Johnnie Jackson produced a 88th-minute winner to lift Colchester off the bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship and drag 10-man Preston back into relegation trouble with a 2-1 win at Layer Road.

Scott Vernon converted a 68th-minute penalty to put United ahead after North End defender Sean St Ledger hauled down Karl Duguid as he threatened to break clear.

St Ledger was shown a straight red card but former Liverpool forward Neil Mellor equalised with nine minutes remaining - just four minutes after replacing Karl Hawley.

However, Jackson thrashed in a late volley from the edge of the box in the closing stages as Colchester leapfrogged Scunthorpe to move off the bottom of the table.

Preston had gone into the game on the back of a solid run of form, having won two of their previous three Championship outings and having dumped Derby out of the FA Cup.

Alan Irvine's men began brightly tonight and Hawley hit a left-footed shot narrowly wide from 20 yards in the sixth minute.

Colchester, to their credit, gradually gained a foothold on proceedings and a vicious inswinging corner from Jackson reached the far post but Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan collected the ball with a pack of home players lurking.

The Us threatened shortly before the half-hour mark when Kevin McLeod crossed dangerously but St Ledger averted the danger with a fine clearance.

Moments later, however, highly-rated Preston midfielder Simon Whaley - who has attracted admiring glances from several higher-placed clubs this season - cracked a rising right-footed shot which warmed the hands of home goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

North End signalled their intent again 10 minutes later when striker Chris Brown steered a low shot narrowly wide from 18 yards.

Five minutes after the break, Preston engineered another opening when Brown hit a right-foot shot which Gerken did well to hold.

However, Colchester began to build up a head of steam as the second half wore on and they created two decent openings on the hour mark.

The first came when Duguid forced Lonergan into a smart stop and then moments later Philip Ifil curled a left-foot shot narrowly wide.

But the game exploded into life with 22 minutes remaining when Duguid broke clear and had his progress halted by St Ledger.

The challenge looked to be right on the edge of the 18-yard box but referee Paul Taylor had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot.

Vernon stepped up to bury the ball from 12 yards, but as Colchester looked to secure victory, Irvine replaced Hawley with Mellor in the 77th minute.

Mellor needed just four minutes to find the net as he stabbed in a shot from six yards which looped into the back of the net.

However, former Tottenham trainee Jackson lashed in a superb right-footed shot in the 88th minute to seal victory for Colchester.

Teams:

Colchester Gerken, Ifil, Coyne, Virgo, White, Duguid, Izzet,Jackson, McLeod (Guttridge 84), Sheringham (Vernon 62), Platt.

Subs Not Used: Cousins, Granville, Watson.

Goals: Vernon 68 pen, Jackson 88.

Preston Lonergan, Jones, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson,Sedgwick (Mawene 71), McKenna, Carter, Whaley (Chaplow 78),Brown, Hawley (Mellor 77).

Subs Not Used: Szamotulski, Ormerod.

Sent Off: St. Ledger (68).

Booked: Sedgwick, Carter.

Goals: Mellor 81.

Att: 5,122

Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).