Alan Irvine's Preston North End were left pointless and frustrated after dominating high-flying Newcastle United for large periods of the game before succumbing to a sucker-punch Kevin Nolan goal with just 15 minutes left on the clock.

The Lilywhites looked to have recaptured some of their good early season form but they couldn't turn chances into goals in the rain at Deepdale and Chris Hughton's Magpies showed that vital ruthless streak to take all three points.

Preston can take plenty of heart from the performance though, despite missing Ross Wallace through injury, the midfield foursome of Sedgwick, Chaplow, Parry and debutant Tonge looked full of energy and guile against a team which had arguably the strongest midfield in the division.

North End boss Alan Irvine will have been pleased to see his side creating chances, whilst limiting the North East club to just a handful of opportunities - ultimately though it was one of those few chances which denied PNE at least a share of the spoils.

With Blackpool looming large on the horizon, Preston will be hoping that Youl Mawene's knee injury suffered just before the break isn't too much of a concern and that skipper Callum Davidson's cautionary withdrawal just before Nolan's goal proved to be the correct decision.

The home team made five changes to the side which had disappointed against Watford 16 days previous. Youl Mawene, Paul Parry, Richard Chaplow and Chris Brown all returned to the side whilst loanee Michael Tonge made his highly anticipated debut.

The rain combined with Sky TV may have taken a small percentage of fans off the gate but almost 17,000 made the journey to Deepdale and they were given good viewing spectacle as both sides played some free-flowing football.

Newcastle had the first chance of the evening and it came with their first attack. Gutierrez playing a dangerous ball right across the face of goal from the left and Danny Guthrie arriving late on from the right flank to head the ball into the side netting.

The next shot on target was some time in coming, again it came from the visitors on 13 minutes. This time the influential Kevin Nolan drilling an effort from 30 yards which was straight down Lonergan's throat, he did well to gather the ball at the first attempt.

Seconds later and Preston were testing their luck from distance, a low daisy cutter from Richard Chaplow took the merest of deflections before flying inches wide of the target. From the resultant corner Michael Tonge picked the ball up on the edge of the box and smashed a shot at goal, it was always flying wide.

A strong challenge from Michael Tonge in the middle of the park set-up North End's next opportunity in the 24th minute. The Stoke man won the ball off Alan Smith and the richochet fell kindly for Chris Brown who with his back to goal teed up Mellor. Mellor's shot had plenty of power, but very little in the way of direction.

North End's next effort came ten minutes later. Chris Brown found himself pushed wide and he clipped a great cross into the danger zone, Paul Parry beat his marker to the header and sent the ball looping just a yard or so over the bar.

The Lilywhites were domination play as the half entered its last ten minutes and Mellor and Brown combined well again when the former played a quick volley into the path of the former Sunderland man, Brown spun but his shot had no real power and Harper saved comfortably.

Richard Chaplow was providing plenty of energy in the middle of the park and his industry was almost rewarded three minutes before the break. He capitalised on a sloppy ball in the Newcastle half and took the ball under his control before unleashing an effort at goal. It was only a yard or two high of the target.

Neil Mellor had another fine opportunity three minutes before the break. Running onto a clever Sedgwick ball in the box, Mellor had a clear sight at goal but seemed to scuff his effort. He still forced Harper into a save though and the Newcastle man saved the shot at the second attempt.

The second half took a little while to warm-up and it took seven minutes before the first chance of note. It came from a free-kick, 25-yards out after Neil Mellor had been bundled from behind. Tonge teed up Parry and the Welshman drilled a low shot through the wall and straight into Harper's grasp who saved very well.

Neil Mellor had the best chance of the game on 67 minutes, Billy Jones played an inch perfect ball over the top of the defence and Mellor got in behind his marker. The North End striker never really had the ball under his control but took the ball towards goal and as Harper closed down the angle Mellor flicked the ball over the keeper but the found the side netting rather than the back of the net.

Substitute Nile Ranger had Newcastle first real chance of the second period. The big striker picked the ball up 25-yards out and was given time to turn before unleashing a shot that arrowed towards goal before deviating wide at the crucial second.

Newcastle's opener came in the 75th minute. It came just seconds after the Lilywhites had made an enforced substitution when Nolan replaced Davidson. North End's defence were given very little time to settle and before they knew it Lonergan was picking the ball out of the net. Kevin Nolan was put into space by Danny Guthrie eight yards out and the former Bolton man turned and shot in one movement and found the target under a helpless Lonergan.

Eddie Nolan's introduction added a little more impetus down the left flank and he was found in the penalty box by a slide rule Tonge pass. Nolan wasted little time before smashing an effort at goal, Harper forced to parry the ball away due to the ferocity of the shot.

Jon Parkin was sent on late on in the game as the Lilywhites tried to force an equaliser but despite Preston's best of efforts they just could not unlock a resolute Newcastle United defence. Preston's knack of finding a late equaliser never materialised and North End were left to focus on their big Lancashire derby against Blackpool in seven days time.