Defender Denis Odoi salvaged a point in a dramatic late finish as Fulham came back from two down at Craven Cottage.
The Whites gave away goals to Jordan Hugill and Sean Maguire inside the first 25 minutes – only the second time they had conceded twice in a game this season.
And despite pulling one back through Oliver Norwood’s penalty, they seemed set to finish empty-handed until Odoi swept home in the sixth minute of added time.
Fulham had the better of the opening quarter of an hour, with Norwood and Rui Fonte going close before Ryan Sessegon’s storming run down the wing set up another opportunity for Norwood.
But Preston goalkeeper Chris Maxwell blocked his shot and Floyd Ayite bundled the rebound over the bar, with the visitors breaking immediately to secure an 18th-minute lead.
Maguire tore away on the opposite flank before setting up Hugill to sidefoot home – and it was only thanks to David Button’s point-blank save from Maguire soon afterwards that the Whites avoided falling further behind.
That respite proved to be brief as Sessegnon yielded possession to Tom Barkhuizen, who skipped into the gap behind him and rifled a left-foot drive that struck Maguire and zipped beyond Button.
Fulham skipper Kevin McDonald almost reduced the deficit with a low attempt that Maxwell turned behind – but the armband was soon returned to Tom Cairney, whose second-half introduction was intended to spark a fightback.
Initially, it did look as if the Whites might find a way into the game, with Fonte’s drive tipped over by Maxwell and McDonald hitting the foot of a post from distance.
At the other end, Preston substitute Josh Harrop squandered two opportunities to wrap up victory – and the home side gained a lifeline 17 minutes from time when Fonte went flying under pressure from Paul Huntington.
Norwood converted the spot-kick to raise Fulham hopes – and they kept going until the very end, when Maxwell spilled Tim Ream’s cross and Odoi rolled the loose ball into the net.
This post was last modified on 21/10/2017