A goal from Neil Mellor helped Darren Ferguson's Preston North End side claim a 1-0 victory at London Road, but it was a fairly uneventful Coca-Cola Championship fixture that lacked any real goal-mouth action.

The visitors, wearing an all yellow kit, forced the first corner kick of the evening while defender Ryan Bennett made an important interception as Preston North End flew out of the traps.

At the other end, Chris Whelpdale drilled a 25-yard shot over the crossbar after a good ball inside from George Boyd, who was declared fit to play earlier on Tuesday. Whelpdale had another go with his left-foot moments later, but again it flew over the bar.

A glorious cross from Boyd picked out Aaron Mclean on eight minutes, but his downward header was gathered by goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.  

A sublime piece of skill from Boyd saw him take three defenders out of the game on 15 minutes and his right-foot shot wasn't bad either, curling the effort inches past the post with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Boyd dragged a left-foot shot wide of the target on 24 minutes and received a kick on his bad ankle moments later, but was soon up and throwing himself into a tackle.

A well worked move involving the front three on 33 minutes ended with a Boyd shot deflect wide of the target for a corner kick. A snap-shot from Josh Simpson was pushed around the post by goalkeeper Lonergan. Lee then saw a shot blocked after excellent work from Whelpdale on the left.

Neil MELLOR saw a shot blocked at the other end and moments later, the same player lashed an unstoppable left-foot shot past Joe Lewis after a mistake from Gilbert in the defensive area of the pitch.

Reuben Reid dragged a shot wide of the target on 37 minutes as Posh tried to get themselves back into the game. Scottish winger Ross Wallace fired over the top following a good knock down from Chris Brown on 41 minutes.

Simpson fired over a minute before the break, but the 25-yard effort didn't dip enough and the ball cleared the crossbar. Livermore then hooked a volley over and if Posh could find their shooting boots, there would be opportunities to score against a poor looking Preston side.

Half-time: Posh 0-1 Preston North End

There were no changes made during the interval, but there was more urgency to the Posh play as the second half got underway. Goalkeeper Joe Lewis made a superb asve from point blank range to deny a powerful Chaplow header after Callum Davidson did well to get the by-line.

Neil Mellor was denied twice within a minute three minutes before the mark, first Lewis denied the striker and then Ryan Bennett was well positioned on the line to clear as Mellor pounced on the rebound.

Mclean took a nasty kick on the bottom of the foot under a heavy challenge from Mawene and he was given lengthy treatment by physiotherapist Keith Oakes. He was back on his feet and keen to return to the fray.

Mark Cooper reverted to a 4-3-3 formation with the introduction of Izale McLeod, but getting possession of the football was the main issue for Posh as the game moved into the final third.

A powerful left-foot drive from fully 30-yards by Boyd was parried by goalkeeper Andy Lonergan on 69 minutes, but there were no clear-cut opportunities being created by the home side.

The second half seemed to be passing Posh by with numerous stopppages for substitutions and injuries, but while the margin was just one, Mark Cooper's men still had a chance of taking something from the match.

The pace of McLeod saw him burst into the box, but his low cross-shot was cleared and then Boyd took the wrong option of passing from close-range when shooting seemed the more sensible option. The same player then drove wide of the target before Ben Wright replaced Mclean for the final five minutes.

There was a sizable amount of stoppage time indicated by the fourth official and Posh had plenty of ball, but the visitors were clearing their lines and defending with plenty of heart.

Final Score: Posh 0-1 Preston North End

Posh: Lewis, Griffiths, Gilbert, Bennett, Lee, Boyd, Whelpdale (sub Frecklington 78min), Simpson, Livermore, Reid (sub McLeod 60min), Mclean (sub Wright 88min). Unused subs: Williams, Coutts, McKeown, Rowe.

Preston: Lonergan, Hart, Davidson (sub Carter 73min), Chaplow, Mawene, Brown, St. Ledger, Welbeck (sub Collins 90min), Jones, Wallace, Mellor (sub Parkin 81min). Unused subs: Chilvers, Henderson, Barton, Mayor.

Attendance: 7,134 (449 Preston fans)