Preston North End slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to Watford in what manager Alan Irvine described as the 'worst performance' of his managerial reign.

Two first half goals from Heidar Helguson and Tom Cleverley settled the tie at Vicarage Road, the Lilywhites struggling to shackle a lively Watford outfit.

Helguson put the Hornets ahead inside the first ten minutes with a header back across goal from Don Cowie's cross. The second came in the 33rd minute, after a brilliant Helguson run allowed Tom Cleverley to add to Watford's lead and ultimately seal the game for the home side.

Alan Irvine made five changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace at Deepdale last weekend. Captain Callum Davidson made his first start since being sent off against Ipswich earlier in the season, and Jon Parkin replaced Chris Brown as Neil Mellor's strike partner. Michael Brown came into the side at right back, allowing Billy Jones to move into central midfield alongside Veliche Shumulikoski. The other change saw Chris Sedgwick replace Paul Parry on the right side as Preston looked to climb back into the play off positions.

Hornet's boss Malky Mackay named former Premiership striker Heider Helguson in his team as they looked to bounce back from a 5-0 defeat at the hands of West Brom last Saturday. Adrian Mariappa captained the side that started the game three points and league positions behind visitors Preston North End in 12th.

After an impecably observed minutes silence it was Helguson that looked most likely to catch North End out early on, the striker's left footed cross setting up strike parrtner Danny Graham for a shot within the first minute.

The Lilywhites responded well though, firstly through the returning Sedgwick, who cut inside on his weaker left foot and saw his low drive saved well by Scott Loach in the Watford goal.

Watford continued to give Preston warning signs as they looked to get off to a flyer. Don Cowie swung a free kick in from the left which was met by Craig Cathcart, who's header was thankfully wide of the mark on seven minutes.

It barely a minute later when the home side took the lead, when Cowie again crossed, this time from the right. The dangerous Helguson ghosted in at the far post and met the cross with a header accross the goal which crept into the corner of the net, giving the Hornets a ninth minute lead.

Were it not for a crucial save from North End keeper Andy Lonergan in the 15th minute it would have been 2-0 to Watford. A brilliant piece of play from Man United loanee Tom Cleverley to slide in John Eustace had the home crowd on their feet but Lonergan reacted quickly enough to deny Eustace a goal.

Mackay's team were having the better of the opening 25 minutes, despite Preston's best efforts to catch them on the break. Lonergan was adjudged to have fouled Helguson on the edge of the area , however the resulting free kick from Cleverley was blocked by Michael Hart. Helguson and Cleverley both had efforts saved and blocked in Watford's spell of pressure, whilst captain Adrian Mariappa had a header easily saved by Lonergan.

This pressure eventually led to a second goal for Watford, coming from the lively Tom Cleverley on 33 minutes. Helguson played his part in the move as he picked the ball up in the middle of the park, skipping through a couple of tackles before threading an accurate ball through to Cleverley on the left, who's neat left foot finish in the bottom left corner of the net beat Lonergan and it was 2-0.

Jon Parkin had Preston's second shot on target in the 37th minute, with a powerful half volley from the right hand side that was well stopped by Loach. The move was a sign of increased urgency from North End, who were desperate for a goal before half time.

Two minutes of stoppage time were given by the fourth official, and Parkin had Preston's best chance of the match. The 'Beast' managed to control Billy Jones' mishit shot in the box, and his brilliant turn and shot hit Loach's left hand post, leaving Preston with a lot of work to do in the second half if they were to get anything from the match.

Neither side made any changes as they lined up for the second half, but North End looked like they had manager Alan Irvine's words ringing in their ears as they tried to get back into the game.

With Parkin on long throw duty, Preston seemed to be having a little spell of their own. In the 49th minute Wallace powered a free kick at the keeper, who could only parry it into the path of Neil Collins in the box, but Watford's defence held up and blocked well.

Preston were looking to use their height advantage to get back into it, but it wasn't until the 58th minute that they won their first corner via a surging forward run from Collins. The Lilywhites were unable to take advantage though as Watford eventually cleared, but continured to press.

Henri Lansbury gave North End a reminder of how dangerous Watford still were when he unleashed a powerful low shot in the 64th minute. Thankfully for North End Lonergan was alert to the danger and did brilliantly to save to his right.

The manager clearly felt that a few changes were in order, and in the 65th minute brought Paul Parry and Stephen Elliott on in place of Neil Mellor and Callum Davidson. Andy Lonergan took over the captain's armband.

Watford soon followed suit, with Nathan Ellington replacing Heidar Helguson in the 70th minute, who had had a relatively quiet second half.

Barely a minute later there were yet more substitutions, one for each side. Chris Brown came on for Chris Sedgwick, and the talented Tom Cleverley left the action to be replaced by ex-Burnley player Jon Harley.

It was none of the substiutes that had the next two chances though, as Watford's John Eustace and Lee Hodson both went close in the space of 30 seconds. Eustace put his header just wide, whilst Hodson must have been cursing Andy Lonergan who did well to deny him a goal by saving down to his left.

There were few chances in an uneventful second half until Don Cowie burst through from the right and was brought down by Michael Hart. The right back saw a booking for his 83rd minute tackle, which was followed by a curling Lansbury free kick that went just wide of Lonergan's goal and kept Preston in with a shout.

Substitute Parry was trying his best to nick a goal that would give Preston the chance of a point, but his cross to Elliott in the 85th minute didn't fall to a white shirt and Watford almost scored on the counter. It was Lonergan who came to the rescue again, denying Nathan Ellington a goal.

For minutes of stoppage time gave the Lilywhites a last chance to grab a goal. The 'Beast' had the best chance of the closing moments, when he turned and hit a powerful right foot shot that looked destined for the bottom corner and give the fans a grandstand finish, but it was deflected agonisingly wide and North End were condemned to a 2-0 defeat.

In a game of few chances Preston were undone by two moments of magic from on loan Premiership star Heidar Helguson.

Alan Irvine will be disappointed with how the game played out, with Watford drawing level in the table with North End, who drop to 11th position, three points off the Play Offs.