Two goals from Neil Mellor saw Preston eliminate Chesterfield in the first round of the Carling Cup.
Former Red the hero at Deepdale
Neil Mellor was the hero for Preston as he struck twice to eliminate Chesterfield in the first round of the Carling Cup.
The former Liverpool striker netted in each half, but the Championship side did not have it all their own way against their League Two opponents at Deepdale.
Preston boss Alan Irvine decided to switch his side around following the impressive opening-day win at Ipswich.
Irvine promoted four players off the bench, with Michael Hart, Darren Carter, Karl Hawley and Ross Wallace, who was handed his competitive debut, all starting.
Spireites boss Lee Richardson named an unchanged line-up after the win against Barnet at the weekend as his side went in search of a prized scalp.
Rival
Hawley almost had the home side in front after 15 minutes after a good turn and shot which forced Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee to parry.
Lee denied the former Carlisle man again six minutes later, tipping his effort round the post, and got the better of his rival when faced one-on-one following good work from Barry Nicholson and Mellor.
North End finally made the breakthrough eight minutes before the break as Mellor netted from no more than five yards out.
The visitors almost levelled immediately, Jack Lester playing in Jamie Ward for the chance but Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan did well to spread himself, Lester blasting the rebound over the crossbar.
Sean St Ledger put his header over early in the second half and Ward curled an effort beyond the post as the visitors looked to level.
Close-range
Ward was linking up well with Lester and the pair will be a handful in League Two this season but he could only fire wide just after the hour mark.
Lester was denied an equaliser in the 72nd minute when Jones flung his body in the way of his close-range effort.
Paul Harsley then thought he had levelled but saw his right-footed effort crash off the crossbar eight minutes from time.
That left Mellor to seal the win in added time, converting left-footed from the edge of the six-yard box after Darren Carter's cross.
