ALI McCann’s 78th-minute strike proved enough to end Cherries’ unbeaten start to the Championship campaign.

The former St Johnstone man found a winner for Preston North End with 12 minutes remaining, as the visitors came away 2-1 victors at Vitality Stadium.

McCann’s goal came after Philip Billing had cancelled out a strike from Ben Whiteman on the hour mark.

Defeat meant Cherries’ lead at the top of the league table was cut to two points.

Cherries made three changes from the starting XI who sealed a 2-0 victory over Reading last time out.

Jordan Zemura was out with an ankle injury sustained against the Royals, meaning Chris Mepham filled in at left-back – his first start since August.

There was also a place for Ben Pearson in midfield ahead of Gavin Kilkenny, who dropped to the bench, while Jamal Lowe replaced Jaidon Anthony.

Visitors Preston, who began the night 19th in the table, were unchanged having beaten Luton last time out.

Cherries’ first real opportunity came from a free-kick on 13 minutes. After Dom Solanke was fouled by right-back Sepp van den Berg, Billing had the chance to take aim from 20 yards out.

But the Denmark international’s powerful effort was dragged well wide of the far post.

Boos rang out from the away section when Cherries midfielder Pearson, formerly of Preston, touched the ball, as the visitors contained Cherries’ threat throughout the opening half an hour.

Preston’s first opening came with 34 minutes on the clock.

Winger Tom Barkhuizen surged down the right wing and into the box, only to see his drilled effort fall well wide of Cherries keeper Mark Travers’s near post.

The Lilywhites then threatened following a corner. After Cherries could only half-clear, Josh Earl’s powerful strike was charged down by Lloyd Kelly inside the box.

Jefferson Lerma then took a heavy whack in the early stages of the second half. Having competed for a ball down the left, the Colombian was barged into the advertising boards by van den Berg – but was able to continue.

Cherries however did fall behind on 52 minutes.

Barkhuizen had space to cross for the late run of Whiteman, the midfielder rifling home from inside the box for his first league goal of the season.

Lerma was then cautioned after putting McCann into the advertising boards right by the away dugout before Cherries found a leveller on the hour mark.

Jack Stacey surged down the right and picked out Billing, who shifted the ball onto his left foot before drilling the ball into the net via a deflection.

Parker then looked to the bench with 65 minutes gone and replaced Pearson with Jaidon Anthony, with Ryan Christie moving into the middle of midfield.

Cherries almost went ahead through an unlikely source with 16 minutes left. Skipping forward from left-back, Mepham’s fizzing drive was parried away by Daniel Iversen in the away goal.

But it was North End who won it with 11 minutes remaining. After Emil Riis Jakobsen got past Stacey down the left, his pullback was met by McCann to steer home into the bottom corner.

North End could have had another with nine minutes left. Dane Riis Jakobsen flew past Cahill on the counter but, one-on-one with Travers, saw his effort saved.

Cherries were then denied by a sublime double save from Iversen.

After Stacey’s effort from range was parried away, the keeper got up to deny Lowe a leveller on the follow-up.

Cherries: Travers, Stacey, Kelly, Cahill, Mepham (Rogers, 77), Lerma, Pearson (Anthony, 65), Billing, Christie (Marcondes, 83), Solanke, Lowe.

Unused subs: Brady, Kilkenny, L Cook, Dennis (g/k).

Booked: Lerma, Mepham, Billing.

Preston: Iversen, Van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes, Barkhuizen, Whiteman, McCann (Johnson, 89), Browne, Earl (Cunningham, 75), Maguire (Potts, 75), Riis.

Unused subs: Storey, Ledson, Sinclair, Hudson (g/k).

Booked: Barkhuizen.

Referee: David Webb.