Preston gained their first win in five games and also their first clean sheet in five games with a 1-0 win over Reading watched by 13,021 supporters.
Preston grabbed the all important first goal in the 22nd minute and it was Richard Cresswell with his sixth goal of the season.
Preston battled hard in the second half to preserve their lead and keep an important clean sheet.
Nicky Forster of Reading hit the bar with a 10-yard shot after just 12 minutes, following his hat-trick against Ipswich last week.
Preston scored the winning goal in the 22nd minute when good work by USA international Eddie Lewis on the left wing led to a right-foot cross and Cresswell got in front of his marker Adrian Williams to guide a stooping header to the right of the Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann.
In the 37th minute Lewis again cut inside and hit a 20-yard right-foot shot which the Reading keeper tipped around the post for a corner.
Just before half time Colin Murdock missed the ball and Forster had a great shot which Preston keeper David Lucas pushed around the post for a corner.
The fourth official signalled one minute extra for the first half but Preston went in with a valuable single goal lead at the break.
Referee My Foy had a busy second half, booking seven players. In the 52nd minute he booked Matthew Upson for a foul on David Healy and then six minutes later he booked Nick Shorey for fouling Lewis on the edge of the box.
Reading manager Alan Pardew made a substitution on the hour, replacing Anthony Rougier who was recovering from a broken toe, and bringing on James Harper.
Lewis was booked for Preston in the 65th minute when he fouled Graeme Murty and four minutes later Ricky Newman was booked for a foul on Paul McKenna.
Williams and Richard Cresswell were both booked in the 70th minute for unsporting behaviour.
Preston manager Craig Brown made a double substitution in the 71st minute, replacing Healy and Cresswell with Pawel Abbott and Tyrone M