Crewe's eight-match unbeaten run shuddered to a halt as Preston moved to within striking distance of the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs with victory at Gresty Road on Monday.

Chris Sedgwick's first goal for North End and Brian O'Neil's second-half header saw Billy Davies' side leapfrog their opponents into ninth in the table, level on points with seventh-placed Millwall and three behind West Ham in sixth.

The hosts had their chances but a combination of wayward finishing, Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan and the woodwork ensured the visitors extended their own unbeaten run to five matches despite O'Neil's late dismissal and a Richard Walker consolation.

Preston went ahead in the ninth minute when Sedgwick popped up in the area and thumped an angled drive past Clayton Ince.

Crewe immediately went on the offensive and Dean Ashton, a transfer-window target for Barclays Premiership strugglers Norwich, forced a smart save from Lonergan before fit-again strike partner Steve Jones sent a 25-yard effort over the bar.

The hosts were unlucky not to draw level midway through the half when another of Dario Gradi's highly-rated youngsters, Welsh midfielder David Vaughan, clipped the outside of the post with a fine curled effort.

Walker squandered another opportunity to equalise having found space in the box and Ashton sent an ambitious volley high over the bar.

Ince was called into action early in the second half to keep out Richard Cresswell's shot before Neil Sorvel's curler at the other end flew narrowly over.

Preston doubled their advantage shortly before the hour mark when Stephen Foster upended Cresswell.

American midfielder Eddie Lewis floated over the free-kick and O'Neil's downward header beat the exposed Ince to give the visitors some breathing space.

O'Neil's evening was soured somewhat 12 minutes from time when he was shown a straight red for bringing down Ashton as the 20-goal striker burst through on goal.

Three minutes later Crewe were back in the game when Kenny Lunt's inswinging corner found Walker, who arched a fine header back over Lonergan and into the net.

But Crewe could not make their numerical advantage count again with Preston playing keep-ball to wind down the clock and frustrate their hosts.

Teams:

Crewe Ince, Moses, Walker, Foster, Tonkin, Lunt, Sorvel, Bell, Vaughan, Ashton (Higdon 82), Steve Jones (Varney 61).

Subs Not Used: Williams, McCready, Cochrane.

Booked: Walker, Varney.

Goals: Walker 81.

Preston Lonergan, Mawene, Lucketti, Davis (Etuhu 45), Alexander, Sedgwick, O'Neil, McKenna, Lewis, Agyemang (O'Neill 87), Cresswell.

Subs Not Used: Daley, Ward, Oliveira.

Sent Off: O'Neil (78).

Booked: Davis.

Goals: Sedgwick 9, O'Neil 59.

Att: 8,667

Ref: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).