THIS wasn't one of North End's best performances but Preston once again demonstrated that they never give up and their reward was three points which has the Deepdale side sitting on top of the division.

Preston came at Wycombe right from the opening whistle with Eyres and Cartwright looking impressive, leaving the visitors locked inside their own half.

It took just nine minutes for the first goal to appear as a long ball was played into the penalty area letting in striker Steve Basham who placed the ball past keeper Martin Taylor.

Preston continued to storm forward, trying to kill the match off and Sean Gregan shot wide, as did David Eyres before Mark Rankine had a good shot blocked.

Wycombe got their game together and their two big strikers, Andy Baird and Keith Scott, started to cause Kidd and Murdock problems and it came as no real surprise when they got back level.

Ryan played a long ball through the middle of the pack, neither Kidd nor Murdock could stop Scott as he raced into the box, Kidd tripped him from behind to send him sprawling and referee Laws immediately pointed to the spot.

Up stepped John Cornforth to send Lucas the wrong way.

Wycombe manager Lawrie Sanchez then gave the referee a verbal lashing, demanding that Kidd be sent off. Instead, it was Sanchez who was sent away, escorted by two policemen into the stands.

The match began to boil over into a brawl with tackles that should have had a government health warning.

Murdock made a mess of a back pass to Lucas, leaving the ball to roll towards an empty net, only to be stopped by defender Craig Harrison who spared PNE's blushes with a clearance.

The second half started off with yellow cards being handed out like confetti - but amazingly none turned to red.

Then PNE got a fright when the ball fell to Wycombe's Mark Stallard just outside the box.

The Wycombe striker hit a powerful shot that beat Lucas completely - only for it to rebound off the crossbar.

Preston broke down the well organised Wycombe defence as Nogan, Rankine and Cartwright put together some neat interchange passing.

A curling cross to the far post picked out Steve Basham. His first touch was excellent, his second from a difficult angle was perfection and he thrashed the ball high into the top of the net for a goal of sheer quality.

As the cheering rang around Deepdale, Preston were given a final agonising moment.

Wycombe attacked, North End were in tatters at the back and when the ball fell to Scott, only six yards out, he looked a certain scorer.

He would have been too, had not David Lucas made a fine save and although the referee added four minutes of stoppage time, Wycombe couldn't find another way through, leaving North End to take top spot.

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