The final whistle was greeted by chants of: "You don't know what your doing," from a section of the home fans, which afterwards prompted Micky Adams into an impassioned defence of his record as Foxes boss accompanied with a threat to quit if the unrest continued.
But it had all started so brightly for City when they go off to a flying start with a goal after just four minutes.
John Curtis fouled Jason Wilcox to concede a free-kick out on the left. Gareth Williams floated the ball in and it was Benjamin who leapt highest to head home from five yards.
The Foxes continued to surge forward and almost doubled their lead on 12 minutes but were denied by Andy Lonergan who palmed away Matt Heath's goalbound header.
Seconds later Leicester had what appeared to be a good penalty claim waved aside when Dickson Etuhu bundled over Benjamin inside the area.
Preston had to wait until the 20th minute for their first attempt on goal when Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu latched on to a far-post cross from Curtis but failed to hit the target.
The visitors created another chance on the half-hour mark when Ndumbu-Nsungu met Callum Davidson's low cross but fired wide.
City were forced into a change on 35 minutes when the in-form Benjamin limped off to be replaced by David Connolly.
Preston had struggled to keep pace with lively Leicester but produced the most unlikely of equalisers in the 39th minute through their keeper who scored direct from a clearance.
Lonergan kicked long from his hands and the ball avoided everyone before bouncing over the head of Kevin Pressman.
The Foxes keeper appeared to lose sight of the ball with the sun in his face and then lost his footing at the vital moment.
What momentum was left in the game after the break continued to be with City.
James Scowcroft fired a 16-yard angled drive into the side netting and Nikos Dabizas hooked a shot into the stand.
Then with just four minutes remaining substitute Tommy Wright came within inches of scoring with his first touch when his stooping header rebounded to safety off a post.