Preston created little with a Sedgewick run ending in Parkin deciding to pass instead of shoot and the chance was wasted.
The fateful moment came shortly after half time. A ball was fired across at St Ledger around thirty yards from goal. He appeared to chets the ball before getting rid of it. The referee, five yards away, followed the ball and allowed play to go on. His assistant some thirty yards away from the action somehow believed the centre back to have handled the ball.
The fact that the linesman made a grave error did not make up for the ineot defending from a free kick. The ball came into the box with first Weber having a go. THe ball was bouncing around like a pinball with Ehiougu having two stabs, one saved by Lonergan before the second went into the net for his first ever United goal.
Preston were unchanged and it showed - they created very little and made a mistake at the crucial time. Mellor came on for Elliott and sparked the frontline into life but Paddy Kenny was rarely troubled.
The home side could not convert as Preston pushed men forward and the Whites have now failed to win on the road since the opening game at Ipswich. On this performance Preston may well find themselves in deep trouble come the end of the season.