City slipped to their first defeat of the season when they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Preston in the second round of the Carling Cup at Deepdale tonight.

The visitors took the lead through Nicky Adams (pictured) but a touch of good fortune for the home side saw Chis Brown equalise soon after and in the 65th minute it was Brown who headed home what proved to be the winner.

It was a very even game, the outcome being harsh on City keeper Chris Weale who had a terrific game.

City boss Nigel Pearson, as he said he would, made changes, five of them in fact. Apart from Robbie Neilson at right-back, there was a new back-four, Michael Morrison and Aleksandar Tunchev in the centre for Jack Hobbs and Wayne Brown while Chris Powell was in for Bruno Berner at left-back.

In midfield, Nicky Adams came in for Lloyd Dyer and Andy King for Richie Wellens. New striker Yann Kermorgant was on the bench.

City started very brightly with Matty Fryatt having a shot saved inside the first minute then Dany N'Guessan earned a corner but it came to nothing although City soon got the opener their fast start warranted.

In the 7th minute, a fine run by N'Guessan ended with a perfect cross for Adams to turn the ball home over the wrong-footed keeper.

This set City up for more pressure, a run by Fryatt leading to Paul Gallagher earning a fruitless corner before Fryatt, cutting in from the left, tested the keeper with a fine shot.

But moments later, in the 14th minute, Preston were level when a Chris Brown shot took a wicked deflection to leave the unluicky Chris Weale helpless.

This set up a period of home pressure with Weale making super saves from Brown and Nolan while, at the other end, a great run by Adams led to his shot being saved for a corner, Morrison's header from the flag-kick being squeezed off the line.

The action was very evenly balanced and Powell did well to clear a Parry cross into the area, Parry again crossing for a Brown header saved. Then in stoppage time a Fryatt shot sailed inches wide to leave the scoreline level at the break.

Early in the second half, a Preston clearance fell to Matt Oakley for a volley wide but play soon sped to the other end where Weale made another fine save from a Chris Sedgwick effort.

But in the 65th minute, City went behind when a cross from the left from Eddie Nolan was headed home by Brown in the middle to give City a real test.

They showed their fight when a run by Oakley set up Adams for a chance but the winger fired over. Next Fryatt got in for a shot blocked before City made their first change, Dyer on for N'Guessan, Adams switching to the right.

City then brought on two front men, Paul Dickov and Kermorgant to try to save the game and they nearly did it when a cross from the right was glanced inches wide by Fryatt.

In the dying seconds, City had a corner with everyone, including Weale, in the box but Preston survived and it proved the last piece of action.

City: Weale; Neilson, Morrison, Tunchev, Powell, N'Guessan, Oakley, A King, Adams, Fryatt, Gallagher. Subs: Logan, Gradel, O'Neill, Hobbs, Dyer (75 for N'Guessan), Kermorgant (78 for Gallagher), Dickov (78 for Oakley).

Booked: Dickov.

Preston: Lonergan; Hart, Sedgwick, Shumulikoski, Brown, Carter, St Ledger, Chilvers, Parry, Nolan, Elliott. Subs: Davidson, Chaplow (77 for Carter), Jones, Henderson, Wallace, Parkin, Mellor (77 for Elliott).

Referee: C Boyeson.

Attendance: 6,977.