LEICESTER manager Micky Adams reckons the landmark 2-1 victory over Preston North End is good enough to secure his promotion-chasing Foxes a place in the First Division play-offs.

Adams' second-placed Leicester are favourites for automatic promotion to the Premiership but the Walkers Stadium supremo reckons the three points gained at Preston's expense have all but guaranteed the club a fall-back position in the play-offs.

"We're not there yet," said Adams. "Far from it, but that win over Preston gives us enough points to get to the play-offs.

"So we can relax about that at least.

"I'm not saying we're guaranteed to be there but I think 74 points, with the way other results have gone this weekend, will be good enough for the play-offs."

The hosts, going into the game on the back of three successive draws, had come from behind to secure victory, Preston having taken a 20th-minute lead through Eddie Lewis who had fired home a long-range free-kick.

Deane bagged an equaliser just two minutes before half-time before plundering his second of the game, and his 11th league goal of the season, in the 56th minute.

But Adams revealed he had contemplated dropping the 35-year-old goalscorer after an unimpressive performance from Deane in Friday's training sessions.

Adams said: "I looked at him in training and we wasn't moving very well so I was thinking of leaving him out.

"I was worried about him to be honest, but I'm glad I left him in.

"So what does that tell me about Brian Deane? It tells me he's a very poor Friday morning player but ain't half bad come Saturday."

In the aftermath of Preston's defeat, disgruntled Deepdale boss Craig Brown criticised referee Colin Webster's decision to disallow an 18th-minute headed goal by George Koumantarakis.

Brown said: "We were denied a goal so you can understand why I'm disappointed not to have got something from the game."