Nils-Eric Johansson's first league goal for Leicester City helped the Foxes overcome Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday and in the process ease their relegation fears.

The Swedish defender's 90th minute strike secured their first win in 11 and Nigel Worthington's first in temporary charge.

It also marked their first win at Deepdale more than 50 years.

In a tentative affair, Iain Hume came close on several occasions and also hit the post as did Stephen Hughes and Matty Fryatt before Johansson struck to spark the celebrations.

In the first play of the game, teenager Joe Mattock was just unable to latch on to Richard Stearman's right wing cross.

Hume put his shot wide on eight minutes but the referee's assistant had already raised his flag for offside.

Mattock's shot on the turn was blocked by Sean St Ledger two minutes later before the defender managed to divert the ball away from Matty Fryatt soon after.

Wayne Henderson saved well from Patrick Kisnorbo's bullet header in the 11th minute and then he had to be alert to head clear under pressure from Hume after exiting his penalty area on 17 minutes.

At the other end, Danny Pugh volleyed high and wide following Chris Sedgwick's corner in the 23rd minute.

A last ditch tackle from the returning Gareth McAuley denied Brett Ormerod moments later then Hume tested Henderson from the edge of the area but the Preston shotstopper was equal to the task.

City continued to press and Stephen Hughes' thunderbolt from 20-yards was acrobatically palmed away by Henderson.

Shaun Newton almost handed the visitors the lead on 32 minutes but his side-footed volley from Mattock's deep cross flew the wrong side the bar.

James Wesolowski drilled his shot wide four minutes later.

The Foxes were handed a let-off in the 42nd minute when David Nugent charged down Conrad Logan's attempted clearance but fortunately for the visitors, the ball bounced the wrong side of the vacant goal.

A minute later Ormerod scuffed his shot when clean through then in first-half stoppage time, Logan failed to deal with a hanging cross but Wesolowski was on hand to clear the danger.

That was to be the last action of the half as the game remained goalless at the interval.

At the start of the second period, Seyfo Soley blocked Fryatt's shot from 18-yards before Hume was cautioned for a foul on Matthew Hill in the 47th minute.

Logan did well to thwart Nugent's attempted lob on 50 minutes before Mattock just failed to connect with Newton's hanging cross.

Liam Chilvers was booked for a late challenge on Fryatt in the 52nd minute.

The Lilywhites had appeals for a penalty turned down soon after following a clash between Kisnorbo and Ormerod in the area.

Newton was booked for a foul on Nugent on 55 minutes before Fryatt almost met Kisnorbo's long ball forward but Henderson saved at his feet.

Fryatt made way for Danny Cadamarteri just after the hour then Kisnorbo nearly lashed the ball into his own net after a Stearman slip.

A combined effort from Stearman and Kisnorbo denied Nugent on 65 minutes after he had brilliantly turned McAuley.

That was to be the defender's last action of the game as he made way for Geoff Horsfield with Nils-Eric Johansson moving to centre-half, Mattock left-back and Cadamarteri left midfield.

Michael Ricketts replaced Ormerod on 72 minutes then Hill headed off the line from Johansson's shot on the turn.

Simon Whaley came on for Hill in the 77th minute before Hughes put his effort over moments later.

After great work by young Mattock, Hume fired agonisingly over 10 minutes from time before Patrick Agyemang replaced Sedgwick in the 82nd minute.

Both Kisnorbo and Nugent were booked two minutes later then Agyemang's bullet header flew just over City's bar.

City came close to winning the match on 88 minutes when Hume's free-kick hit the foot of the post.

But the Foxes won the match in the 90th minute when Johansson volleyed home from Newton's free-kick much to the delight of the Blue Army.

City played out a nervy five minutes of stoppage time to win the contest.

City: Logan, Stearman, McAuley (Horsfield 67), Kisnorbo (c), Johansson, Newton, Hughes, Wesolowski, Mattock, Fryatt (Cadamarteri 61), Hume. Subs not used: Henderson P, Maybury, Hammond.

Preston: Henderson W, Alexander (c), Davidson, Pugh, Sedgwick (Agyemang 82), Nugent, St Ledger, Chilvers, Ormerod (Ricketts 72), Hill (Whaley 77), Soley. Subs not used: Lonergan, Wilson. 

Yellow Cards
City: Hume (47), Newton (55), Kisnorbo (84)
Preston: Chilvers (52), Nugent (84)

Referee: C W Oliver

Attendance: 14,725