Substitute Neil Mellor's 85th-minute penalty gave in-form Preston victory over Lancashire rivals Burnley and further enhanced their bid to claim a coveted Coca-Cola Championship play-off berth.

The former Liverpool striker had only been on the pitch for a minute when he squeezed his spot-kick under Brian Jensen after a handball from Clarets skipper Steven Caldwell.

Callum Davidson had put Preston ahead from the spot in the 53rd minute. Burnley substitute Robbie Blake's stunning free-kick drew his side level in the 77th minute before Mellor struck to give Alan Irvine's men their sixth successive home win.

The result lifted North End four points clear of Burnley and left home fans singing about winning promotion to the promised land of the Barclays Premier League.

The famous old Lancashire outfit have not tasted top-flight football since 1961 but Irvine has assembled a side to be reckoned with since swapping his post as Everton assistant boss for the Deepdale hotseat in November 2007.

This was their 11th home victory of the season and was deserved as the visitors' goal led a charmed life throughout.

In the fourth minute, Preston captain Paul McKenna swung in a teasing cross from the right flank but defender Sean St Ledger headed wastefully over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, the Clarets had another lucky escape when a long punt upfield from Davidson left Stephen Elliott and Caldwell in a straight race for the ball.

Elliott, who scored twice in last week's 3-1 demolition of leaders Wolves at Molineux, outpaced the Scot and Jensen looked to have felled the striker 14 yards from goal.

Referee Paul Taylor ignored home claims for a penalty but, with Jon Parkin proving a real menace to the Burnley backline, the pressure from Preston increased.

Key to Preston's rich run of form has been the form of winger Ross Wallace, who this week made his loan signing from Sunderland into a permanent move.

In the 17th minute, Wallace crossed from the left and Parkin greeted the ball with a firm header from 12 yards which flew straight into Jensen's grateful arms.

Burnley gradually gained a foothold on proceedings as the half wore on but 15-goal leading scorer Martin Paterson scooped the ball over the bar from close range in the 21st minute.

Preston seized the initiative after the break and were rewarded eight minutes in when Elliott scampered onto a loose ball and saw his progress clumsily halted by Jensen.

Davidson stepped up to slot home a low, left-footed effort to Jensen's left and Preston wasted no time going in search of a killer second.

On the hour, Wallace crossed well from the left and former Burnley midfielder Richard Chaplow arrived to head straight at Jensen from eight yards out.

Yet Burnley began to enjoy more territory and drew level in the 77th minute through Blake's stunning strike.

The former Birmingham and Leeds forward was fouled by Billy Jones around 25 yards out and strode forward to curl a superb right-footed shot into the top-left corner via the inside of a post.

However, Irvine replaced Elliott with Mellor in the 84th minute and the move paid off moments later with the striker hitting the winner from the spot for his ninth goal of the season after Caldwell's aberration.

Teams:

Preston Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson, Sedgwick, McKenna, Chaplow (Nicholson 81), Wallace,Elliott (Mellor 84), Parkin.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Nolan, Chris Neal.

Booked: McKenna, Wallace, Sedgwick.

Goals: Davidson 53 pen, Mellor 85 pen.

Burnley Jensen, Duff, Caldwell, Carlisle, Jordan, Alexander, Eagles, Gudjonsson (Blake 66), McCann, Thompson (Rodriguez 76),Paterson.

Subs Not Used: Penny, Mahon, MacDonald.

Goals: Blake 77.

Att: 15,692

Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).