Portsmouth snuck into the FA Cup sixth round after a 94th-minute Darren Carter own-goal gave them a 1-0 win at Preston North End.

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Harry Redknapp's side had earlier relied on goalkeeper David James to keep them in the contest as they ensured a torrid second half.

James saved a Simon Whaley penalty and produced a string of top-class stops as the Championship side ran riot at Deepdale.

Alan Irvine's side were frustrated however, and Carter's late error - after Hermann Hreidarsson appeared to handle a corner goalwards - ensured there will be at least three Premier League sides in the last eight.

Redknapp picked a strong side, with four players in his starting line-up having featured at the African Cup of Nations - midfielders Papa Bouba Diop, Sulley Muntari, John Utaka and lone striker Nwankwo Kanu.

The decision to play only one up front impacted the first half, which saw both sides playing cagily, although Pompey's powerful midfield allowed them to win the possession battle.

Nevertheless chances were at a premium, with neither side coming close until the 29th minute, when Muntari dinked a cross onto the head of Kranjcar.

The Croat, perhaps expecting an offside flag that never came, could not capitalise and glanced a weak effort at Andy Lonergan.

Muntari was at it again minutes later, unleashing a powerful free-kick from nearly 30 yards that Lonergan did well to palm behind for a corner.

The visitors' mini-flurry of chances continued as Kanu found the marauding Hreidarsson in the box but the Icelandic defender slipped, sending his shot into the side netting.

Irvine's men came out for the second half showing much more fight and earning themselves much more of the ball.

The game was transformed, and Preston should have gone in front after a clumsy trip on Billy Jones by Sylvain Distin resulted in a penalty.

North End had converted only two out of six spot-kicks this season and it became two out of seven when David James palmed away Whaley's weak effort.

Undeterred, Preston pushed on, with Chris Brown and Carter both pressing James into action. Pompey were ragged at the back - a world away from their solid first-half showing.

James saved his best for the 74th minute, when substitute Neil Mellor bent a shot to the far corner only to see the England keeper dive full stretch to his left to tip it wide.

The introduction of Milan Baros as a second striker did little, with the Czech showing only glimpses of his talent and Preston looking the likelier scorers.

The normally composed likes of Sol Campbell and Distin were rattled, hacking away hurried clearances and looking completely disorganised.

But the tie was decided in cruel fashion with virtually the last move of the game. Hreidarsson diverted a Kranjcar corner with his hand and - although Richard Chaplow looked better-placed to clear off the line - Carter booted the ball high into his own goal attempting to hook it clear.

Alex Chick / Eurosport