Promotion-chasing Preston were shackled by Hull, who snatched a point thanks to a scrambled own goal just before the break.

The visitors took the lead with a magnificent strike from Simon Whaley, who netted for the third away game in succession.

However, Hull deservedly equalised in the dying seconds of the first half when Preston skipper Youl Mawene appeared to get the final touch following a goal-mouth scramble to score an unlucky own goal.

Last weekend, Preston ensured their participation in the play-offs, while Hull cemented their status as a Championship club, and with the pressure off, both teams looked to attack at the KC Stadium.

Preston made a confident start, as they closed down the Hull defenders and shifted players forwards early on.

However, Hull created the first real opening when a long throw from Alan Rogers fell to Craig Fagan, who snatched at the right-foot close range volley and sliced his effort wide.

Hull again went close when a corner from Rogers on the left was headed just wide by the unmarked Damien Delaney 10 yards out.

The visitors were finding it difficult to play their way into the final third, and they failed to trouble Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill with long range efforts from Whaley and Brian Stock.

However, a similarly speculative attempt gave Preston the lead 13 minutes before the break.

Whaley took a chance by chasing a lofted ball from defence, and with Delaney allowing the ball to bounce the Preston forward belted an unstoppable right-foot shot into the bottom right corner of the net from 30 yards.

Hull responded well to the goal though, and Kevin Ellison headed wide after a poor punch by Carlo Nash, before Jon Parkin volleyed over Nash's goal from 10 yards.

The hosts were back on level terms two minutes before half time, when Stuart Green swung in a free kick from the right, and Mawene seemed to get the final touch to put the ball past his own keeper fro an unfortunate own goal.

Preston pushed Hull back in the opening minutes of the second half, and the away side should have taken the lead when Jason Jarrett pulled the ball back from the left only for Danny Dichio to fire the ball straight at Myhill.

Hull nearly went in front against the run of play when John Welsh's cross from the left was flicked on by Ellison, but Parkin's efforts from point-blank range was well smothered by Nash.

Hull substitute Darryl Duffy then twice went close. Firstly, he drilled a right-foot shot just wide from the edge of the area following good work from Green, and then he latched on to a week back-header from Tyrone Mears, but was denied by Nash.

Preston had a chance to win it late on, when Jarrett released Whaley, but he was thwarted by Myhill at full stretch.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Wiseman (Thelwell 87), Cort, Delaney, Rogers,Green, Welsh, Andrews, Ellison (Paynter 83), Fagan (Duffy 64),Parkin.

Subs Not Used: Duke, Dawson.

Goals: Mawene 43 og.

Preston Nash, Mears, Wilson, Mawene, Hill, Sedgwick, Stock,Jarrett (McKenna 82), Whaley, Lewis Neal (Agyemang 70), Dichio.

Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Alexander, Hibbert.

Booked: Mawene, Dichio.

Goals: Whaley 33.

Att: 19,716

Ref: T Bates (Staffordshire).