It was another frustrating away day for Preston in the capital as Crystal Palace nicked the points at Selhurst Park with a 2-1 win.

The Lilywhites paid the price for conceding two goals in the final five minutes of the first half after they had initially taken the lead with a Youl Mawene header.

The defeat, North End's sixth on the road this season, left Alan Irvine still without a point to his name from his opening two games in command.

Three changes had been made from the match against Charlton as the new Gaffer looked to install a similar game plan to that of his former mentor David Moyes at Everton. Pat Agyemang had been selected as the loan striker in system which saw five midfielders in the centre of the park.

The game's first opportunity, after a rather uneventful five minutes, fell to Dougie Freedman. The Scot's flick landed the wrong side of the post after Clinton Morrison had managed to divert a right-winged cross into his path

The former Birmingham man was involved in the thick of the action again moments later when he had a snap left footed effort deflected wide for a corner. It outlined the potential threat that their front trio could cause PNE's defence, as they all demonstrated the qualities that had made them so experienced at this level.

Indeed in the first 20 minutes they continued to cause inconveniences for the back four, with Youl Mawene booked for a rash tackle just outside the box. As the half wore on however, North End managed to assert more control on the game and forced a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions with Agyemang and Whaley falling victim to fouls from Hudson and Lawrence.

Although nothing came of the set pieces it highlighted that PNE's compact five-man midfield had plenty of attacking potential with Simon Whaley in particular looking dangerous out on the left.

John Halls had a half chance on 30 minutes when he snuck in at the far post but his effort was blocked by a host of Palace defenders. Nicholls went even closer in North End's next attack with a 25-yard curler that Speroni in the Palace goal had to tip over. It was a period of play that witnessed the first goal of the game.

Agyemang's trickery forced a corner and from Darren Carter's resulting delivery, Youl Mawene leapt like a salmon to nod home from six yards out. It was the first Preston goal of the Alan Irvine era and more importantly the goal which gave the visiting side first blood .

The advantage was short lived as the Eagles grabbed their equaliser only four minutes later. Speroni's long clearance was headed on by Freedman and Morrison, with an outstretched leg diverted past Lonergan with the help of the crossbar. It was route one football at it's best, or worse from Preston's perspective.

In stoppage time it got even worse for Preston as they conceded their second when Clint Hill lobbed from the edge of the box. The ball fortunately fell to the left back 18 yards out after a goalmouth scramble, and with Lonergan involved in the penalty box melee having saved splendidly from Morrsion, Hill lifted his finish over the Preston stopper.

For the second game in succession it meant that Alan Irvine's half time team talk was dominated by a late first half goals.

No changes were deemed necessary by either manager at the break as both teams resumed in the second half in an attacking mode.

Preston were lucky not to have their deficit doubled when clever build up play by Clinton Morrison forged an opportunity down the right on 50 minutes. Right-back Lawrence overlapped and drilled a low cross straight through the middle of the defence but fortunately for Alan Irvine and his men, none of Palace's predatory forwards had gambled on what would have been a certain tap-in.

Paul Gallagher and Andy Carroll were introduced in an attack minded double substitution that saw Kevin Nicholls and Darren Carter depart. It signalled the intent as Preston now had three out and out forwards on the field in search of the equaliser.

With so many attacking options many would have thought the next goalscoring opportunity would fall Preston's way. However, it was Palace who were denied a third when Andy Lonergan blocked Watson's rasping volley from the edge of the box.. The centre midfielder rifled in a first time shot after a knock down by the lively Morrison by the consistent Lonergan

Agyemang made Speroni work on 73 minutes with an acrobatic effort and Gallagher saw a rising snap shot sail over the bar as the Lilywhites reminded the home side of their threat in the final third.

As much as Preston huffed and puffed the equaliser wouldn't come. Substitute Carroll threw his head at a right winged Simon Whaley cross but it was blocked by Hudson as Palace continued to hold strong in the last ten minutes

Liam Chilvers was introduced as an emergency centre half as Preston pumped long balls into the oppositions box but there was nothing he could do to prevent the Eagles taking the points and condemning Preston to their third defeat on the trot.

PNE: Lonergan, Halls (Chilvers), Mawene, St Ledger, Davidson, Sedgwick, McKenna, Nicholls (Gallagher), Carter (Carroll), Whaley, Agyemang (Subs not used: Hill, Chris Neal)

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Watson, Fonte, Hudson, Soares (Butterfield), Watson, Derry, Scowcroft, Freedman (Martin), Morrison (Dickov) (Subs not used: Kennedy, Scannell)

Attendance: 13,048