David Nugent returned to haunt Town with two goals but the game hinged on a controversial early red card to Richard Naylor that saw Blues play with 10 men for 80 minutes.

Bam Bam was dismissed after he was judged to have blocked off Brett Ormerod with a professional foul as the North End striker headed for goal.

Blues defended brilliantly in the first 45 minutes and deservedly led at the break through a Jason De Vos header before Nugent took centre stage.

The England U21 international, who scored twice in Preston's 4-0 win at Portman Road in August, smashed two brilliant goals inside the first 15 minutes of the second-half before Patrick Agyemang wrapped up the points with a cool finish.

Ricardo Fuller returned to the Town side after missing the draw against Millwall through suspension, joining Alan Lee in attack with Ian Westlake dropping to the bench.

Scott Barron lined up against his hometown club while Fuller was given a mixed reception by the home fans on his first visit back to Deepdale since leaving to join Portsmouth in August 2004.

After a tentative opening the game exploded into life on 10 minutes when Ormerod evaded Barron and was judged to have been fouled by Naylor as he headed for goal.

Referee Eddie Ilderton immediately showed the Town defender a red card, his second of the season following a controversial sending-off at Millwall in August.

Paul McKenna rattled the post with the resultant free-kick and seconds later Shane Supple saved well from Ormerod as Preston threatened to get on top.

Town boss Joe Royle sacrificed Darren Currie on the quarter hour, with Sito replacing the midfielder, Fabian Wilnis moving inside to partner De Vos.

The Canadian international sent an angled header wide with Town's first effort at goal before Blues were forced into a second change, Westlake replacing the injured Jimmy Juan.

A flick on by Lee then good strength and a turn by Fuller saw Carlo Nash scramble the Jamaican international's shot around the post for a corner, Westlake then firing over the bar.

De Vos had another header wide from Owen Garvan's free-kick but the Town defender made no mistake on 37 minutes when he powered another Garvan free-kick down into the home net to give Blues a deserved lead after Youl Mawene had picked up a yellow card.

Preston went off at half-time to a chorus of boos but Billy Davies' half-time pep talk had an immediate effect with Nugent equalising on 53 minutes with a smart right foot finish after Ormerod and McKenna had been involved in the move.

Then the England U21 international showed why Premiership clubs are chasing him with a fantastic strike just past the hour, volleying in brilliantly into the top corner.

Nugent should have completed his hat-trick in North End's next attack but he failed to convert from close range and the former Bury frontman paid a double price for his miss, picking up an injury in the process that eventually forced him off.

Danny Dichio replaced him but it was fellow substitute Agyemang that put Preston in control of the game on 70 minutes, coolly beating Supple when clean through against the Town 'keeper.

De Vos, a bandage covering a first-half head wound, bravely cleared from Dichio inside the Town box as North End threatened a fourth, Wilnis then blocking a McKenna shot.

Simon Whaley and Dichio both missed gilt-edged chances in the closing stages as Town tired in testing conditions, with Garvan and Haynes both picking up yellow cards in the final exchanges.

The defeat dents Town's Play-Off hopes with Blues now nine points behind sixth placed Preston with North End having a game in hand.