Match stats will be here as soon as available
The visitors had the better of the game and also the chances and will be kicking themselves now they have dropped out of the play-off places.
Brighton had goalkeeper Wayne Henderson to thank for keeping them on terms in an eventful first half. The Ireland international dived to his left in the 17th minute to deny Daniele Dichio his first Championship goal of the season from a David Nugent cross.
Seven minutes later Nugent's shot through the legs of defender Paul McShane from another Callum Davidson cross produced a similar stop by Henderson. Tyrone Mears should have given Preston the lead in the 26th minute but he headed the wrong side of the post from a Chris Sedgwick centre.
Brighton had chances as well in the opening 45 minutes. Alexandre Frutos was just unable to convert a cross from Adam Hinshelwood as he stretched eight yards out. Then, on the stroke of half-time, McShane headed wide from six yards from a Frutos corner.
Brighton substitute Gary Hart made an immediate impact after replacing the injured Joel Lynch. Hart blocked Dichio's shot on the line from a corner by Davidson in the 47th minute. Then, in the same incident, Claude Davis fired against a post with an angled effort.
Preston went on to dominate the second half but Brighton defended gallantly to keep them at bay.
Mark McGhee's strugglers almost snatched the points with just two minutes left when Hart shot just wide from the edge of the box.