Spot-kick has Nigel Browne and out
PRESTON grabbed their second straight win after seeing off struggling Hull.
All the goals came in the first half as defender Greg Cunningham and an Alan Browne penalty overturned Jarrod Bowen’s opening strike.
Hull’s winless streak in the Championship extended to nine matches as Nigel Adkins’ side remain in the relegation zone.
The Tigers boss said: “I’ve got to keep leading from the front and trying to get the best from my players.
“We started the game well against a good Preston side, we were on the front foot and nullified lots of the strengths that they have.”
The visitors were ahead on the half-hour mark as a slick team move set Bowen free and his shot from the right edge of the area deflected off Cunningham and beyond Declan Rudd.
Preston responded quickly and were level in the 36th minute. Paul Gallagher whipped a corner in from the right and Cunningham powered a header from 12 yards back across goal and into the far corner.
Alex Neil’s side were ahead in first-half stoppage time.
Billy Bodin, making his home debut, had a fierce effort pushed away by Allan McGregor before he burst forward again and was adjudged to have been brought down in the area by Fraizer Campbell.
Browne stepped up and slotted the ball straight down the middle to put the Lilywhites in front.
The striker almost grabbed himself a second goal after the break with a swivelled shot from 12 yards which was parried low to his right by McGregor.
Hull substitute Evandro made it a nervy finish when he headed wide from eight yards with 12 minutes to go but Preston held on for only their third win in their last 11 home games.
North End boss Neil said: “The good thing that we have as a team and a club is that we are really resilient.
“We never give in. They got the first goal but at that point I think lesser teams give up to an extent.
“We didn’t do that.”