First Division play-off chasers Preston furthered their cause after a well-taken goal from Michael Keane was enough to seal victory at Bradford.

Bradford - relegated from the Premier League last term, but now looking anything like promotion contenders - were lacking ideas up front and sorely missed some Benito Carbone magic.

Their attack was led by Ashley Ward and Andy Tod after the anticipated inclusion of the Italian for the first time since his loan spell at Derby ended failed to materialise.

Dixon Etuhu made his debut for Preston following his move from Manchester City, with Richard Cresswell winning a start up front after an impressive display as a substitute against Sheffield United at the weekend.

The first real foray came from the visitors in the sixth minute when Iain Anderson was released down the inside-left channel, but Andy Myers came across swiftly to make the tackle.

Preston's Graham Alexander then forced Carl Muggleton to make his first save of the night as he got down low to block the full-back's shot from the edge of the area following David Healy's nod down.

North End goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen had to rush from his line on 16 minutes to pluck Gunnar Halle's right-wing cross from the air with Claus Jorgensen closing in for a header.

Tod squandered a glorious chance to put the Bantam's ahead six minutes later when he completely lost track of the ball as he tried to swivel and shoot after Ward had played him in.

Three minutes later the visitors went close when Muggleton could only push away Keane's curling right-foot shot from 18-yards out and Healy sent his diving header wide of the post from the rebound.

Anderson wasted another opportunity two minutes later when he seemed to kick the ground rather than the ball when clean through on Muggleton.

Preston grabbed the lead two minutes into the second half when Alexander's deep cross from the right was headed back across goal by Cresswell and Keane, arriving late, volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Ward had a chance to level within three minutes, but he barely made any contact with his header which drifted wide after Jorgensen's up-and-under found him unmarked in the box.

Cresswell drew a save from Muggleton in the 59th minute when he connected with a volley from a Healy knock down.

Seconds later, Cresswell beat the Bradford offside trap and squared the ball across goal - but Healy was just unable to reach it.

Cresswell came off a minute later to be replaced by Jon Macken, who almost made himself an instant hero.

He guided a header past Muggleton from Lee Cartwright's right-wing centre - but the ball struck the inside of the post, rolled across the goal-line and out of play.

Substitute Bradford striker Gareth Grant, on for Tod, latched onto a chest-down by Ward after 75 minutes - but his shot from the left-hand side of the box was gathered by Moilanen at his near post.

Halle then hit the upright with seven minutes left as he headed down Lee Sharpe's cross, with Moilanen beaten.

Bradford huffed and puffed as time ran out, with Ward's cross-cum-shot having to be tipped over by Moilanen.

But without the guile of Carbone, City looked predictable and the equaliser never came.

Teams:

Bradford: Muggleton, Halle, Myers, Caldwell, Emanuel (Jacobs 72), Jorgensen (Lawrence 57), McCall, Jess, Sharpe, Tod (Grant 71), Ward.

Subs Not Used: Worsnop, Juanjo.

Booked: Ward.

Preston: Moilanen, Alexander, Gregan, Lucketti, Edwards, Healy, Keane, Cartwright, Etuhu, Anderson, Cresswell (Macken 61).

Subs Not Used: Basham, Eaton, Brian Barry-Murphy, Brian Barry-Murphy, Lonergan.

Booked: Lucketti.

Goals: Keane 47.

Att: 15,217

Ref: C Webster (Shotley Bridge, Co Durham).