Preston staged a second-half recovery to take the points after Blues had cruised into a two goal lead through a Jon Macken penalty and an Alan Lee header.

Macken sent Preston 'keeper Carlo Nash the wrong way from the spot on 10 minutes after Mark Noble had been bundled over in the box by Matthew Hill.

Lee extended the lead on 37 minutes when he powered in a header and Blues had gilt edged chances to have wrapped the game up before the break with Matt Richards twice failing to convert from close range.

Town's nemesis, David Nugent, pulled Preston back into the game with his sixth goal in four games against Blues, volleying in after a mistake by Fabian Wilnis early in the second-half.

Preston were level on 56 minutes, Liam Chilvers heading in a free-kick and a terrific strike from Simon Whalley nine minutes later won the game for the visitors.

Town boss Jim Magilton made some brave decisions in his line-up, recalling Jaime Peters for his first game in two months, Wilnis coming in at full-back after a month's absence.

Alex Bruce moved inside to partner Jason De Vos with Richards starting instead of Darren Currie. Simon Walton dropped to the bench along with Billy Clarke, Macken coming in up front.

Town started brightly with Dan Harding prominent down the left flank, his cross headed away by Chilvers as Lee challenged.

Lee then sent a header at Carlo Nash from 10 yards from Richards' cross before Blues made the breakthrough on nine minutes, Noble sent sprawling by Hill in the box and Macken doing the rest from the spot.

Peters carried an attacking threat throughout the first-half down the right flank and one surging run saw him bypass Hill but his cross drifted past Nash and the far post.

The Preston 'keeper beat out a right foot strike from Richards midway through the half and the midfielder went even closer on the 30 minute mark when Nash dropped the ball but Richards couldn't force the ball over the line from three yards, Graham Alexander clearing the danger.

Town did have the ball in the net on 36 minutes though, Richards' cross powered in by Lee who climbed above Hill at the far post.

Blues could and should have wrapped the game up just before the break, Lee and Macken linking up to set up Richards but the England U21 international slid his shot well wide with the right foot.

Preston had their first shot at goal as the second-half opened, Paul McKenna weaving into the box but Lewis Price was equal to the task, pushing his left foot shot away, Noble blocking Chris Sedgwick's shot on the follow up.

Lee picked up a harsh booking for a supposed foul on Sean St Ledger when he appeared to head the ball on before Preston pulled themselves back into the game, Wilnis' back header intercepted by Nugent who volleyed past Price from 10 yards.

Paul Simpson's side were level on 56 minutes, Alexander's long free-kick headed in by Chilvers from 12 yards.

Nugent escaped down the right flank as Preston visibly grew in confidence, his cross cleared by Wilnis before the visitors forced their way in front, Whaley cutting in from the left and firing past Price from 25 yards.

Town responded with Richards' cross palmed behind by Nash at full stretch while at the other end, a brilliant tackle by Harding stopped Nugent as he burst into the box, the striker booked for protesting that he had been pulled back.

De Vos threw himself at a Noble corner as Town looked for an equaliser, the skipper's rocket header going inches over.

Blues introduced new signing Gary Roberts on 80 minutes, the loan signing from Accrington Stanley only arriving at Portman Road this morning. Billy Clarke also coming on with Richards and Macken making way.

Roberts was immediately in the action, his cross grabbed by a grateful Nash then Clarke was denied by a Chilvers tackle as Town appealed for a penalty.

Clarke again caused problems with his pace seconds later, Nash smothering his cross at the near post.

Noble, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, fired over with a 20 yard left foot strike as the game entered the last five minutes, Roberts, who was busy throughout his 10 minute cameo performance, almost putting Clarke in with a chip.

Price flattened substitute Brett Ormerod as he punched clear on the edge of the box with Preston looking to seal the points in the first minute of four added on and Ormerod should have done just that soon after, firing over the bar when clean through but North End held on to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games.