Despite a bright start, the Seagulls fell behind against the run of play in the 17th minute to the sort of goal which infuriates managers.

A corner from Lewis was headed firmly into the net by Lucketti from ten yards.

It marked a return to Albion's bad habit of conceding goals from set pieces this season and Coppell will not have been pleased by the marking.

Blackwell had his name taken a minute later for a foul on Fuller inside the centre circle.

Yet Albion had made a positive start to the match at Deepdale.

Inside the opening minute a corner by Lewis, Preston's American International winger, was confidently caught by Kuipers looking for his first away clean sheet.

Albion responded with a right-wing cross by Hart which Lucas caught under pressure from Mayo.

The shaken Lucas got somewhat gingerly back to his feet, but he did not require treatment.

It was interesting to see Mayo in such an advanced position so early on. He revels in the left wingback role he has occupied since Coppell reverted to three centre halves in the previous away outing at Wolves.

Zamora demonstrated his class in the sixth minute with a lovely piece of skill as he almost gave Albion the lead.

He flicked the ball over Murdock with his left foot to strike an angled drive with his right from 12 yards which the diving Lucas deflected behind.

This led to a hat-trick of corners by Rodger which caused Lucas and his back four some concern.

Kuipers had to dash off his line to hurriedly clear from a slightly under-hit back pass by Pethick as Cresswell tried to close down the Dutch keeper.

Another promising Albion attack moments later was foiled when Sidwell was caught marginally offside from Hart's pass.

The Seagulls had quietened the home fans with their bright opening in which Sidwell was particularly prominent.

Then came Preston's goal and Blackwell's booking.

Albion almost fell further behind midway through the half, courtesy of an incisive Preston move.

Lewis exchanged passes with Fuller before clipping the ball goalwards over the advancing Kuipers.

Pethick, close to his own line, got a touch to keep the effort out and Cullip completed the clearance by heading over his own bar.

The Seagulls suffered another injury blow on 28 minutes as Blackwell hobbled off after an innocuous incident.

He fell in a heap when covering, with Cresswell in close attention.

Cullip immediately signalled to the bench that Blackwell would not be able to continue.

Jones came on at left back, with Mayo moving into the middle.

Coppell made the same change when Hinshelwood went off against Derby with a dislocated shoulder and Mayo went on to hit a late winner.

The pattern of the contest had changed appreciably since Lucketti's comeback goal.

Preston were now on the front foot and Albion's attacks more sporadic.

Etuhu, formerly with Manchester City, was proving a threat with his runs from midfield, but Albion almost levelled on 34 minutes via more outstanding work by Zamora.

He totally perplexed Lucketti close to the corner flag before crossing for Sidwell to connect with a header which Lucas helped unconvincingly on to the roof of the net.

The deficit for the Seagulls doubled two minutes later as they again failed to deal with a corner.

It was taken this time by Alexander, the full back returning from Scotland's midweek friendly defeat in Portugal.

Albion did not clear their lines and Lewis headed down for Cresswell, finding plenty of space eight yards out, to score with ease past Kuipers.

Lewis joined the yellow card culprits a minute later for holding back Zamora as he tried to launch a counter-attack.

The Seagulls nearly went further behind in first half stoppage time when Kuipers' attempted clearance was charged down by the onrushing Fuller.

The ball rebounded off him and rolled just wide of the vacant net.

Carpenter fired over from 20 yards two minutes into the restart after Cullip challenged from a free-kick delivered from deep by Mayo.

Carpenter, together with Watson - Albion's only ever-present this season - then had a fierce free-kick blocked by Lucketti in the defensive wall.

Zamora could not get enough power in a header from a right wing cross by Rodger to trouble Lucas, who made a comfortable catch.

Albion got themselves back into the game with a well-worked goal eight minutes into the second half.

The impressive Zamora was the instigator once more. He outpaced Murdock down the right flank before delivering a high, hanging cross.

The back-pedalling Hart headed it back for Rodger to find the corner of the net with a low left-foot volley from 15 yards.

It was Rodger's second goal in four starts following the one he hit on his full home debut against Bradford at Withdean.

The ex-Crystal Palace midfielder joined the caution count shortly after for a foul on Lewis.

Albion clawed themselves level 18 minutes from time with Sidwell's first goal for the club.

The irrepressible Zamora made it by releasing the young Gunner to calmly beat Lucas with a right-foot shot into the roof of the net.