Watford's on-loan defender Wayne Brown made an instant impact to help earn the Hornets a point at Preston.

The Ipswich full-back came off the bench for his debut just after the hour mark, immediately setting up the equaliser for Gifton Noel-Williams.

Preston, looking for their third win in five days, had defied fatigue to control the first half and they took the lead through defender Graham Alexander's 30-yard piledriver into the top corner in the 32nd minute.

But Watford, who in contrast had enjoyed a break in Spain during 11 days of inactivity, looked rusty before gradually pulling themselves back into the game in the second period.

Fresh from an FA Cup win over Sheffield United and league success over Bradford, Preston seized the initiative early on.

Forward Richard Cresswell, who inspired his side to their weekend cup win over the Blades, should have done better in the 16th minute.

Dickson Etuhu, making his home debut following his move from Manchester City, found Cresswell unmarked inside the area but the striker fired well over from 10 yards.

The home side began to dominate as the first half wore on, with David Healy providing the impetus.

The Northern Ireland striker shot narrowly wide with his first effort but, after finding his range, he was only denied moments later by Alec Chamberlain's flying save.

Healy also sent in a vicious cross that was cleared away from Cresswell by Lloyd Doyley, but the Watford defender was less accomplished with his clearance prior to the goal.

Under pressure from Jon Macken, Doyley failed get enough distance on the ball. It fell to Alexander, whose arrowed strike gave Chamberlain no chance.

The full-back typified North End's battling spirit as a surging run down the right almost brought more reward, but Cresswell opted to head back across the six-yard area instead of directing the defender's cross goalwards.

After the restart, Jermaine Pennant - on loan from Arsenal - attempted to fire some life into the Hornets with a surging 60-yard run, eventually ended by a combination of four Preston defenders on the edge of their own area.

North End went straight back down the other end though, and Macken's despairing lunge was only inches away from turning in Cresswell's teasing centre across the face of goal.

Winger Pennant had seemed Watford's best chance of an equaliser but when the goal did come in the 64th minute, it was with help of Gianluca Vialli's inspired substitution.

The Italian introduced Brown and almost immediately he sent a 50-yard pass that Preston skipper Sean Gregan, filling in at centre back, failed to intercept, allowing Noel-Williams to dribble around Teuvo Moilanen before slotting home.

Micheal Keane almost restored North End's lead two minutes later, but Chamberlain flew to his left to cling onto the midfielder's header from Adam Eaton's cross.

Preston manager David Moyes brought on Iain Anderson and Steve Basham in an attempt to breathe new life into his battle-weary troops.

But a speculative effort from Brian Barry-Murphy, on as a 62nd-minute substitute, was comfortably dealt with by Chamberlain in the closing stages.