Jon Walters took Town's Play-Off bid into the last week of the season as Blues staged another dramatic finish.

Tommy Miller had given Town an early lead but goals from Chris Brown and Neil Mellor looked likely to end Blues' hopes until the Club's Players' Player of the Year struck.

Walters galloped on to Owen Garvan's pass and kept his cool to beat Andy Lonergan with a cool finish just three minutes from time to earn a point at Deepdale.

The draw leaves Town still in the hunt for two of the remaining Play-Off places with Watford and Crystal Palace both catchable with Hull the final visitors to Portman Road next weekend.

Jim Magilton stayed with the same side that started against Wolves last week, Shefki Kuqi and Velice Sumulikoski on the bench.

Town were the better side over the opening exchanges and got the perfect start with Miller on target after 11 minutes.

Good work by Danny Haynes saw the 20-year-old cross for Alan Quinn, whose diving header was pushed out for a corner by Lonergan in the home goal. From Garvan's flag kick, Preston cleared to the edge of the box before Miller struck with a low shot into the net to take his tally of Town goals against North End to five, making him the Club's record scorer against the Deepdale side.

Brown tested Stephen Bywater with an overhead kick from 10 yards, then at the other end Pablo Counago almost got on the end of a Walters return pass, Youl Mawene clearing.

It took a brilliant save from Bywater to keep Blues in front on the half hour mark, the 'keeper denying Neil Mellor, Chris Sedgwick's follow up shot cleared by Danny Simpson.

Preston began to force Town onto the backfoot and on 34 minutes the home side levelled, Brown taking a pass from Callum Davidson and seeing his shot take a big deflection to wrongfoot Bywater.

Brown should have put Preston ahead two minutes later, the former Sunderland striker heading over from six yards when left unmarked in the box.

Quinn tested Lonergan after taking Counago's pass, with Haynes denied by a Davidson challenge in the last action of note in the first-half.

Counago was inches away from giving Town a great start to the second-half, the Spaniard getting on the end of a terrific Garvan pass but his strike hit the inside of the post and rolled along the line before being cleared.

Another good passing move saw Walters set up Quinn, the Republic of Ireland international firing just wide as Blues started impressively.

Preston responded with a shot from Richard Chaplow that never threatened Bywater's goal. Quinn going much closer for Town with a left foot strike that went just over the bar.

Alex Bruce defended well to bravely clear with his head from Chaplow's delivery before Counago had the ball in the net but not before the offside flag was raised.

Counago's header forced a corner on the hour mark before Town made a first change, Alan Lee on for Haynes with Walters moving to the right flank.

Bywater made another outstanding save from Mellor as Preston threatened but it was Town who should have taken the lead on 70 minutes, good work by Lee and his cross looked destined to be converted by David Wright but the defender failed to find the net from close range.

Bywater cleared from Mellor before Blues made a second change, Kuqi on for Counago. Lonergan held firm as the loanee striker looked for an immediate impact.

Preston made their first change with Simon Whaley on for Lewis Neal for the last 12 minutes and the substitute immediately made his mark, his cross falling to Mellor who buried his left foot shot low past Bywater.

Sumulikoski replaced Quinn as Town chased a grandstand finish and it was Walters who came up trumps with a sublime finish three minutes from time, the frontman bursting on to Garvan's pass to beat Lonergan.

Wright fired over as Town searched for a dramatic winner before referee Eddie Ilderton brought the action to a close, leaving Blues still alive ahead of promotion chasing Hull's visit to Portman Road next weekend.

Preston: Longergan. Hart, Mawene, Trotman, Davidson, Sedgwick, McKenna, Chaplow, Neal (Whaley 78), Brown, Mellor. Subs not used: Carter, Hawley, Hill, Neal.

Town: Bywater, Simpson, De Vos, Bruce, Wright, Haynes (Lee 65), Miller, Garvan, Quinn (Sumulikoski 78), Counago (Kuqi 72), Walters. Subs not used: Colgan, Sito.