West Brom squandaered the chance to move into second place as their opponents gratefully accepted the points to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Match-winner Dickson Etuhu rose to power home a header from six yards after Rob Edwards' 56th-minute corner.

But the other major talking point was the fact that both teams missed two second-half penalties - just two minutes apart and in copycat fashion.

Firstly, Scott Dobie took a spot kick on 47 minutes after Sean Gregan fouled Adam Chambers.

But Dobie, a one-time Preston target, saw his penalty ricochet off the underside of the crossbar.

No-one could have predicted that the same thing would happen at the other end of the field two minutes later.

Larus Sigurdsson checked Richard Cresswell, but from the penalty spot Cresswell likewise saw his spot kick bound out in identical fashion.

In a contest of two passing sides, it was 10th-placed Preston who seemed most likely to draw first blood.

Striker Jon Macken displayed a trademark turn on the edge of the box before blasting a drive that dipped but whistled over the crossbar.

A freak incident might have put North End in front after only 40 seconds.

Keeper Russell Hoult's clearance kick cannoned off Richard Cresswell, but fortunately for the Baggies, the ball zoomed off target.

Five minutes from the interval Rob Edwards made a crucial block to keep Andy Johnson at bay.

Johnson got a touch to a sharp cross from the right, but with the ball heading goalwards Edwards stopped its path with his foot.

Just before Preston's goal, Adam Eaton had Hoult stretching to tip out a dangerous 30-yard effort.

Albion seemed to lose a bit of their spark after seven-goal targetman Jason Roberts was forced to limp off injured just before half-time.

But after a 5-0 victory at the weekend, Dobie showed they couldn't be written off when he picked up a cross in the 18-yard area, evaded the attentions of two players before twisting to fire inches wide of the far post.

Teams

Preston Lucas, Gudjonsson (Skora 81), Lucketti, Gregan, Edwards, Eaton, Keane, Etuhu, McKenna, Cresswell, Macken (Healy 81).

Subs Not Used: Basham, Anderson, Moilanen.

Goals: Etuhu 57.

West Brom Hoult, Sigurdsson, Butler (Lyttle 84), Gilchrist, Balis, Adam Chambers (Fox 61), McInnes, Johnson, Clement, Roberts (Taylor 45), Dobie.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Jordao.

Booked: Dobie.

Att: 14,487

Ref: P Danson (Leicester).