CRAIG Brown has vowed to prove to the Deepdale boys that his team does have the stomach to fight for the play offs despite a disappointing home defeat at the hands of relegation-haunted Walsall.

But the Scot admitted that after the 2-1 defeat, which left North End seven points off the play-offs, the chances of North End actually getting into the top six was remote.

He said: "Seven points is a massive gap to climb but there still is a chance we can get there.

"It is a remote possibility now, but for as long as there is a chance, we will keep fighting for it.

"I can't fault the players for their performance, we were unlucky on several occasions and I think anyone who saw they game would say we deserved at least a point."

Preston dominated for large periods of the game, but faced an uphill battle all the way after conceding in the74th second.

Paul Merson,s right-footed corner was well placed to meet a rising Matty Fryatt who headed past young keeper Andrew Lonergan.

Preston twice thought they,d pulled a goal back in the first half - only to be disappointed by the referee.

First Simon Lynch thought his close range effort had crossed the line, but Mark Wright appeared to have blocked it. And Richard Cresswell knocked the ball into the back of the net late in the first half, but was judged to have handled it in the process.

Scott Gemmill's fall in the penalty area on 48 minutes wasn't enough to win Preston a penalty, but Matt Carbon,s tripping of Richard Cresswell on 53 minutes was.

Graham Alexander fired into the left-hand side of goal to pull Preston level - but they found themselves trailing minutes later when Merson set up Wright three yards in front of goal. In that position, there was no doubt he would score.

Preston had plenty of chances to equalise - Lynch and Cresswell both hit the crossbar, while Alexander's shot was palmed around the post by Jimmy Walker.

Full time brought boos aimed at Brown, who responded by saying: "I'd rather they took it out on me and not the players. The fans need to know that any frustration they are feeling, we feel too."

PRESTON NORTH END 1

WALSALL 2

Preston: Lonergan, Alexander, Davis, Michael Jackson, Edwards, McKenna, Gemmill, Keane, Lynch, Healy, Cresswell. Subs: Gould, Koumantarakis, McCormack, Briscoe, Smith.

Walsall: Walker, Roper, Ritchie, Carbon, Wright, Andrews, Burley, Merson, Aranalde, Emblen, Fryatt. Subs: Petterson, Bazeley, Osborn, Corica, Kris Taylor.

Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).