Richard Chaplow single-handedly hauled Preston out of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation places with two first-half goals which left leaders Stoke stunned.

Alan Irvine's struggling side belied their lowly status with a gutsy performance which paved the way for what could prove to be a season-defining victory for all concerned at Deepdale.

Chaplow, signed from West Brom last month, illuminated the opening 45 minutes and opened his account for the club from close range after 22 minutes - before scoring a stylish second 11 minutes later.

Ryan Shawcross, Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller all missed gilt-edged chances for the Potters - who slumped to only their second defeat in their last 19 Championship matches.

Stoke may remain one point clear of second-placed Bristol City at the top, but boss Tony Pulis will surely reflect on what might have been after witnessing an uncharacteristically wasteful performance by his side.

His opposite number Irvine, meanwhile, basked in the finest result of his short tenure so far.

It was Chaplow - Irvine's highest-profile signing to date - who broke the deadlock with the very first chance of the evening, right in front of the massed travelling support.

Paul McKenna's punted long-range free-kick allowed the towering Youl Mawene to head across goal on the six-yard line, and Chaplow lunged to prod the ball past goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Chaplow's first goal in 16 months sparked the game to life, and Stoke spurned two chances in as many minutes just before the half-hour.

Ryan Shawcross first clipped the base of the post with a low drive, after being picked out by a right-wing Lawrence corner.

Moments later, Leon Cort sent Fuller scampering through on goal - but the Jamaican international shot wide under pressure from the advancing Andy Lonergan.

Chaplow then made Stoke pay with the sweetest of strikes, after Shawcross bundled over Karl Hawley 20 yards out.

McKenna played the well-worked set-piece along the ground to Chaplow, who fired a rasping low drive across Simonsen.

On the stroke of half-time, Shawcross somehow headed Lawrence's inswinging cross wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy after out-muscling three defenders.

The Potters picked up where they left off after the restart, and only an inspired clearance from Callum Davidson stopped Lawrence adding to his recent glut of goals.

Rory Delap barged his way between two defenders and into the penalty area before smartly squaring the ball past the advancing Lonergan to the unmarked Lawrence.

He seemed all set to drill into the unguarded net, but his touch let him down and allowed Davidson to somehow block the goalbound shot.

Lonergan denied Fuller from close range with an instinctive one-handed parry after 55 minutes as Stoke laid siege on the Preston goal.

Despite Stoke's dominance, Chaplow might have completed his hat-trick on the hour had he not dragged Hawley's right-wing cut-back inches wide from eight yards.

Nevertheless, he was afforded a standing ovation from the home crowd as he made way for Darren Carter moments later.

To compound matters for Stoke, they then lost the services of Cort to what appeared to be a serious leg injury.

Mamady Sidibe and Lawrence went close in the frantic finish - but the hosts hung on for three much-needed points.

Teams:

Preston Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Chilvers, Chaplow (Carter 61), Sedgwick, McKenna, Jones, Whaley,Hawley (Mellor 90), Brown.

Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, St. Ledger, Ormerod.

Booked: Sedgwick.

Goals: Chaplow 22, 33.

Stoke Simonsen, Griffin, Cort (Wilkinson 69), Whelan (Gallagher 80), Shawcross, Lawrence, Pugh, Delap,Sidibe (Parkin 69), Cresswell, Fuller.

Subs Not Used: Diao, Dickinson.

Booked: Pugh, Shawcross, Lawrence, Whelan.

Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).