Brighton's recent revival under Steve Coppell continued as they came from two goals behind at Deepdale to earn their eighth point from four games.

Division One's bottom side found themselves with an uphill battle to keep their unbeaten run going after goals from Chris Lucketti and Richard Cresswell put Preston two up at the interval.

But Coppell has instilled a steely resolve in his new charges and strikes from Simon Rodgers and Steve Sidwell secured a priceless point for Brighton.

Also key to Brighton's success was Bobby Zamora, who was patched up for the trip north after ankle and hamstring niggles forced him to pull out of the England Under-21 get-together this week.

Preston made the early running, forcing a corner in the opening minute which had Michel Kuipers scrambling from his line to gather.

Craig Brown's side grabbed the lead after 16 minutes through captain Lucketti, who rose above a static Brighton defence to bury a header past Kuipers from Eddie Lewis' corner.

Preston doubled their advantage through Cresswell, who grabbed his ninth goal of the season from close range on 36 minutes.

Brighton began the second half at lightning pace and were rewarded on 52 minutes when Zamora's centre was nodded into Simon Rodger's path by Gary Hart.

The former Palace midfielder thumped a volley past the helpless David Lucas to drag his side back into the game.

The visitors' pressure finally told on Preston in the 72nd minute when Zamora, through whom all Brighton's best moves came, played in Steve Sidwell who produced a neat finish from just inside the area.

Hart and Robbie Pethick went close to snatching the victory for Brighton, the latter forcing another tip-over from Lucas.

Earlier Cresswell was booked for diving after he went down in the box under a challenge from Kuipers.

Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Lucketti, Murdock, Edwards, McKenna, Etuhu, Skora, Lewis, Fuller, Cresswell.
Subs: Moilanen, Cartwright, Rankine, Broomes, Healy.

Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Pethick, Cullip, Blackwell, Mayo, Hart, Carpenter, Sidwell, Rodger, Zamora.
Subs: Oatway, Brooker, Jones, Packham, Webb.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).