Preston moved to within two points of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places courtesy of Greg Cunningham’s second-half header as they defeated Huddersfield 1-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Both sides had come into the game in stuttering form and it showed in the first half as they failed to impose themselves on each other, with Preston’s Alvaro Fernandez having the best chances towards the end of the half.
Cunningham headed North End in front five minutes into the second period and the hosts failed to register a shot on target as they slipped to their ninth league defeat of the season.
Huddersfield had the first sniff of goal in the opening six minutes when Ben Jackson whipped a curling ball on to the head of Danny Ward, who headed over the bar from close range.
Preston settled into the game and also forced a chance of their own after some tricky footwork from Fernandez. He whipped a ball in towards Ali McCann but his header was comfortable saved by Lee Nicholls.