Preston enjoyed a welcome respite from the Coca-Cola Championship as Simon Whaley's second-half strike secured their passage into the FA Cup fourth round.

The Lilywhites are rock-bottom of the Championship table and had lost three consecutive games ahead of the visit of Scunthorpe, but Whaley lifted the gloom with the only goal of the game early in the second half.

Struggling Scunthorpe, who won at Deepdale on Boxing Day to complete a league double over the Lancashire outfit, had the better of the first half and Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan had to be alert to deny Martin Paterson, Matt Sparrow and Ian Morris.

And they were made to pay for their profligacy when Whaley netted his fourth goal in his last eight matches to settle a lacklustre encounter.

Central defender Youl Mawene replaced the suspended Sean St Ledger in the Preston starting line-up after missing the last four games to be with his son, who has been seriously ill in hospital.

Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor was also recalled by boss Alan Irvine to replace Paul Gallagher, who has returned to parent club Blackburn.

On-loan defender Shelton Martis was handed a debut by Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins, while Cliff Byrne and Sparrow were also given starting berths.

After a scrappy start to proceedings, it was the visitors who finally carved out the first goalscoring opportunity but Lilywhites goalkeeper Lonergan saved leading scorer Paterson's left-foot strike with his feet.

Scunthorpe looked the more likely to break the deadlock and, midway through the half, Lonergan once again had to be alert to keep out Sparrow's right-foot strike from 12 yards out before Kevan Hurst volleyed wastefully wide of the target.

Less than a minute later, Morris unleashed a right-foot strike from just outside the area but Lonergan produced a fine reflex save.

Preston finally mustered an opportunity of their own but Whaley headed Lewis Neal's inviting cross wide of the right-hand post.

Paul Hayes went close with a vicious right-foot strike that whistled past the post just after half-time, but it was Preston who took the lead two minutes after the break.

Karl Hawley played in Paul McKenna and the midfielder laid the ball into the path of Whaley, who guided a right-foot finish into the bottom corner from close range at the second attempt.

Former Carlisle striker Hawley had an opportunity to double Preston's lead but flashed a right-foot finish over the crossbar.

Iron midfielder Sparrow spurned an opportunity to restore parity when his curled free-kick from the edge of the penalty area looped over the bar.

Mellor could have given Preston some breathing space but failed to test Joe Murphy with a poor right-foot finish after a cross from former Derby defender Mawene.

Just over 20 minutes from time the lively Whaley slipped his marker but shot straight at a grateful Murphy, who had to be withdrawn moments later due to injury, with Josh Lillis replacing him.

Scunthorpe forced a corner with 15 minutes remaining and although Andy Crosby leapt highest, he could only head straight at Lonergan.

Morris drilled a long-range strike wide of the target in the last minute of normal time and that was as close as Scunthorpe came to earning a replay.

Teams:

Preston Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Chilvers, Hill, Whaley, Carter, McKenna, Lewis Neal, Mellor (Ormerod 87), Hawley.

Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Nicholls, Anyinsah, Sedgwick.

Goals: Whaley 47.

Scunthorpe Murphy (Lillis 72), Byrne, Crosby, Martis, Williams (Forte 66), Sparrow, Cork, Morris, Hurst, Hayes (Ameobi 86), Paterson.

Subs Not Used: Seck, Taylor.

Att: 4,616

Ref: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).