The match began with an immediate opportunity for the home team as Robbie Blake threaded the ball through the legs of Liam Chilvers but saw his shot beaten away by Andy Lonergan. The ball fell to Kyle Lafferty whose shot was chested off the line by left-back Matt Hill.
North End had a lucky escape on 18 minutes when the lively Blake drove the ball across the face of the six-yard box but there was nobody there to apply the finishing touch.
Burnley's pressure was rewarded on the half-hour mark when Wade Elliott crossed from the right for Lafferty to send a looping far post header over Lonergan.
The home team should have increased their lead when Blake fed Elliott but, although his shot beat Lonergan, Hill was there again to clear at the expense of a corner.
North End equalised with half-time approaching as a surging run by Callum Davidson ended with Neil Mellor crossing to the far post for Chris Sedgwick to score.
North End went in front ten minutes into the second half when Davidson's headed pass sent Mellor racing clear of the Burnley defence to score.
Owen Coyle's side should have equalised through substitute Steve Jones but he placed a free header from an Elliott cross wide of the target.
But the home side did not have to wait long for their equaliser as David Unsworth's pass was dummied by Blake for Chris McCann to score.
From being the hero, McCann turned villain, when he was shown a straight red card by referee Mason for a two-footed challenge on Sean St Ledger.
North End striker Paul Gallagher was unfortunate to see his shot cannon off the body of Gabor Kiraly and bounce up off the crossbar. But there was to be no escape for the ten men as Simon Whaley struck a 25-yard shot beyond Kiraly to put North End in front again.
Preston substitute Karl Hawley had a chance to extend the lead while at the other end striker Andy Gray saw his shot beaten away by Lonergan.
The Preston keeper then turned away a free-kick from Unsworth while substitute James O'Connor saw his attempt headed off the line by Whaley.
In stoppage time Burnley were reduced to nine men when substitute Joey Gudjonsson was shown a red card.