Preston guaranteed themselves fourth place in Division One with a 2-1 victory over West Brom at Deepdale.

Graham Alexander's second-half penalty ensured David Moyes' men had home advantage in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Birmingham, who finished in fifth place with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield.

Both Preston and West Brom could meet again in the play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium later this month.

That would undoubtedly deliver a more exciting game than what was an occasionally tedious end-of-season encounter this afternoon.

Sean Gregan put the hosts ahead with a simple tap-in after Alexander's driven cross after only two minutes.

That had stood until Gary Megson's men levelled in controversial fashion on 31 minutes.

Neil Clement, remembered by the home fans for his debut sending-off during a lone spell at Deepdale two seasons ago, curled home a retaken free-kick seconds after being yellow-carded for taking the original set-piece too early.

Any lingering injustice retained by North End soon evaporated six minutes into the second half however when the home side retook the lead.

Jason van Blerk was adjudged to have handled in the box, with Alexander comfortably sending Russell Hoult the wrong way for his fifth of the season.

The Baggies should have established a lead though as early as the first minute.

Both Van Blerk and Adam Chambers found themselves with generous amounts of time and space in the Preston box, but keeper David Lucas claimed well.

Richard Cresswell, for the home side, very nearly beat Hoult with a header just before the half hour, and then should have done better with a low drive moments before the interval.

The visitors were nearly gifted a second goal late in the first half themselves when young defender Adam Eaton's error forced Lucas to a finger-tip save over the bar.

Both managers, wary of the need to keep their squads as fresh as possible before the demanding play-offs, rung the changes for the second half.

Moyes had handed Eaton his first start since January, and Brian Barry-Murphy and Bjarki Gunnlaugsson were also given rare starts

Gary Megson had also rested former Preston player Michael Appleton, as well as top scorer Lee Hughes.

Albion's goalscorer Clement only lasted five minutes of the second half before he made way for James Chambers, and Iain Anderson and Colin Murdock replaced Eaton and Barry-Murphy for the hosts.

And the changes seemed to inject more urgency at least into the early stages of the second half.

A typically robust run from Jason Roberts in the 48th minute was checked by the combined attentions of Michael Jackson and Ryan Kidd, but the striker's low shot still needed a good block from Lucas.

But after Preston's winner the game was largely bereft of incident, save for substitute Michael Kean's shot that was eventually clawed back off the line by Hoult.

On the final whistle Preston paraded in front of their delighted fans, rejoycing at a superb first season back in Division One.

The torments of the play-offs now await, and perhaps these two sides are destined to meet once more this season.

Teams:

Preston Lucas, Alexander, Kidd, Jackson, Eaton (Murdock 45), Cartwright, Gregan (Keane 85), Barry-Murphy, Healy, Cresswell, Gunnlaugsson (Anderson 45).

Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Abbott.

Booked: Gregan.

Goals: Gregan 3, Alexander 53 pen.

West Brom Hoult, Balis, Sigurdsson, Gilchrist, Clement (James Chambers 50), Van Blerk (Quinn 65), Adam Chambers, Jordao, Sneekes (Cummings 31), Roberts, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Butler.

Booked: Clement, Cummings.

Goals: Clement 31.

Att: 16,226

Ref: D Laws (Whitley Bay).