A Lowe point for Foster
RYAN LOWE leapt to the defence of under-fire boss Ian Foster after Preston sentenced struggling Pompey to a fourth straight home defeat on the spin.
Liam Millar came off the bench to fire Preston to a third successive away win to move them to within five points of the play-offs.
Plymouth boss Foster faced calls to be sacked after failing to register a shot on target.
Yet Lowe, on his return to Home Park, backed Foster to turn things around.
But Preston manager Lowe said: “Fozzy is a good guy, a fantastic coach.
“I get the frustration of the fans but please get behind him and stick with him.
“He is going to take the club forward.
“All I would say to the Argyle fans is trust in the process as I am a big believer that he will get it right.
“It is always nice to win, but I wish Argyle all the best and I hope they survive.”
Preston were forced to make two subs in the opening 20 minutes after Milutin Osmajic and Brad Potts both hobbled off with injuries.
But Millar shone after ramming the ball past Michael Cooper from a narrow angle two minutes before the break.
Mustapha Bundu wasted a glorious chance to level on the stroke of half-time after sending a free header wide.
The Pilgrims are just two points above the drop zone.
Argyle boss Foster said: “My family were here and it is not nice for them to endure that. I get the frustration. It is my job to turn it around.” PLYMOUTH: Cooper 6; Pleguezelo 5 (Devine (61) 5), Phillips 6, Gibson 5; Edwards 5, Houghton 5, Randell 5 (Waine (81) 5), Miller 5 (Sousa (53) 5); Whittaker 5, Bundu 5, Hardie 5; PRESTON: Woodman 7; Storey 7, Lindsay 7, Hughes 7; Potts 6 (Stewart (19) 7), Ledson 7, Mccann 7, Brady 7 (Cunningham (88) 6); Frokjaer-jensen 7; Keane 7, Osmajic 6 (Millar (7) 8) STAR MAN: Liam Millar – Capped a fine performance off the bench with a welltaken goal to sink Plymouth.. REF: John Busby 6