A rousing late surge by Leicester City just failed to land the draw after goals in each half had set Preston North End up to end the Foxes unbeaten home run.

The visitors had established a 2-0 lead through Neil Mellor before the break and Richard Chaplow in the second half but a Bruno Berner strike on the stroke of normal time set up a frantic end to the game with Nigel Pearson's men, as always, fighting right to the end.

Beforehand,  there was good news for City as influential midfielder Richie Wellens was passed fit to take his place in the line-up which showed just  one change from last Saturday's 3-3 draw at Watford, Aleksandar Tunchev replacing Jack Hobbs in defence against a visiting side who, beause of low squad strength, named only six substitutes.

The Foxes were soon going forward with Dany N'Guessan winning the ball and from a right-wing cross keeper Andy Lonergan gathered. Next, hard work by Matt Oakley made an opening for Wellens whose shot was just too high.

At the other end, City had to defend well against two successive corners and after Billy Jones burst into the area from full-back, Richard Chaplow  stumbled just as he was about to try to turn in the cut-back. Moments later, Chaplow broke upfield and threatened to go all the way but a great covering tackle from Paul Gallagher got City off the hook..

City then carved out chances of their own, Matty Fryatt getting in for a shot smothered by Liam Chilvers and then Wellens set up Fryatt for a shot which went just wide.

Both sides then came close within seconds. First, from a left-wing cross, a Chris Brown header brought a brilliant save from Chris Weale then at the other end, Matt Oakley turned his shot just over from a right-wing cross. This sparked off a good spell for City as an Oakley shot was blocked and Gallagher's effort from the follow-up was a fraction over the bar.

But against the run of play, Preston took the lead when, after a slick passing move, Neil Mellor steered his low shot in to the bottom right-hand corner of the net in the 41st minute.

Mellor then was in again moments later, bringing a great save from Weale and in stoppage time Tunchev turned his header over from a right-wing corner to show there was plenty fight in the home side.

City restarted well and a long throw by Robbie Neilson brought a corner as the keeper had to tip the ball over his bar and from the cross, Berner turned the ball wide. Then a cross from N'Guessan won a corner which found its way to Wellens for a pass to N'Guessan who shot over. It showed City were making openings and Fryatt had a good shou for a penalty turned down when he was felled in the area.

But with City pushing forward, they were caught in a classic breakaway as Mellor burst upfield and laid on a neat finish for Chaplow to stretch the visitors' lead in the 65th minute.

City were down but certainly not out, a Gallagher cross being only just scrambled away and when a Fryatt shot was blocked, Neilson's effort from the follow-up was inches wide of the mark. The full-back was again in action, pushing forward, and turned another chance a fraction off target.

With Waghorn on for Howard and Dyer on for N'Guessan, City were fighting all the way and there was a first appearance for French attacker Yann Kermorgant, on for Wellens. He nearly made a great impact, a lob from the left slipping inches wide before Berner, following up on a Gallagher shot which had been blocked, found the net in the 90th minute.

For four minutes of added time, City gave it all they had got but the visitors stood firm.

City: Weale; Neilson, Tunchev, Brown, Berner, N'Guessan, Oakley, Wellens, Gallagher, Fryatt, Howard. Subs: A King, Dyer (62 for N'Guessan), Logan, Adams, Waghorn (62 for Howard), Kermorgant (76 for Wellens), Hobbs.

Bookings: Neilson, Howard. Waghorn.

Preston: Lonergan; Jones, Collins, Chilvers Nolan, Sedgwick, Chaplow, Shumulikoski, Wallace, Brown, Mellor. Subs: Henderson, Carter, Hart, Mawene, Elliott, Parkin.

Referee: J Linington.

Attendance: 20,623.