Wolves 1 (Bothroyd 13)
Preston North End 3 (Nugent 22, 65, Whaley 90)
Wolves suffered their first defeat of the campaign after a double from Preston's David Nugent and a late goal from Simon Whaley cancelled out Jay Bothroyd's excellent opener.
Mick McCarthy made just one change to the starting line-up with Craig Davies making his first start in place of the suspended Carl Cort.
With less than two minutes gone Jason Jarrett tripped Bothroyd three-yards outside the Preston box. Bothroyd took the free-kick himself and although his effort cleared the wall the ball went straight into the arms of Carlo Nash in the visitors goal.
A good throw out by Matt Murray released Rohan Ricketts on the right. He slipped a pass to Bothroyd and was in position to meet a low return pass but the midfielder's shot bobbled wide.
But Wolves moved into the lead in the 13th minute with a great individual effort from Bothroyd who took a pass from Mark Clyde wide on the right.
The striker outpaced Liam Chilvers and cut into the box before wrongfooting Kelvin Wilson and hitting an angled shot that Nash got a hand to but couldn't keep out.
Preston were back on level terms nine minutes later. Danny Pugh's corner wasn't properly cleared and although Sean St Ledger miss-hit his shot, the ball fell into the path of Nugent who volleyed into the top corner of the net.
Bothroyd and Wilson both needed treatment after colliding in the build up to the goal, but both were able to resume a few moments later.
Nugent threatened again when he beat two men on the edge of the Wolves box before firing in a low shot that the alert Murray saved at the foot of a post.
Davies dispossessed Whaley in the centre circle and raced towards goal but his 25-yard shot hit a defender and bounced safely to Nash.
Nash then comfortably saved a deflected effort from Ricketts before Danny Dichio was shown the yellow card after he had tripped Bothroyd.
Half-Time: Wolves 1 Preston 1
From the restart Nugent won a corner when his shot was deflected wide and from Pugh's flag-kick Wilson's powerful header drew a fine save from Murray who pushed the ball over.
Two corners in succession from Ricketts came to nothing and then, after Whaley had been booked for holding back Lee Naylor, Wolves made a double switch with Seyi Olofinjana replacing Ricketts and Leon Clarke coming on for Davies.
Nash had to punch clear a probing centre from Bothroyd before Wolves made a third substitution when Clyde limped off to be replaced by Rob Edwards.
With 65 minutes gone Preston took the lead after Karl Henry had lost control of the ball 30-yards out from his own goal. Nugent raced onto the loose ball and advanced to the edge of the box before burying a low shot past Murray.
Nayor's long throw-in caused problems for the Preston defence and the ball was scrambled clear to Jamie Clapham whose 20-yard drive went straight to Nash.
Nash was booked for time wasting and Jody Craddock for a foul on Nugent as the clock ticked down.
Olofinjana forced a diving save from Nash and then Murray saved with his legs from Whaley at the other end.
But deep into stoppage time Whaley sealed Preston's victory. With Wolves pushing forward he had the time and space to pick his spot leaving Murray with no chance after collecting a misplaced header from Craddock.
Wolves: Murray, Clyde (Edwards 60), Naylor, Breen, Craddock (capt), Henry, C. Davies (Clarke 54), Bothroyd, Clapham, Ricketts (Olofinjana 54), O'Connor.
Unused subs: Oakes, Jones.
Booking: Craddock (86 - foul).
Preston: Nash, Pugh, Jarrett, Nugent (Agyemang 88), Dichio (Sedgwick 73), St. Ledger, Chilvers, Whaley, McKenna (capt), Hill, Wilson.
Unused subs: Lonergan, Stock, McCormack.
Bookings: Dichio (45 - foul), Whaley (54 - foul), Wilson (77 - kicking ball away after conceding free-kick), Nash (85 - time-wasting).
Ref: U. Rennie.
Attendance: 17,410.
Goldrush Half-Time Draw v Preston North End: 3 - 8 - 14 - 17.
