CLUMSY errors cost Preston dear as a 60-minute slumber at the Bescot stadium left North End two goals down.

What should have been a performance from a side buoyed by two home wins before the away day at Walsall proved to be anything but as Preston struggled to make an impression in the first half.

It was more through luck than anything else that Preston went in at half-time still on level terms.

And if the away fans thought North End had lived dangerously in the first half, things got worse in the second.

On 49 minutes, Richard Cresswell was judged to have handled the ball. Paul Merson's free kick found Neil Emblen in front of North End's goal and he nodded past Jonathan Gould.

Nine minutes later and Rob Edwards gave away a free kick right on the edge of the North End area. Vinne Samways' superb left-footed drive from the spot-kick sent the back of the net bulging.

The second goal served to rally North End into life as they began to press forward - up until that point, the only chance of note had been a 14 minute strike by Ricardo Fuller at keeper James Walker fromt he edge of the area.

And it was Fuller who dragged North End back into the game, with an inside-area volley into the back of the net in front of the North End away faithful.

Craig Brown sensed the shift in gear and replaced Marlon Broomes with Lee Cartwright and then Rob Edwards with David Healy as he urged his team forward from the touchline.

Cresswell blasted over the bar before Fuller unleashed another trademark effort which was scooped up by Walker.

And on 87 minutes, Cresswell should have clawed a point back for North End when he found himself clear on goal after a mistake by Zigor Aranalde, only to blast wide.

WALSALL 2 PNE 1