Chris Lucketti scored the decisive goal for the second successive week as Preston came from behind to climb to fourth place in the Coca-Cola Championship table.

The skipper netted what proved the winner against Coventry last Saturday and repeated the trick as the in-form Lancashire club extended their terrific run to seven wins in their last nine league games.

Veteran striker Paul Furlong had given QPR a deserved half-time lead but an inspired double substitution in a much improved second-half performance from the visitors turned the match around and kept Preston on course for the play-offs.

Rangers started better and Andy Lonergan, who was not called into action when substitute for England Under-21s in the week, took just three minutes to get involved today. The Preston goalkeeper parried an angled shot from Jamie Cureton, who went even closer six minutes later when the striker lobbed Lonergan but his effort hit the woodwork.

Prolific Richard Cresswell had Preston's first attempt at goal, firing wide, and was also off target with a header as his side began to settle.

But after 25 minutes the Lilywhites found themselves behind thanks to a well-worked short corner routine. Lee Cook sent the ball into the penalty area and Furlong headed home his 15th goal of the season.

Cureton, Furlong's strike partner, was determined not to be outdone and volleyed over the crossbar on the half-hour mark, while five minutes later Rangers midfielder Georges Santos handballed and became the first player booked.

Preston produced nothing for the remainder of the half but were a different proposition after the break.

Rangers' on-loan defender Andy Davies, who is due to return to Middlesbrough to help offset an injury crisis, was booked three minutes into the second period and then Patrick Agyemang had what at the time was proving a rare Preston effort when he lobbed the ball wide.

That was the former Gillingham man's last action for he and Dickson Etuhu were then replaced by David Nugent and Paul McKenna, who was not expected to be involved in this game having recently broken his hand.

Cresswell again headed wide just after the hour mark and as North End pressed forward with renewed vigour, goalkeeper Simon Royce, on loan from Charlton, was forced to parry a Nugent shot and Chris Sedgwick curled the rebound past the post.

And the introduction of Nugent reaped a dividend for manager Billy Davies when the former Bury striker combined with his fellow substitute to equalise. McKenna created the opportunity for Nugent to knock the ball home from close range.

Eight minutes later Preston were ahead. The hosts failed to properly clear a corner and when the ball was crossed into the danger zone again, Lucketti lashed it high into the net.

Ian Holloway made a triple substitution to try to get his side back into it, sending on Marc Bircham, Martin Rowlands and Marcus Bignot for Cureton, Cook and Richard Edghill, and they could have restored parity almost immediately when Gareth Ainsworth headed wide.

Then Preston's victory hopes were dealt a blow as Eddie Lewis, only just back from international duty with the United States, committed two bookable offences in three minutes - fouls on Bircham and Gino Padula - and was sent off.

Furlong volleyed wide but that was Preston's last scare as they held on to extend their unbeaten run.

Teams:

QPR: Royce, Edghill (Bignot 76), Shittu, Davies, Padula, Ainsworth, Gallen, Santos, Cook (Rowlands 76), Cureton (Bircham 76), Furlong.

Subs Not Used: Day, Rose.

Booked: Santos, Davies, Gallen, Ainsworth.

Goals: Furlong 26.

Preston: Lonergan, Alexander (Davis 80), Lucketti, Mawene, Hill, Sedgwick, Etuhu (McKenna 57), O'Neil, Lewis, Agyemang (Nugent 57), Cresswell.

Subs Not Used: Davidson, Smith.

Sent Off: Lewis (81).

Booked: Lewis, Davis.

Goals: Nugent 67, Lucketti 75.

Att: 15,620

Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).