PANTO season came early to Deepdale as North End's defence made like Sleeping Beauty and handed Burnley-battered Leeds a 3-0 half-time lead on a plate.

The casting for this game always had David Healy down as the villain of the piece, and two excellent first-half strikes ensuring a chorus of boos throughout the ground.

For North End, it was the chance to impress an 18,000 strong crowd -- but instead they showed why players like Iain Hume are opting to stay at lower league clubs rather than stepping up to Preston.

The first half collapse began in the 11th minute when veteran Brian Deane rose at the far-post unmarked to nod home local lad Clarke Carlisle's corner.

Four minutes later and Healy bagged his first, capitalising on North End's failure to clear the ball to strike home from 10 yards.

Deane was then denied twice before Preston's only chance of the half, a deflected header off Andy Smith which came agonisingly close two passing Neil Sullivan in the visitors' goal, came and went in the 32rd minute.

Healy got his second in the 43rd minute when he picked up a great 45-yard pass from Jermaine Wright to bundle his way past North End's two centre halves and slot home.

A second half revival looked likely for a time, after Richard Cresswell enjoyed the easiest of tap-ins after collecting Dickson Etuhu's ball midway inside the Leeds half.

But in the 73rd minute, Simon Walton slid the ball home after Deane tricked Gavin Ward into coming off his line and putting the cross through to his team mate.

A lightning reaction from Cresswell 10 minutes later to Etuhu's cross enabled him to head home from 11 yards, but it was too little, too late.