Sixth-placed Preston opened up a five-point gap to the pack chasing the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs with a narrow victory over bottom club Crewe.

Brett Ormerod scored the only goal - his second since joining from Southampton in January - seven minutes before the break and that was enough to secure a victory that gives them a decent cushion to the likes of Wolves and Cardiff.

Crewe, who remain 10 points adrift of fourth-bottom Sheffield Wednesday and look set for League One next season, failed to show the improved form that had taken them on a run of one defeat in five games and never looked like keeping their survival hopes alive.

Preston had failed to score in four of their previous five matches but had a flurry of early opportunities.

The Alex defence took time to come to terms with North End's new-look formation which saw Patrick Agyemang joined consistently by Chris Sedgwick, Marcus Stewart and Ormerod in attack.

Ormerod dragged high and wide, Graham Alexander hit just off target and goalkeeper Ross Turnbull also struggled to deal with a weak Stewart effort, all in the first 10 minutes.

The visitors had already seen a Gareth Taylor header stopped low by Carlo Nash before Steve Jones lobbed tamely into the North End goalkeeper's hands.

Preston were stroking the ball around but - a simple save from a Brian O'Neil shot aside - Turnbull had progressively less work to do.

Another great chance came when Ormerod beat Jon Otsemobor with ease on the left flank and his low cross was blocked by a mass of bodies only for Stewart to lift the ball over the bar from near the penalty spot.

But Ormerod ended the frustration with a fine finish in the 38th minute.

Having picked the ball up on the left flank from an Agyemang lay-off, he cut in and fired low past Turnbull.

Crewe threatened just before the break when Lee Bell was given time to shoot from 20 yards but his strike flew just wide.

Dario Gradi's side passed up a great opportunity to equalise but Taylor drove wide after the ball fell kindly to him from a block from debutant Kelvin Watson, who is on loan from Notts County with a view to a permanent deal.

Steve Jones lobbed over moments later but Preston remained in control and a great run down the right and cross from Tyrone Mears created another chance for Ormerod but he could not turn the ball on target.

In the 58th minute a diving header from Sedgwick met Alexander's corner from the right dropped the ball just the wrong side of the far post.

With just over a quarter of an hour remaining, the visitors had their first spell of real possession in the Preston half but could only muster a disappointing long-range effort from Tony Grant.

Steve Jones had another couple of hopeful strikes as the Alex inevitably pressed.

But with Otsemobor firing just wide in added time they could not find an equaliser.

Teams

Preston Nash, Mears, Davis, Wilson, Alexander, Sedgwick,O'Neil (Jarrett 61), McKenna (Whaley 80), Ormerod, Agyemang,Stewart (Hibbert 83).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Lewis Neal.

Booked: O'Neil, Ormerod.

Goals: Ormerod 37.

Crewe Turnbull, Otsemobor, Foster, Bougherra, Billy Jones,Bell (Vaughan 79), Lunt, Grant (Higdon 89), Steve Jones,Taylor (Johnson 79), Rodgers.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, McCready.

Booked: Foster.

Att: 13,170

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).