Preston had the first chance after four minutes when Lee Croft fouled Chris Sedgwick near the corner flag for the game's first free-kick.
Richard Chaplow crossed from the right wing and Sean St Ledger had an effort saved one handed.
In the 14th minute, Croft had a drive from distance which was going into the bottom right hand corner but Preston keeper Andy Lonergan tipped the ball around the post for a corner.
Sedgwick had a cross saved and then Chaplow gave the ball away and Croft found Mark Fotheringham and his shot from the edge of the box was deflected off St Ledger, who was diving into block and the keeper made a fingertip save.
An inswinging corner on the right wing by Alan Gow was saved and Sedgwick had a right-wing cross spilled by the keeper.
Jon Parkin latched onto a loose ball 25 yards out and hit a hard shot against the far left-hand post from the right-hand side and then Parkin made it 1-0 after 41 minutes after a Barry Nicholson free-kick was knocked on by Chris Brown and Parkin hit a left-foot shot in off the right-hand post from close range.
Chaplow hammered a shot into the turf which took an awkward bounce but the keeper saved.
Sedgwick fouled Wes Hoolahan and the resultant free kick by Hoolahan was saved.
Croft had an effort saved and Parkin had a shot blocked by the keeper diving to his right.
Darel Russell had a shot saved and substitute David Carney had a shot punched off the line by the Preston keeper.
Towards the end, substitutes Carney and Chris Killen had efforts saved.