Preston looked far from winning this match as they conceded a sloppy goal in the opening minutes which Nash could only parry into the net.
Stoke were then gifted a goal as Nash came running out, Wilson failed to clear and with the North End back four all over the place Preston were two down with less than ten minutes on the clock.
Preston huffed and puffed in the first half but nothing was coming of it and after ten minutes of effort in the second period Simpson decided to take off Sedgewick for Whaley. The youngster who has been out of sorts recently didn't spark the game alight but certainly provided Preston with pace and width down the right.
Mckenna took a pot shot from twenty yards which went past the keeper into the bottom corner and suddenly Preston were back in the game. Nugent was denied a penalty but with the pressure telling he was left unmarked in the box and headed home from close range after a perfect Whaley cross.
Preston piled forward and the man for the late occassion Ricketts came off the bench. A corner came in which Simonsen the Stoke keeper parried into the path of Wilson who wa shaving a torrid time at the back. He managed to hook the ball into the back of the net to gift Preston three much needed points.
A poor performance all round today as Stoke rarely threatened after been gifted two early goals. Pullis has never changed his tactics over the past ten years and he soaked up the pressure with his huge side looking to play on the break with pace.
At times it appeared only Matty Hill was keeping Preston in the game as he managed one of his best performances in a North End shirt.
Simpson now has to ponder over selection for three tough away games at Palace in the Cup then in the league at Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday. By the time the boys return back to Deepdale the league could have a whole new complexion to it.