WHETHER Craig Brown likes it or not, this victory will prove to be the one which alerts everyone else in the division to the danger that is Preston North End.

For the past four months, after a poor start, North End have crept up the league and, on the back of a strong comeback at Upton Park, have climbed into the play-off zone for the first time since the departure of David Moyes.

All eyes will now be on how Preston do over the next few weekends. It is a tough month - but judging by Saturday's performance, Preston have the strength of character to overcome virtually any obstacle.

For the first time in the league since Brown took over, Preston managed to take all three points after initally falling behind

Despite having the run of play in the opening 20 minutes, Preston found themselves a goal down. Keeper David James sent Matthew Etherington on an inspired run down the wing. Graham Alexander couldn't track back in time to block him, while David Connelly got away from the shackles of Tyrone Mears to pick up Ehterington's cross into the box to slot past David James.

Preston pulled level on 64 minutes when Graham Alexander swung a 25-yard free-kick towards the far post. Chris Lucketti rose to head the ball back across the goal to Ricardo Fuller, who required only the most light of touches to push the ball over the line.

It was a set-piece move which gave North End their second three minutes later. Alexander's corner was delivered to David Healy at the near post, who swung and forced the ball through the sea of players to delight the 1,800 North End fans who had made the journey to the Hammers.

Richard Cresswell twice smashed the woodwork as North End went looking for a third, while pressure from the home fans seemed to get to West Ham, who produced little to threaten Preston up-front towards the end of the game.

WEST HAM 1

PNE 2