He poked home at the back post after a goalmouth scramble from Darren Carter's corner, five minutes into the second half.

But in truth, it was a poor performance from both sides, as North End completed the seasonal douboe over Owen Coyle's Clarets.

On-loan Watford striker Tamas Priskin bent in a fifth minute opener for the home side, despite Burnley starting the brighter.

James O'Connor did score his third of the season with a shot from outside the area, but it took a mistake from Andy Lonergan in the Preston goal to allow the ball to creep over the line.

But Brown's effort turned out to be the difference, with Burnley given further problems in stoppage time as Clarkje Carlisle was sent off for a wreckless challenge on Sean St Ledger.

Click here to view our photo gallery from the game

Click here to view your photos from the game

CLOCKWATCH

1 mins: Ade Akinbiyi makes an early impression on the Preston defence, clattering into Sean St Ledger, but manages to get away with just a warning from referee Uriah Rennie.

4 mins: GOAL!! Chris Brown charges down the left wing, and after his fired cross is only partially cleared by David Unsworth, Tamas Priskin curls a delightful shot past Brian Jensen from the edge of the area. Preston 1-0 Burnley.

8 mins: Tamas Priskin beats Jon Harley on the right, and when his cross is headed towards goal by Chris Brown, Brian Jensen is forced into a smart save. From the reulting corner, Brown's header is cleared off the line by Graham Alexander.

12 mins: Tamas Priskin is put clean through on goal again, and after his shot is saved by the legs of Brian Jensen, Chris Brown fires the rebound woefully wide.

15 mins: David Unsworth's free kick is headed on by Ade Akinbiyi to Robbie Blake, who turns his man only to blast the ball over the top.

22 mins: Jon Harley crosses for Ade Akinbiyi, but after the ball just clears the head of the striker, Wade Elliott fires a low drive which is saved by the legs of Andy Lonergan.

24 mins: Burnley break three-on-two, and after Robbie Blake's piledriver is tipped over the bar by Andy Lonergan, the subsequent corner comes to nothing.

31 mins: Darren Carter's ball for Tamas Priskin beats the offside trap, and after Brian Jensen decides to retreat towards his own goal, he makes amends by pulling off a good stop low to his left.

32 mins: Andy Lonergan elects to punch when challenged by Ade Akinbiyi, and when the ball falls to Wade Elliott, his lob over the keeper sails just wide.

38 mins: GOAL!! Robbie Blake's corner is cleared to James O'Connor, and his shot is flicked into his own net by Andy Lonergan. Preston 1-1 Burnley.

45 mins: Ade Akinbiyi's hold-up play on the edge of the box ends with a neat flick to Chris McCann who fires wide of the target.

Half-Time: Preston 1-1 Burnley.

50 mins: Robbie Blake bursts down the left, and when his cross is dummied by Wade Elliott, Chris McCann drags his shot wide of the far post.

53 mins: GOAL!! Burnley fail to clear Paul McKenna's corner, and after a goalmouth scramble, Chris Brown pokes home at the far post through a crowd of players. Preston 2-1 Burnley.

65 mins: Wade Elliott's cross for Chris McCann is headed harmlessly over the bar.

80 mins: Graham Alexander's long ball finds Andrew Cole in space in the area, but after he feigns an initial shot, his final effort is blocked for a corner which comes to nothing.

88 mins: Wade Elliott's cross from the right just misses the head of Andrew Cole, but is almost diverted into his own net by Sean St Ledger.

90 mins +2: Clarke Carlisle is given a straight red card for a wreckless challenge on Sean St Ledger.

Full-Time: Preston 2-1 Burnley.

Preston: Lonergan, Jones, St Ledger, Mawene, Davidson, Brown, Carter, McKenna, Sedgwick, Whaley, Priskin (Mellor 69).
Subs: C. Neal (GK), L. Neal, Hill, Chaplow.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Unsworth (Caldwell 46), Harley, Elliott, McCann, J. O'Connor (Gudjonsson 73), Lafferty (Cole 67), Blake, Akinbiyi.
Subs: Kiraly (GK), Mahon.

Attendance: 16,149

Referee: Uriah Rennie (South Yorkshire).