Preston ended their run of six games without a win with a 1-0 victory over Bradford City in front of a crowd of 12,367.
Lilywhites boss Craig Brown described Scott Gemmill's goal as "an excellent finish" and thanked Billy Davies, his assistant for his midfield support play training sessions.
He also praised Bradford's fighting spirit and attitude and said the return of captain Chris Lucketti made a big impression at the back.
There were only two chances of any real note in the first half. The first, on 33 minutes, when City's Mark Bower and Preston's Richard Cresswell slid in to meet a right wing Graham Alexander cross, which came off Bower and Bradford keeper Alan Combe had to make a good save.
A minute later Alexander had a 25-yard drive tipped over the bar for a corner and a dull first half finished 0-0.
Five minutes into the second half good work by Dickson Etuhu and Simon Lynch led to a pass from the centre of the penalty area to Gemmill who hit a 12 yard shot into the centre of the goal to make it 1-0.
Gemmill, who is on loan from Everton, was playing his fifth game for the Lilywhites and it was the 33-year-old's first goal in first-team football for almost three years.
Preston central defender Claude Davis had to go off with his thigh strain injury after 59 minutes and was replaced by substitute Rob Edwards.
The home side had another chance in the 70th minute when Marlon Broomes fed Cresswell, but he could only shoot over the bar.
Two minutes later Nicky Summerbee, who took 13 corners in the match for Bradford, had a 30-yard volley saved by home goalkeeper Jonathan Gould.
The visitors fought hard for an equaliser, but a Dean Windass header that flew over the bar and one from Bower that drifted wide was as close as they came to earning a point.