Preston will end 2010 rock bottom of the Championship after a 3-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Middlesbrough at Deepdale.
It started promisingly for North End as Billy Jones headed the home side in front after 27 minutes.
However, Leroy Lita produced a superb run and finish to draw Boro level three minutes later before doubling his tally to put the visitors in front just before the hour mark.
David Wheater, then heaped more misery on struggling North End as he headed a third just after the hour mark.
Preston stay rooted to the bottom of the table, four points from safety. Meanwhile, it was only Middlesbrough's second away win this season and they moved one point clear of the relegation zone.
North End made a quick start and fashioned the first meaningful chance after 10 minutes when Jon Parkin played in Darel Russell, who fired over from 20 yards.
Shortly after, Boro's Leroy Lita lost the ball and Preston broke at pace with Michael Tonge playing the ball wide to Adam Barton who flashed a shot off target.
The game opened up and the dangerous Marvin Emnes got away down the left before providing a fine ball into the box but Lita was unable to convert.
Lita thought he had put the visitors in front soon after but his goal was disallowed for a foul.
With 26 minutes gone North End's Darel Russel hit a 25-yard effort, but Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele produced a fine save.
However, from the resulting corner, Danny Pugh picked out Jones at the far post and he headed in from close range to put Preston in front.
Middlesbrough had lost every game this season in which they had fallen behind, but three minutes later, Lita embarked on a fine solo run from the halfway line and burst towards the edge of the box before blasting a shot high into the net past the stranded Andy Lonergan.
The visitors ended the half on top and they equally began the second half in the same vain with Gary O'Neil crossing for Lita, who headed wide.
Emnes was denied by a good block from loanee Ritchie De Laet before the game was decided in the space of three minutes.
Firstly, Boro deservedly went in front with 59 minutes gone.
Julio Arca sent a long ball over the Preston defence and Lita raced clear before finishing well past Andy Lonergan for his second of the game.
It got worse for Preston two minutes later when O'Neil swung in a free-kick from the right and David Wheater climbed highest to head home.
Preston never looked like improving and Lita should have claimed his hat-trick with eight minutes remaining - but he fired wide when clean through.
After the game, under-pressure North End manager Darren Ferguson admitted it was a dissapointing defeat:
"We felt today was a real opportunity to end the year in the right way and continue the little run we had been on but unfortunately we didn't and it's a disappointing day."
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