A 59th minute goal from Neil Mellor cancelled out Charlton's half-time lead and Barry Nicholson slid in a second eight minutes later to win an entertaining clash between two sides who started the day up near the top of the table.

North End had not deserved to turn round a goal down after Youl Mawene had given away a penalty which Andy Gray converted. And they came roaring back to flatten the Londoners after the break.

It was a deserved result for Alan Irvine's side who remain unbeaten in the league with 10 points from a possible 12.
And it came on a day when big striker Jon Parkin made a big impression on his North End debut.

Parkin, who only signed three hours before kick-off, was a huge hit with the fans and was unlucky not to crown his first game with a goal.
Charlton's opener came after 19 minutes, courtesy of a bad mistake by defender Mawene.

The Frenchman was far too casual as he shaped up to make a clearance and, when he was put under pressure by Luke Varney, he missed the ball and kicked the player instead!

Gray stepped up and calmly put the penalty away to give the Londoners an undeserved lead.

Preston suffered a nervy opening when Lonergan spilled a left-wing corner, but he was able to recover before a Charlton boot could turn it in.

Richard Chaplow tested visiting keeper Nicky Weaver with a stinging 25-yard shot, but the former Manchester City player got down well to beat it away for a corner.

Neil Mellor's right-wing cross was almost turned into his own net by central defender Jonathan Fortune. And both Barry Nicholson and Parkin saw efforts blocked on the edge of the box as North End pressed forward in search of the opener.

But the deadlock was broken at the other end in the 19th minute when Mawene was too casual as he sized up a clearance and, when put under pressure, caught Luke Varney instead of the ball and referee Clive Oliver had no alternative but to point to the spot.

Up stepped Gray and the former Burnley striker, who was once on loan at Deepdale, sent Lonergan the wrong way with a shot into the bottom left corner.

Parkin was beginning to make his physical presence felt in the Charlton defence and after his left-foot shot had been deflected wide of the far post, he rose at the corner to send a header just over the top.
Weaver got across well to save a firm downward header from Mellor and his new partner Parkin curled another effort only inches over the bar from the edge of the area after playing a neat one-two with Nicholson.

Old boy David Nugent's presence in the players' guests area of the new Invincibles Pavilion had some fans chanting his name. And his former team-mates kept surging forward looking for the equaliser.

Mellor was unlucky not to get a touch on Nicholson's low cross to the near post. And the striker was only inches away with a shot from the right-hand side of the box which flashed across the face of Weaver's goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

But as half-time approached Charlton showed they were still dangerous on the break, when Varney's shot thumped against the right-hand post and bounced out to safety.

Mellor had perhaps his best chance of the half just before the interval when he was put through on goal by Parkin. But, as he tried to flick the ball past Weaver, the keeper spread himself and blocked.

Preston came out with a real purpose in the second half, keeping Charlton pinned back in their own half for long periods.
Mellor forced a great save out of Weaver in the 56th minute when his rocket shot was brilliantly turned away at full stretch.

Then, just before the hour mark, North End's domination was finally rewarded when Sedgwick crossed to the far post and Mellor spun round to hammer the ball into the roof of the net to level the scores.

The goal brought Charlton out of their shell and Lonergan had to produce a fingertip save to turn over a glancing header from Varney.

But on 67 minutes North End forced their noses in front, Jones headed a Sedgwick cross back into the middle from beyond the far post, Hameur Bouazza sliced his clearance towards goal and Nicholson slid in to put it between Weaver's legs into the net from close range.

PNE: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St Ledger, Hart, Nicholson, Chaplow, McKenna, Sedgwick, Mellor, Parkin.

Substitutes: C Neal, Hawley, Carter, Whaley, Wallace.

Charlton: Weaver, Moutaouakil, Hudson, Fortune, Basey, Bailey, Holland, Bouazza, Varney, Gray, Shelvey.

Substitutes: Youga, Elliot, Ambrose, Dickson, Semedo.

Referee: Clive Oliver (Northumberland).