Preston North End 2 (Davidson-pen 60, Whaley 81)
Wolves 1 (Keogh 53)
Preston put a huge dent in Wolves play-off hopes when they came from behind to take the points at Deepdale.
Wanderers deserved a point for their efforts but a hotly disputed Callum Davidson penalty proved to be the turning point after substitute Andy Keogh had given the visitors the lead.
Mick McCarthy made three changes to his team with Michael Gray, Darren Potter and Jody Craddock coming in for Kevin Kyle, Kevin Foley and Matt Jarvis.
Wolves kicked off attacking the Town end and they could have been one up after just 90 seconds. Potter's through pass put David Edwards clean through on goal but home keeper Andy Lonergan was quickly off his line to block at the midfielder's feet.
Stephen Elliott's long-range effort took a hefty deflection off Youl Mawene but the sting was taken out of the shot allowing Lonergan to collect with relative ease.
Preston responded with a 25-yard drive from Tamas Priskin that had plenty of power behind it but Wayne Hennessey didn't have to move to collect the ball.
In the 15th minute, Gray hit a low cross to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake inside the six-yard box. But the striker had his back to goal and the ball was cleared as he tried to turn and get a shot in.
Ebanks-Blake then fired an angled shot through a crowded area with the ball hitting a defender before flying inches wide of the far post.
Sean St Ledger headed onto the roof of the net following a cross from Darren Carter and, with torrential rain falling, Hennessey did well to hold on to a 25-yard drive from Simon Whaley that skidded across the greasy surface.
Craig Sedgwick had a chance of breaking the deadlock but he shot over after a run into the Wolves box.
Then Davidson's drive struck Neill Collins and hit the side netting for the first of two consecutive corners from home skipper Paul McKenna. From the second Priskin's overhead kick went straight to Hennessey.
Preston 0 Wolves 0
Keogh replaced Edwards at the start of the second-period with manager McCarthy changing from a 4-5-1 formation to 4-4-2.
The half began in breathtaking fashion with Billy Jones hitting a terrific shot from 30-yards that was just a fraction wide.
Elliott had a chance for Wolves from the right of goal but his shot was blocked and Ebanks-Blake fired wide from the edge of the box.
After Sedgwick had gone close with a long distance shot, Keogh headed narrowly over when he connected with Gray's free-kick.
But it was Keogh that gave Wolves the lead with 53 minutes gone. He took a pass from Karl Henry and beat Mawene before drilling a low shot past Lonergan from the edge of the area (pictured).
Hennessey made a fine save from Whaley before Preston drew level on the hour with a Davidson penalty awarded after Craddock was adjudged to have fouled Chris Brown who went to ground all too easily.
To say contact was minimal would be an understatement and the angry reaction of the Wolves players was entirely understandable.
Midway through the half, Jarvis and Darron Gibson replaced Gray and Elliott and shortly after his introduction, Gibson forced a diving save from Lonergan.
Nine minutes from time, Preston moved into the lead. Jones found Whaley unmarked just inside the visitors box and he turned to hammer the ball past Hennessey.
Preston: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick, Brown, Carter, St Ledger, Whaley, McKenna (capt), Jones, Priskin (Mellor 72).
Unused subs: Hill, Trotman, L. Neal, C. Neal.
Bookings: McKenna (72 - unsporting conduct), Brown 83 - unsporting conduct).
Wolves: Hennessey, Collins, Elokobi, Henry, Craddock, Breen (capt), Potter, D. Edwards (Keogh 45), Ebanks-Blake, Elliott (Gibson 67), Gray (Jarvis 67).
Unused subs: Stack, Foley.
Referee: J. Moss.
Attendance: 12.090.
