Stoke's stout last-ditch defending with only ten men kept the rampant visitors at bay in a nervy finale.
Darrel Russell's successful last minute fitness check gave City chief Johan Boskamp's pre-match plans a late boost.
But it was the visiting fifth placed side, chasing a seventh successive victory, who started the brightest.
Graham Alexander and Dave Nugent had a go at breaking the ice in the opening 20 minutes before Brett Ormerod went close.
The North End new boy spun on a Chris Sedgwick centre and fired off a vicious volley which whistled narrowly wide and Ormerod was leading the charge again moments later.
The frontman sprung a lightning counter-attack and slotted Nugent through.
But with either side of Steve Simonsen's advancing frame to aim for normally clinical striker steered wide.
Preston picked up where they left off in the second half, penning Stoke back and the early pressure almost bore fruit.
The hosts failed to clear a right flank centre and Paul McKenna pounced with a 20-yard bullet which grazed the City bar.
Preston were dominant but were almost left ruing a hatful of spurned opportunities when Stoke finally mounted a serious offensive.
Mamady Sidibe latched on to a pinpoint Hannes Sigurdsson throughball, but amazingly with the goal begging the Mali striker fired into the sidenetting.
But just as the home side were cranking up the tempo they were dealt a blow.
Russell's 55th minute wild lunge on McKenna earned the midfield man an instant dismissal.
Preston could now smell blood and were pouring forward in search of a winner and they almost got it.
With the clock ticking down Tyrone Myers burst into the City box and was promptly hacked down by Marlon Broomes.
But McKenna's resulting spot-kick lacked accuracy and power and Simonsen gathered low to his right.