The month of April started with the in-form Neil Mellor stating his desire to finish as the top scorer for the 2007/08 season at the club. The former Liverpool man's comments came on the back of another fine display against Sheffield United a couple of days earlier in which his brace had secured a deserved three points over the South Yorkshire outfit.

Alan Irvine had allowed free agent Aurelien Collin to train with North End squad following his release from cash-strapped club Gretna, but on the 2^nd day of the month, the Gaffer explained that supporters should not read too much into any possible deal with the Frenchman.

There was more good news for Neil Mellor a day later when the Actim Index figures revealed that he had been the top scoring player in the entire division over the past week with his impressive tally of 48 points.

Preston's favourite son Sir Tom Finney celebrated his 86^th birthday on the day PNE travelled to Loftus Road to face old-boy Patrick Agyemang's QPR. North End had marched into a two goal lead thanks to Neil Mellor and Tamas Priskin strikes either side of the half-time interval, but the delight turned to despair in stoppage time when Gareth Ainsworth and Dexter Blackstock netted in the final few minutes to rescue a point for the West Londoners.

Speaking after the game, Alan Irvine explained that he was disappointed but he was confident that the players could put the game behind them and move on.

Despite Tamas Priskin's goal against the Hoops, he returned to parent club Watford when his one-month loan deal expired on the 7^th April. The Hungarian finished with a tally of two goals in five appearances in North End colours.

In the days leading up to the home visit of FA Cup semi-finalists Barnsley, it was touch-and-go as to whether Neil Mellor would play a part in the penultimate home fixture of the season. Mells had limped off with a tight hamstring against QPR but he quashed all talk of an injury scare by declaring that he would be fit for the visit of the Tykes.

PNE.Com also ran an exclusive in-depth interview with midfielder Chris Sedgwick, who revealed that he was back enjoying his football again under the new regime of Alan Irvine.

However, Preston's seven-game unbeaten streak came to an end against Simon Davey's Barnsley when the men from Oakwell sealed the points with a 2-1 victory at Deepdale. Diego Leon curled in a fine first-half free-kick before ex-North Ender Jon Macken doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Stephen Foster headed into his own goal to reduce their advantage but PNE couldn't rally further to salvage a point.

The Gaffer put the defeat down to a bad day at the office and admitted that Preston's downfall was due to a lack of quality in certain areas.

In a relatively quiet week that followed, the lead story to come out of Deepdale was the departure of goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski by mutual consent. The big Pole had signed a short-term contract until the end of the season but after picking up and injury in his first reserve team outing, Szamo was unable to force himself into the first team equation.

Back to matters on the pitch and North End embarked on the longest away trip of the season on the 19^th June. The excursion to Plymouth at one stage was looking destined to be fruitless, but eventually the result turned out to be arguably the most important one of the season.

Trailing 2-0 late on at Home Park, PNE produced a monumental fight back to snatch a point, which ultimately ensured survival in the Championship with two games to spare.

Neil Mellor's close-range finish had put the Lilywhites back in the hunt and then deep into stoppage time; Richard Chaplow was in the right place at the right time to net the decisive equaliser which sparked scenes of delight on the pitch, in the dugout and up in the stands.

Understandably thrilled with the outcome, Alan Irvine saluted the character within his team by saying "we've shown progress and it has shown what the players have been doing is of benefit."

PNE's Chairman Derek Shaw, the man who appointed Alan Irvine in November, also voiced his opinion on the feat. Speaking in the aftermath of the result against the Pilgrims, he told PNE.Com: "It would have been an absolute disaster to have got relegated but the players and everyone else have responded from a difficult situation and thankfully we now have enough points to know that we are a Championship club again."

One downside from the weekend was the news that Billy Jones looked set to miss the remaining couple of fixtures after picking up a bad gash in the Achilles region.

Unexpected news followed on the 21^st April when it was announced that Craig Beattie would be returning to Lancashire to complete his loan spell. A hamstring injury picked up only 30 minutes into his debut had looked to have curtailed his loan spell with the Lilywhites but a speedy recovery back at West Bromwich Albion meant that it was possible for the Scotsman to return and push for a place in the Preston squad in the two final matches.

Ahead of what was to be the last of the 23 Championship fixtures at Deepdale, Club captain Paul McKenna stated his admiration for the loyal home supporters who stuck with the team through thick and thin all season. The long-serving midfielder told PNE.Com that they "always make themselves heard and have been absolutely brilliant."

Indeed 14,187 spectators were on hand to watch the visit of Ipswich Town. In a pulsating clash, the Tractor Boys took the lead thanks to a long-range effort from former PNE midfielder Tommy Miller. Chris Brown's deflected goal brought the home side level and when Neil Mellor struck with only 12 minutes remaining the points looked in the bag.

Not to be outdone, Jonathan Walters' cool finish with just minutes remaining on the clock meant that Jim Magilton's side returned to Suffolk with something to show from their travels, the match finishing 2-2.

The match also witnessed Neal Trotman and Michael Hart make their full home debuts after biding their time for the chance.

A day later and a few North End old-boys returned for the Deepdale Legends clash. Teams compromising of supporters who had bid via eBay to play on the hallowed North End surface along with former stars of the past donned the PNE shirts to help raise over £7,000 for the Sir Tom Finney Foundation.

The day proved to be a complete success following cameos from David Eyres, Mark Lawrenson, Sean Hasselgrave, Nigel Greenwood, Graeme Atkinson and Mel Tottoh years after their last outing in PNE colours.

The month ended with the red-carpeted Player of the Year Awards. Sean St Ledger was crowned the new Player of the Year while he also collected the Players' Player of the Year Award too. Matt Hill claimed the Community Icon of the Year, Nathan Fairhurst they Scholar's Award, Joe Wallbank scooped the Fan of the Year with Darren Carter's fabulous last-minute winner at Leicester deservedly winning the Goal of the Season gong.