Two-goal hero Brian Deane re-ignited Leicester City's promotion bid as the Foxes came from behind to secure victory over Preston North End at the Walkers Stadium.

The 35-year-old frontman netted either side of the break to breathe new life into Leicester's push for the Premiership, manager Micky Adams' side having gone into the game on the back of three successive draws.

Preston's Eddie Lewis had opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range strike but Craig Brown's Deepdale outfit proved unable to find an answer after Deane had first redressed the balance and then put the hosts in front with 34 minutes remaining.

After surviving an opening period of intense pressure which had seen Jordan Stewart shoot narrowly wide and Deane denied by Jonathan Gould's first-class reaction save, the visitors fired a warning shots across the Leicester bows when Foxes keeper Ian Walker could only partially block Michael Jackson's headed effort.

With the ball loose in the six-yard box, lofty George Koumantarakis eventually rose above the melee to head home although referee Colin Webster disallowed the goal for an infringement.

The deadlock was broken in sensational style by Lewis who took charge of a free-kick awarded in the 20th minute following Billy McKinlay's challenge on Paul McKenna, Lewis stepping up to beat Walker at his near post.

Richard Cresswell, who had spent the 2000-2001 Premiership season with Leicester at Filbert Street, spurned a glorious opportunity to double Preston's lead when presented with the ball 10 yards out and Walker at his mercy, the Deepdale striker contriving to blaze the ball over the crossbar.

The equaliser arrived two minutes before the interval when livewire Paul Dickov turned neatly, burst into the penalty box and centred from the left, Deane making no mistake from close range.

And in a thrilling finale to the opening 45 minutes, substitute goalkeeper David Lucas, on for first-choice Gould who had been carrying a groin injury going into the game, saved Dickov's diving header at point-blank range before seeing Stewart's chipped effort rebound off the post.

The hosts began the second half in a similar vein to the way they had finished the first, Dickov seeing his shot on the run comfortably saved by Lucas before the Foxes reaped their reward in the 56th minute as Deane completed a brace by heading home his 11th league goal of the season following Andy Impey's right-wing supply.

And the pair came close to repeating the trick two minutes later, Impey again responsible for the cross but on this occasion Deane's header lacked the direction to trouble Lucas.

The Leicester bench were given a scare in the 70th minute when Deane required extensive treatment for an injury but the striker returned to the fray without having sustained any serious damage.

Preston posed little attacking threat in the second half, substitute Simon Lynch wasting the visitors' best chance by spooning over from 20 yards late on.

Teams

Leicester: Walker, Impey, Elliott, Taggart, Davidson, Scowcroft, McKinlay, Izzet, Stewart, Deane, Dickov.

Subs Not Used: Summerbee, Sinclair, Stevenson, Benjamin, Murphy.

Booked: Dickov, McKinlay, Impey.

Goals: Deane 43, 56.

Preston: Gould (Lucas 18), Alexander, Lucketti, Jackson, Broomes (Lynch 72), Cartwright, Etuhu (Skora 79), McKenna, Lewis, Koumantarakis, Cresswell.

Subs Not Used: Mears, Edwards.

Booked: Cresswell, Lewis, Etuhu, Jackson.

Goals: Lewis 20.

Att: 30,713

Ref: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).