Alfie Devine’s headed effort on the cusp of half time proved the golden ticket as Preston held on tight at Deepdale.
The Lilywhites came into this affair with just 1 point from their last 5 matches, and with an eye to right the wrongs that had become custom since the turn of the year.
Paul Heckingbottom made four changes to the starting lineup that fell to a draw at Portman Road, seeing star man Lewis Dobbin reclaim his vacant spot from Jordan Thompson, while Jordan Storey returned from his suspension picked up against Middlesbrough to usurp Liam Lindsay from the back four.
Milos Lukovic took to the pitch in Preston colours for the first time after scribing his signature from Strasbourg on loan this January, along with Andrija Vuckevic breaking back into the squad in place of Pol Valentin.
Meanwhile visitors Pompey made the lengthy trip up to Proud Preston in an endeavour to extend to a fifth consecutive match unbeaten, since their FA Cup dispatchment at the hands of Arsenal in Round Three.
Just the lone change to the lineup from John Mousinho saw injured Colby Bishop make way for deadline day loan signing Jacob Brown, playing the point of the arrow as the sole striker.
It was the hosts who had knots to tie in this fixture, however, with their visit to Fratton Park in August fresh in mind, a match which saw Andre Dozzell’s winner steal all three points at Preston’s expense.
And it would be Preston who would put their noses in front before half time, as Montenegrin international Luckovic galloped up the left flank to loop his delivery into a tantalising position for Alfie Devine, who patiently headed home over the desperate grasp of Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid.
A goal carved out of what seemed destined for a stalemate score, and the first celebrated by the Deepdale home section since New Year’s Day.
It looked an almost instant response seconds later, when dangerman Adrian Segecic pierced his strike perfectly to the near post, but North End keeper Dai Cornell was equal to it with a sharp stop for his first involvement of the day.
Nothing seemed to stick for either side after the break, as the host’s struggle for a second goal grew longer, Portsmouth were still looking to plug the gaps in midfield.
That was until Preston skipper Ben Whiteman protruded from a sea of blue shirts to slip through substitute Michael Smith, whose cross whistled beyond the feet of his arriving teammates.
Pompey wouldn’t go without a foothold in the match however, as Segecic once again snuck inside to release a tame effort into the feet of Jordan Storey, before it opened up for Luton loanee Millenic Alli eho miscued his shot, but bring a warning sign with it.
A collective sigh of relief rang around the Deepdale home crowd with ten minutes to go, as a good old-fashioned goalmouth scramble brought heart rates to a sprint, before Dai Cornell’s claim of Alli’s punt allayed the pressure in the 6-yard box.
Suddenly Alfie Devine’s lovely opener seemed like years ago, with the tide shifting more and more in the favour of the South coast outfit who were well and truly on the prowl for a leveller.
With time ticking away tempers came to a boil, as a contentious decision from referee Adam Herczeg ruling Ben Whiteman to have dived in the middle of the park, sparking outrage from the home faithful.
The visitors just wouldn’t go away, as Millenic Alli continued to terrorise Pol Valentin on his left wing, and blasted his cross perfectly onto the foot of Centre Forward Makenzie Kirk, who managed to turn the best chance of the match over merely a yard from goal. Real nail-biting territory for those of a Preston persuasion.
A hair-raising final few moments of football had fans unable to sit still, after pop shots from Ebou Adams and a smashing header from Connor Ogilvie induced collective gasps all round made way for debutant Andrew Moran to fluff his lines to seal the match with a clear cut 1 on 1 chance right at the death.
Despite the drama, Preston held out seven minutes of stoppage time for a vital and hard-fought set of maximum points at Deepdale, putting the Lilywhites level on points with Playoff place holders Wrexham, and ending their dismal streak of form.