Wigan got off the mark in the first division when Lee McCulloch's 89th minute equaliser gave the home side a point in a fiercely contested local derby.
McCulloch's header was just reward for a battling performance that looked like being to no avail as two minutes earlier Ricardo Fuller had given Preston the lead.
The Jamaican international's close range header put the Lilywhites ahead as the match exploded into life in the final five minutes.
Wigan boss Paul Jewell was delighted with his side's display that probably deserved all three points.
He said: "We played some excellent football and it would have been a travesty had we lost.
"We worked hard and showed our character after going behind and if we had possessed a bit more quality around the box then the three points would have been ours." Preston boss Craig Brown claimed his side came to Wigan expecting a tough game and was not disappointed.
He said: "They jet propelled their way out of the second division last season and it was their first home game so we knew we would be in for a tough battle.
"I was disappointed that we did not show enough resolve to hold on for the victory after going in front and that is the second time in two games that we have thrown the lead away." Both sides might have opened the scoring even before the dramatic last five minutes when in the first half the dangerous Fuller cracked the inside of the post with a fierce drive while Wigan went close from McCulloch and Andy Liddell, both put the ball wide with the goal gaping.