The pair both scored and set each other up as the Londoners bounced back from Richard Cresswell's early opener for the Division One club in what was a thoroughly entertaining tie.

The Italian made two breathtaking saves that virtually drove a stake through the heart of David Moyes' side. His first flying intervention came moments after Cresswell had flicked Graeme Alexander's left wing free-kick home to keep the score at 0-1, as Jonathon Macken's side-footer was somehow palmed around the post.

Cudicini, however, bettered that effort on the stroke of full time with Preston sniffing out a replay. Macken was again the protagonist and the former Manchester United forward saw his firm header repelled by an instinctive stop right underneath the crossbar.

That Preston went back north out with their FA Cup dream dead in the dirt of the patchy Stamford Bridge pitch was a disappointment for their proud posse of fans. But they can take pride in the way they more than matched one of the Premiership's most expensively assembled sides in their own backyards.

They had a talismanic leader in defender Sean Gregan and a livewire attack that always looked dangerous against a couple of World Cup winners in the Chelsea back line. That the result wasn't decided until injury time is a fine accomplishment, especially when you consider there are 26 places between the pair on the British football ladder.

Preston showed they weren't daunted by their from the off. Their firecracker start threatened to sweep the Blues off of their feet and give their hastily rearranged defence a traumatic day at the office. Chelsea, minus four defenders due to injury and suspension, had Manu Petit partnering Marcel Desailly in the middle and Mario Stanic as an emergency right back.

But after a thrilling 15 minute spell that saw Preston running riot down the right, they hit back through the potent Gudjohnsen. The Icelander gobbled up Hasselbaink's unselfish cross before turning to provider for his Dutch partner nine minutes later.

Hasselbaink played a smart one-two with Gudjohnsen on the edge of the penalty area and then raced into space behind the back four to plant the ball into the bottom corner for his 24th goal of the campaign.

The second period was much less eventful, although Hasselbaink did come close to cracking his side's third goal with a powerful free-kick after 67 minutes. Moilanen dived to his left to push the Dutchman's long-range effort away from the bottom corner.