The first game of the Alan Irvine era ended in defeat for Preston as Charlton recorded a 2-0 victory thanks to strikes from Zheng Zhi and Luke Varney.

Two killer goals in injury time of both halves broke North End's resilience in a game that arguably on the whole Preston dominated.

It was a classic example of holding firm, hitting on the counter attack and applying a discipline that has seen the Addicks move into second position in the Championship table.

Alan Irvine has reason to be encouraged though as Preston created numerous openings only to be foiled by an outstanding Nicky Weaver and a slice of hard luck.

North End had made three changes with Nicholls, Ormerod and Gallagher returning at the expence of Hill, Hawley and Whaley.

And it wasn't long before the recalled Omerod was in the thick of the action. The 31-year-old latched onto a quickly taken free kick down the left to float whip in a cross that just evaded Andy Carroll.

Charlton demonstrated their potential up front moments later. Sodje's towering header from an in swinging corner was prodded wide by China's skipper Zheng from a matter of yards after Lonergan had done enough to put his opponent off.

The action packed opening ten minutes continued when Andy Carroll stabbed directly at Weaver in the Addicks goal after latching onto a Sedgwick knock down.

The frantic pace relented and possession became more evenly distributed. Lloyd Sam saw a pot-shot drift wide whilst Paul Gallagher, operating on the left of midfield orchestrated the bulk of PNE's attacking play.

St. Ledger felt the brunt of a very dubious challenge from Zheng who received a yellow card for the actions in a period of play which Charlton dominated. The Chinese man had his name on the tips of the commentators tongues for the right reasons five minutes later when he forced Lonergan to produce a fantastic save diving to his left from a glanced header.

Kevin Nicholls produced arguably the ball of the half to release Sedgwick on the right, in a spell that produced a series of North End corners. The best, an inswinging delivery by the skipper had Weaver in trouble, unfortunately no one capitalised on his fumble inside the six-yard box.

A few half chance followed to both sides before the break, the most inviting falling to Lloyd Sam, who failed to capitalise with a shot from 10 yards when Callum Davidson had been caught out of position at left-back.

The first goal came in stoppage time. Zheng delivered the proverbial sucker punch when he lashed in with a low angled left-footed drive . It came at a frustratingly bad time for the Lilywhites who now needed to come out for the second half needing at least two goals to win the game.

The home support recognised the effort Irvine's boys were demonstrating however by applauding their team into the dressing room when match referee Kevin Friend blew the whistle for the half time interval.

No changes were deemed necessary in the break as North End started like a team charged up by a few words of wisdom by their new Gaffer.

Paul Gallagher drilled a rising shot at Weaver which was palmed away by the former Manchester City stopper whilst Sedgwick miscued into the Alan Kelly Stand after good link up play between Nicholls and Carroll on 55 minutes.There were few clear cut chances in following fifteen minutes or so as Whaley was sent on at the expence of Gallagher to spice things up.

North End pressed, Carroll won a few knock downs but unfortunately nothing happened in the final third at either end.

That was until Chris Sedgwick had a close range effort fantastically saved by Weaver on 70 minutes. The PNE number seven slid in at the far post, and from all of three of yards, Charlton's keeper tipped his finish over the crossbar.

Patrick Agyemang attempted a spectacular bicycle kick with just few minutes later, similar to that witnessed against West Brom last season, this time however it sailed well wide of the target instead of nestling in the bottom corner.

North End forced a number of corners in the latter stages, Kevin Nicholls volleyed over from a miss-cleared scramble, Aygemang failed to prod home and Carroll placed a header wide.

The Addicks continued to sit back and preserve their lead, a tactic which they had deployed for almost the entire second half. It proved to be an astute tactical decision by Alan Pardew as substitute Varney snatched the second in the last few seconds to seal the victory.

The former Crewe man stole in on a high Preston backline cut in off the right flank and slotted under Andy Lonergan. It was clinical finishing and probably exaggerated the score from North End's perspective.

PNE: Lonergan, Davidson, St. Ledger, Mawene, Halls, Gallagher (Whaley), Nicholls (Carter), McKenna, Sedgwick, Carroll, Ormerod (Agyemang) (Subs not used: Chris Neal, Chilvers)

Charlton: Weaver, Basey, Fortune, Sodje, Mills, Zheng, Reid (Varney), Semedo (Holland), Sam (Ambrose), Thomas, Iwelumo (Subs not used: Randolph, Bougherra)

Yellow cards: Zheng

Attendance: 12,352