Darren Carter's 90th minute wonder-strike condemned Leicester City to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Preston North End at the Walkers Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The midfielder's goal came against the run of play on a night when referee Roger East disallowed four Foxes goals.
The hosts enjoyed the lion's share of possession but could not unlock the visitors' rearguard.
Aside from the disallowed goals - two of which came from substitute Matty Fryatt - Lee Hendrie and Matt Oakley came close.
But after creating very little, the Lilywhites completed a smash-and-grab raid in stoppage time much to the partisan crowd's dismay.
The hosts were indebted to Paul Henderson inside 30 seconds when he raced off his line to deny new signing Craig Beattie, who only arrived at Deepdale this afternoon.
At the other end, DJ Campbell shot wide from the edge of the area on four minutes.
The nippy striker was at it again in the 12th minute but his effort was this time blocked by Sean St Ledger.
It was then Iain Hume's turn to shoot from distance but his pile-driver flew the wrong side of the Lilywhites' right hand post.
Oakley was crowded out by a combination of defender and goalkeeper on 16 minutes as the hosts looked for an early opener.
After a lull in play which saw both sides wrestling for possession, the home side earned two successive corners on the half-hour but they were unable to unlock the door.
Campbell had a goal ruled out for offside two minutes later before Henderson saved under his own bar from a Patrick Kisnorbo miss-kick.
Recent signing Lee Hendrie was crowded out at his near post as he attempted to meet Hume's teasing cross from the left before the injured Beattie made way for Neil Mellor on 37 minutes.
City had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Roger East two minutes before the break after Campbell seemed to be upended in the box.
But after a mainly uneventful first half, the game remained goalless at half-time.
The Foxes started the second-half brightly before Preston captain Paul McKenna drilled his shot high and wide in the 51st minute.
Club Captain Stephen Clemence was replaced by Joe Mattock on 60 minutes before Matthew Hill was booked for a foul on Hume two minutes later. Kisnorbo fired over from the resulting free-kick.
Mattock shot wide on 69 minutes then Ian Holloway made a double change two minutes later with Matty Fryatt and Barry Hayles replacing Campbell and Howard respectively.
Fryatt made an immediate impact with the striker having a goal ruled out for offside from Richard Stearman's low cross from the right.
Lewis Neal replaced Simon Whaley on 77 minutes then Mellor shot over a minute later.
St Ledger was cautioned in the 80th minute before Fryatt had another goal ruled out for offside moments later.
But the Lilywhites broke City hearts in the 90th minute when Darren Carter let fly from distance and found the top corner with an unstoppable shot past a helpless Henderson.
The Foxes had another goal disallowed by the referee in injury time and there was no more time for the home side to draw level.
City: Henderson, Stearman, Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, Clapham, Hume, Oakley, Clemence © (Mattock 60), Hendrie, Campbell (Fryatt 71), Howard (Hayles 71). Subs not used: Chambers J, McAuley.
Preston: Lonergan, St Ledger, Mawene, Chilvers, Hill, Sedgwick, McKenna ©, Carter, Whaley (Neal L 77), Brown, Beattie (Mellor 37). Subs not used: Hawley, Jones, Neal C.
Yellow Cards
City: None
Preston: Hill (62), St Ledger (80)
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 19,264
