Chris Brown made it four goals in three starts for the Lilywhites as Alan Irvine's men came from a goal behind to progress to the Carling Cup third round against a resilient Foxes outfit.

Irvine's men were made to work hard for their victory but home advantage proved to the key as the Lilywhites had the better chances and the better possession on a fine Deepdale evening.

North End's progression looked in doubt early on though as Nigel Pearson's side took a deserved lead after a bright start. Young Bolton-born midfielder Nicky Adams providing a deft finish from a N'Guessan ball after only six minutes.

But Preston hit back in good time, Chris Brown being slotted through on goal in front of the Shankly Kop before seeing his goalbound shot deflect off the boot of Chris Powell and over the outstretched arm of Leicester keeper Chris Weale.

The two teams traded blows in a frenetic opening 45 minutes and in reality the half-time score could have been much more than the 1-1 scoreline.

Alan Irvine sorted his team out at the break and the game was a much tighter affair in the second half. PNE's dominance finally telling in the 66th minute when the impressive Nolan provided a perfect left-footed cross for Chris Brown to double his tally for the evening.

Brown will be hopeful that his matchwinning display was enough to catch the eye of the North End management. The former Norwich man was one of seven changes from the side which had beaten Peterborough as manager Alan Irvine shuffled the pack once again.

Hart, Shumulikoski, Carter, Parry, Nolan and Elliott were the other changes and they will all be keeping their fingers crossed that having taken the unbeaten record of the Foxes they will get the opportunity to shine on Saturday against an Ipswich side still searching for their first league win of the season.

Preston boss Alan Irvine will be hoping that his team will get out of the blocks a little earlier than they did against the Foxes as they were behind early, Danny N'Guessan dispossessing Paul Parry in the North End area, playing the ball inside to Nicky Adams and the Bolton born midfielder played a delightful chip into the far corner.

The game had a real ebb and flow to it and after North End had a half chance when Parry created a chance on the left for both Brown and Elliott, neither PNE striker could get near the cross, though both were sniffing. Leicester broke quickly though and a Chilvers slip allowed Fryatt to race clear into space, Fryatt danced inside the challenges of Hart and then St. Ledger before hitting a stinging shot that Lonergan dealt with well.

Preston were level in the 14th minute of the match when Chris Brown kept up his impressive goals to starts ratio for the season with a pure opportunists' strike. Shumulikoski won the ball in the centre of the park and he played a great ball between the two centre-halves, Brown was onto it but Tunchev looked to have covered the shot, Brown's shot deflected off of Tunchev's boot, up and over the despairing dive of Chris Weale.

Both sides were playing some great football and two minutes after North End's equaliser former PNE loanee Paul Gallagher found plenty of space in the middle of the park and decided to hit a stinging shot, that flew just an inch or two over the crossbar.

At the other end of the field North End created another fantastic opportunity for Chris Brown. Eddie Nolan knocked the ball deep into the Leicester box, Sedgwick took the ball down easily and chipped the ball across the face of goal into the path of Brown. Brown still had plenty to do with his back to goal but he managed to spin in the box and hit a volley, it was on target and Chris Weale pulled off a fine save to turn the ball over the crossbar.

Eddie Nolan was the next man to get a sight at goal. On 26 minutes he cut in from the left, on his favoured right foot he beat one man and then another before drilling a low shot at goal, Weale had to be at his best to get down low and turn the ball away.

It was a battle of the keepers as the game approached the half hour mark. Andy Lonergan denying Nicky Adams with a truly world class one-handed save. Adams had been put clear in the left channel and with the goal at his mercy was only denied by lightening fast reflexes from Lonergan's left arm. From the corner Darren Carter was well placed at the far post to make a goal-line clearance.

Nolan was the creator once again on 30 minutes, playing a great ball inside the full-back on the left flank, Elliott was on to it like a flash and he took one look up before knocking a ball towards the penalty spot, Sedgwick arrived late and his low shot was only blocked by Tunchev, more by accident than design.

Fryatt again looked dangerous on the break, this time North End were caught deep in Leicester territory and when the move broke down Gallagher released Fryatt. The former Walsall man was given a sight of goal by the covering Nolan but the Leicester man smashed his shot into the side-netting.

Brown again found the target six minutes from the break. This time a high looping cross from Parry and the former Norwich man beat his marker to the ball to nod one at goal from just four or five yards out, Weale was well placed to gather.

Eddie Nolan was enjoying his role at left-back and on 41 minutes he was again in search of goal. Cutting inside again his strike was hit true and Weale had to be down well to save low down.

Fryatt almost put the Foxes in front at the break when he reacted quickest in a goalmouth scramble, his volley was just wrong side of Lonergan's post from a Leicester point of view.

The first chance of the second half was a long time in coming, despite plenty of creative intent and industry from both sides. The opportunity when it came went North End's way, Parry crossing one in from left and the ball missed everyone before falling to the feet of Sedgwick, the winger beat his man before drilling a shot from a tight angle. Weale stuck out a hopeful hand to tip the ball over the bar.

Preston went in front on 66 minutes. A well worked free-kick midway inside the Leicester half was played out to Eddie Nolan on the left, the Irishman's left-footed cross was perfectly flighted onto the head of Chris Brown who nodded the ball back across the face of goal, beyond Weale and into the back of the net.

Chances at both ends of the field as the game entered the last 10 minutes. On 80 minutes Nicky Adams whipped in a great cross towards the six-yard box , Fryatt got to the ball and he tried to glance the ball home, but didn't get enough on the ball. At the other end two minutes later and it should have been 3-1. The ball played out to Nolan on the left flank, Nolan played the ball into the feet of Brown in the box, North End's scorer had his back to goal but he managed to turn his man before smashing a cross-cum-shot across the face of goal. It beat Weale at the near post but there was just not a North End shirt anywhere near the ball to tap home.

There was late action in the last minute of injury time, the Lilywhites looked to have killed the game off but a late, late corner caused a few palpitations, especially when Chris Weale went up for it. The corner came in, there was a bit of a scramble but the ball was cleared by Carter and before the ball had chance to come down the referee's final whistle was blown.

Another win, another game unbeaten and PNE travel to Ipswich on Saturday knowing that they are full of confidence and also in the third round the Carling Cup for the first time in five years time.