It’s an astonishing 20 years ago this month that the Lilywhites put Gerry Francis’ Queens Park Rangers to the sword at Deepdale in what was American loanee Brian McBride’s last game with the club whilst over from MLS side Columbus Crew.
On 10th February 2001, red-hot Jon Macken scored twice as North End thrashed a struggling Queens Park Rangers side, with a rampant second half display at Deepdale.
McBride, David Healy and Iain Anderson also found the net as Rangers sunk deeper into the relegation mire.
PNE boss David Moyes had stuck with a three-pronged attack for the visit of the Londoners - the first home match at Deepdale for five weeks.
And North End should have taken an eighth-minute lead following Lee Cartwright's searching cross.
Macken tried to get in a header but, from the clearance, McBride's ten-yard strike rebounded off a post.
Minutes later, the busy Healy cut through the defence but his shot took a deflection off Jermaine Darlington.
As the home side continued to dominate, Macken's 18-yard drive seven minutes before the interval somehow squeezed inches wide. This proved to be the last effort on goal in the first period and the half ended goalless.
But Macken scored twice in ten second half minutes as David Moyes' half-time chat evidently had a huge impact on his players.
The striker's first on 50 minutes followed a neat link up with another Manchester United old boy Healy. Macken started the move and flicked to Healy and from the short cross Macken netted from five yards.
His second on the hour came courtesy of a defensive mix-up involving Matthew Rose. Macken pounced on his chance and slipped the ball into the net.
American McBride got in on the scoring act with a half-volley on 67 minutes before Healy himself grabbed a slice of the action with a terrific goal on 70 minutes.
The Lilywhites were buoyant in the teaming rain and continued to stream forward against a shell-shocked QPR defence.
Anderson replaced McBride after 75 minutes and three minutes from time he completed the scoring with a right-foot shot from 18 yards.
There had been little indication that a game which had ended goalless at half-time would have finished 5-0 to the home side.
But PNE, who seemed destined for mid-table mediocrity just two weeks before, suddenly looked Play-Off contenders once more.
PNE line-up: Moilanen, Parkinson, Edwards, Jackson, Murdock, McKenna (Barry-Murphy, 75), Rankine, Cartwright, Macken (Anderson, 76), McBride (Gunnlaugsson, 76), Healy. Subs not used: Lucas, Kidd.
Queens Park Rangers line-up: Miklosko, Darlington, Baraclough, Kulcsar, Rose, Wardley, Morrow (Ready, 74), Peacock, Connolly (Scully, 74), Ngonge, Kiwomya. Subs not used: Harper, Heinola, Dowie.
Referee: Mr T Parkes (Birmingham)
Attendance: 14,423
The game is live on Sky Sports on Wednesday night, but is still available on iFollow via an audio match pass and in certain overseas territories as a live video pass, with Jonathan Breeze joined by former PNE winger Ross Wallace for full match coverage from just after 7.15pm. Click here to check what is available in your area.