Once again Preston controlled the game as far as possession was concerned although Carlo Nash was forced into three saves throughout the match.
Lewis Neal gave Preston the lead in the first half with a good solo move prodding home with his left foot. Preston doubled their advantage after a superb cross from Sedgwick was headed home by Nugent.
Preston were cruising to a comfortable victory when all hell broke loose in the last eight minutes. Firstly from a corner luton hit the bar with an overhead kick only for the ball to rebound off Mears into his own net. Mears mad up for this a minute later by surging into the box and finishing off a move with his left foot to seal the match.
Preston piled forward with Mears again who prodded past the keeper in a one on one situation. The ball went wide but the ex-Burnley keeper Beresford fouled Mears in the process. With no Alexander and Nugent being substituted, Sedgwick converted the penalty before Davis on as a sub stabbed home a rebound. Thanks to other results Preston move into fifth, five points from the next team Leeds and seven off third place Watford with a game in hand. They remain 16 points from automatic promtion but with a game in hand.