As a dress rehearsal for Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie against Tottenham
Hotspur, this match was a disaster for County and manager Andy Kilner.
The Hatters were beaten for the first time this year and also had defender
Simon Grayson sent off for two bookable offences.
And any watching Spurs' scouts won't have been impressed by this weekend's
First Division visitors to White Hart Lane.
County were poor and Preston were deserved winners to gain some belated
revenge for their third round exit at the hands of the Cheshire outfit.
David Healy's fifth goal in seven games - his third in a row - separated the
sides.
The Northern Ireland striker belted home the winner with just 16 minutes left,
rifling in at the far post after Brian McBride had headed on a Gary Parkinson
corner.
Ten minutes later, Healy was receiving treatment after being clattered from
behind by Grayson who quite rightly received his marching orders from referee
Steve Lodge having been yellow carded for a tackle on the same player in the
first half.
County, who have conceded late equalisers in three of their last four home
games, couldn't pull the match out of the fire.
They were awarded a free kick in injury time but defender Shane Nicholson's
20-yard drive was easily fielded by Teuvo Moilanen.
It was Moilanen's first save of any note in the second half and only his
second of the match as County rarely looked capable of breaking down their
visitors' defence.
David Moyes' team, on a high from last Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of QPR, were
always in command after weathering some early County pressure.
McBride had a header saved by Lee Jones and Paul McKenna tried his luck from
distance again forcing a save from Jones.
Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi almost scored his first goal for the club in the
57th minute after Brian Carrigan's cross was poorly dealt with.
But it was a rare moment of hope for the home team and it wasn't long before
Preston were pressing for the winning goal.
Mark Rankin forced Jones into another save before Healy's 74th minute winner
settled the contest.
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