Second half goals from Ebanks-Blake and Hayles condemned Preston to their 15 league defeat of the season and saw North End slip out of the Play-Off zone at the worst possible time.

With just one game to go, against Birmingham next weekend, any chance of finishing in the top six is now firmly out of our own hands and once again we will be relying on other teams doing us favours.

Take nothing away from the home side who played this one as if they still had plenty to play for when in reality only pride was at stake for Ian Holloway's side.

Paul Simpson opted for the same starting lineup for the third successive match, of which we have won one and lost one.

Brett Ormerod and David Nugent once again fought off stiff competition for those starting places in attack, while Seyfo Soley and Callum Davidson continue in the centre of the park, allowing Chris Sedgwick to revert back to his original position on the right wing, where he was instrumental in securing the 4-0 win at Coventry a fortnight ago.

Liam Chilvers was forced to head over his own bar with just two minutes on the clock as the home side, playing their final home game of the season, raced out of the blocks.

Just a minute later and the former Colchester man was forced to put behind for a second corner as North End struggled to clear their lines and from the resulting corner Henderson punched over his own bar under pressure.

Lilian Nalis, fresh from being named the Plymouth Player of the Year, tested the keeper on 14 minutes. The midfielder dispossessed Chris Sedgwick in the centre circle before charging at goal, his effort from the edge of the box was on target but Henderson collected at the second attempt.

At the other end Danny Pugh arrived at the far post , just as he did against Cardiff earlier in the season, to get on the end of a right wing cross from Chris Sedgwick but this time he couldn't keep his header down and the ball went over for a goal kick.

The home side had certainly started the brighter in the sunshine at home park, but on 23 minutes the Preston attack seemed to spring to life and some good link up play between Nugent, Ormerod and Pugh nearly combined to provide an opening but a lack of communication bought a premature end to the attack.

At the other end and Henderson was forced into a save from Marcel Seip, who rose highest at the far post to get on the end of a corner from the right by Peter Halmosi.

Pugh went for goal on 33 minutes, but he couldn't keep his long range effort down, allowing Romain Larrieu, who was starting his first game since New Years Day, watch it fly over his bar.

A sublime piece of skill by Nugent three minutes later set the visitors on the attack. He took a long ball down on his chest, with his back to goal, before flicking it over his head and running onto it, he played in Ormerod and continued his run but the left wing cross from Ormerod was put behind and the corner was cleared.

Gary Sawyer was the first name in the book on 41 minutes, cautioned for a cynical foul on Brett Ormerod but North End did nothing with the resulting free kick, Larrieu allowed to make an easy catch.

At the other end Henderson was forced into action again, saving down low from a Barry Hayles free kick.

North End were lucky to have ridden the first half storm and when the half time whistle was blown it will have been Paul Simpson who was the happier of the two managers with the scoreline still goalless.

Ebanks-Blake should have given Plymouth the lead on 50 minutes after taking advantage of some sloppy play in the North End defence.

Soley gave the ball away just outside his own area, Ebanks-Blake then took advantage of a slip by Chilvers to fire in a shot which rolled just wide of Henderson's left hand post.

At the other end Argyle struggled to clear a Preston corner but in the end a header on target from Sedgwick was saved easily by Larrieu.

North End were struggling to find any sort of rhythm or tempo, while Plymouth on the other hand, who had nothing but pride to play for were certainly creating the better of the chances, Chris Sedgwick forced to head over his own bar under pressure from Hayles on 68 minutes.

Paul Simpson made a double change on 73 minutes Nugent and Sedgwick replaced by Ricketts and Whaley while shortly after Gallen replaced Buzsaky for the home side.

It was disaster just seconds later when Dermot Gallagher awarded the home side a spot kick, for a handball by Sean St Ledger (77).

Sylvain Ebanks-Blake stepped up and made no mistake, beating Wayne Henderson despite the former Brighton man guessing correctly. He dived to his right but Blake's penalty nestled in the bottom left hand corner.

Patrick Agyemang replaced Ormerod on 81 minutes as Paul Simpson made his final change of the match hoping to get something out of this one.

Alexander was the first Preston player in the book on 84 minutes for a late challenge on Halmosi who was racing through on goal and from the resulting free kick the home side condemned North End to their 15th defeat of the campaign.

Sawyer played the free kick long and Barry Hayles did the rest, taking it down well before taking it round Henderson and slotting home from the narrowest of angles.

PNE: Henderson, Alexander, Hill, Chilvers, St Ledger, Sedgwick (Whaley 73), Pugh, Soley, Davidson, Nugent (Ricketts 73), Ormerod (Agyemang 81)

Subs: Lonergan (gk), Wilson,

PLYMOUTH: Larrieu, Nalis, Norris, Buzsaky (Gallen 75), Ebanks-Blake, Hayles, Doumbe, Halmosi, Sawyer, Seip, Connolly

SUBS: Timar, Gallen, McCormick, Djordic, Fallon