draw with the Lilywhites halted a run of three straight defeats – and it coincided with a much more solid defensive display.

Eldin Jakupovic was a solid presence in goal after returning on loan from Hull and there was the added boost of captain Nathan Clarke signing a two-year contract extension.

“It’s great to have Eldin back,” he added. “We had some good results when he was first here and hopefully he can help us.

“And it’s a good sign for the club that the captain has signed a new contract, hopefully we can continue our partnership.

“Apart from the last two or three games we’ve been really solid at the back.”

Preston started the game five points behind the third-placed O’s with a game in hand, having lost two of the last 18 league games.

The defender thinks this was a “good point against a good team” after they stopped the rot ahead of three home games.

Baudry said: “It was a tough game, there weren’t many chances so I think it’s a good point.

“It was important to get something from the game against a team who are extremely close to us in the table. Hopefully we’ll start another run now.”