Preston 1, City 0: City's season continued to wind down in low-key fashion at Deepdale this afternoon as they went down to a second successive 1-0 away defeat.

In another disappointing game, Pawel Abbott's goal-line tap-in earned Preston the win after Aidan Davison had failed to keep out a shot from Richard Cresswell.

There was one change from the side that started the flat Bank Holiday defeat at Gillingham.

Andy Myers, a half-time substitute at the Priestfield, came in for Lewis Emanuel who is having a clean-up operation on his knee.

Danny Forrest was again on the bench after playing 20 minutes as a second-half substitute for England under-19s in Germany on Thursday night.

Preston's line-up included Jonathan Gould, City's goalkeeper at Wembley in the Second Division play-off final seven years ago.

City again lined up with a three-man defence as Myers took over the left wing-back role.

Gus Uhlenbeek was booed by the home fans who clearly remembered the incident when he shoved Richard Cresswell into an advertising board at Valley Parade in October. The Preston striker had to be treated in hospital afterwards for facial wounds.

Laurens Ten Heuvel was only a few inches too high with a curling free-kick in the third minute although Gould looked to have it covered.

The away supporters were in party mood behind Aidan Davison's goal but it briefly threatened to turn nasty when Cresswell went straight through Uhlenbeek.

It was obvious revenge for what had gone on before but surprisingly referee Paul Rejer did not show a yellow card.

Preston's first chance came after eight minutes but skipper Chris Lucketti headed well wide from a corner.

Davison had to be quick off his line to whip the ball off Eddie Lewis as the American chased a ball into the City box but the early play was disjointed with too many free-kicks.

City fell behind after 12 minutes from a soft-looking goal. Lewis set up Cresswell in space on the right side of the penalty area and his shot from 10 yards slithered through Davison's dive, allowing Pawel ABBOTT to tap it in on the line.

Bower's well-timed tackle denied Cresswell another way through but the visitors were having an uncomfortable few moments as Preston's leading scorer curled another effort wide from Abbott's pass.

City's first corner proved fruitless and Andy Gray, who spent a month on loan with Preston four seasons ago while with Nottingham Forest, had his first effort blocked by Michael Jackson before it could reach Gould.

Preston nearly made it two midway through the half when nobody picked up Graham Alexander from Lewis' corner and the Scottish international clubbed over the bar from 20 yards.

City threatened two minutes later with an attack sparked by David Wetherall's crunching tackle on Abbott on halfway. He got the ball to Myers who pulled back an inviting pass for Frazer McHugh eight yards out.

The youngster had a great chance to score in only his second City game but scuffed it under pressure from Jackson. Ten Heuvel went high and wide with another go as the Preston goal remained untouched.

City were in trouble again on the half hour when a loose pass from Simon Francis was picked up by Lewis. He fed Paul McKenna on the right wing whose cross was met by a sweeping volley from Cresswell which narrowly missed Davison's far post.

A strong run and cross from Myers forced Gould into his first real action, taking the high ball above Ten Heuvel who appealed unsuccessfully that he had been pushed by Tyrone Mears.

Francis forced successive corners and Bower got up well to reach the second. The centre-half was still up field to have a shot deflected behind for a third - and Francis lightened the mood by picking up a balloon and pretending to take it with that.

It was extremely ordinary, typically end-of-season fair for a crowd and the best of the entertainment was coming from the tuneful trumpeter belting out "Jerusalem" on the Bill Shankly Kop.

Bower again got his head on the end of a Francis corner, City's fifth of the half, but it sailed harmlessly over.

Gould was finally called upon two minutes before the break and produced a decent stop to deny Ten Heuvel's volley after a City free-kick was only half-cleared.

Uhlenbeek sent Cresswell sprawling with a lunging tackle by the touchline which got tempers boiling. As the striker rolled on the ground, referee Rejer was surrounded by a dozen players before he booked the Dutchman.

HT: Preston 1, City 0

McHugh was replaced for the second half by Ben Muirhead and the winger quickly won a corner with a low cross turned behind by Jackson. Preston made a meal of clearing it but Ten Heuvel drove well wide.

City had switched to a back four with Bower on the left and Uhlenbeek operating as a conventional right back.

Preston were close to a second after 51 minutes as Davison tipped over a blast by Alexander. From the corner, Cresswell headed against the bar and when the ball was whipped back into the six-yard box, he sent another whistling inches over.

Ten Heuvel, who had again contributed little, was substituted before play resumed and Forrest came on to his customary huge cheer from the City fans.

Gray was unlucky with a jinking run down the right flank and low cross which slipped invitingly across the six-yard line with no claret and amber shirt close enough to get a touch.

It was better stuff from City who must have received some stern words in the dressing room at half-time.

Muirhead chested down an angled pass from Myers and although he could not get it under control for a shot, the ball ran for Jorgensen who thundered an effort over Gould's bar.

There was growing frustration among the home fans as City started to pen Preston back.

Bower overlapped to deliver a useful cross but unfortunately Gray and Robert Molenaar got in each other's way on the receiving end.

Rain started to belt down as City continued to knock on the door. Muirhead was tripped five yards outside the box but again a home head was on the end of the free-kick from Francis.

City substitute Tom Penford showed great confidence to nut-meg Alexander on the byline and flick in a cross which Jackson got away with a sliding boot.

The youngster reeled off another well-placed pass to release Myers but his cross arrowed straight to Gould.

City were nearly caught out when Preston broke suddenly from deep in their own half through Lynch. But Myers raced back to slide in and deny Mears on the edge of Davison's penalty area.