Second-half goals from Neill Collins and Danny Welbeck gave Preston the points at Deepdale, with Tamas Priskin controversially denied an opener for Blues.

Collins had only been on the pitch five minutes when he headed in from Richard Chaplow's cross just past the hour.

Welbeck, who was making his debut after joining North End on loan from Manchester United on Thursday, was kept quiet by the Town defence in the first-half but he showed his class six minutes from time when he clipped the ball over Arran Lee-Barrett to seal the points for the home side.

Priskin had the best chance of the game before Collins struck but failed to hit the target five minutes into the second-half and then had the ball in the net two minutes later but referee Jonathan Moss appeared to penalise the Blues' frontman for offside.

Town made two changes to the side that drew with West Brom on Tuesday, Priskin coming in for his first start since November, replacing Pablo Counago. Pim Balkestein getting the nod at left-back instead of David Wright.

Blues dominated the early stages, Liam Rosenior shooting over after neat work down the right, with Roy Keane's side forcing a flurry of early corners.

Chris Brown had Preston's best effort of the first 20 minutes, but from distance and wide as both sides struggled to carve out any real openings, Jaime Peters firing over from the edge of the box after an exchanges of passes involving Jon Stead and Jack Colback.

Chaplow picked up the first yellow card of the game after catching David Norris late, Grant Leadbitter's free-kick cleared by Youl Mawene.

Norris - playing in front of the back four - tested Andy Lonergan with a left foot effort after good work by Colback, the former Plymouth man then making good ground to get in the way of a Neil Mellor strike at the other end.

Billy Jones had a header cleared from a corner 10 minutes before the break, Town breaking at pace with Rosenior failing to find Priskin with a header across goal.

Preston claimed a handball against Gareth McAuley but to no avail as a first-half of very few chances came to an end.

Leadbitter, continuing as skipper in the absence of Jon Walters, opened the second-half with an ambitious effort from distance at Lonergan as Town again started the better and Blues should have been ahead on 50 minutes, Priskin firing over when clear on goal after good work by Stead and Rosenior.

Priskin did have the ball in the net two minutes later, heading in from Leadbitter's free-kick but the celebrations were cut short by referee Moss, presumably for offside against the Hungary international.

Welbeck won a free-kick on the edge of the Town box after being fouled by McAuley, the Blues' defender picking up a yellow card. Ross Wallace sending the set-piece straight at Lee-Barrett.

Collins replaced Mawene in the first change on the hour, Owen Garvan coming on for Peters in Blues' first swap before Darren Ferguson's side took the lead with substitute Collins heading in from Chaplow's cross.

Priskin immediately made way for Counago and the Spanish striker almost got in with his first touch, Lonergan beating him to the loose ball.

The Preston 'keeper held Stead's shot after Counago's pass, Garvan bringing down Wallace from behind to pick up a yellow card. Leadbitter also picked up a booking for dissent, Wallace sending his free-kick over Lee-Barrett's bar.

Counago failed to get on the end of a terrific Stead cross as Town pressed for an equaliser, Stead then making way for Stern John for the last 15 minutes.

North End introduced Jon Parkin for Mellor and it was the 'Beast' who slipped Welbeck in on goal for Preston's decisive second goal seven minutes from time.

Rosenior and Norris added to Town's yellow card count, with Preston making a final change with Darren Carter on for Wallace as the home side closed out the game and the points.

Preston: Lonergan, Hart, Mawene (Collins 59), St Ledger, Nolan, Chaplow, Jones, Wallace (Carter 86), Mellor (Parkin 81), Brown, Wellbeck. Subs not used: Mayor, Barton, Henderson, Chilvers. Booked: Chaplow.

Town: Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Balkestein, Peters (Garvan 62), Norris, Leadbitter, Colback, Stead (John 76), Priskin (Counago 65). Subs not used: McLoughlin, D.Wright, Quinn, Edwards. Booked: McAuley, Leadbitter, Garvan, Rosenior, Norris

Att: 12,087