Iain Hume scored the only goal of the game as Preston North End ended their winless streak at the expense of Roy Keane’s Ipswich town at Deepdale on Saturday.
Hume who was playing in the final game of his loan spell from Barnsley and he reminded North End manager Darren Ferguson just what his team will be missing with a superb side footed finish in the 50th minute.
On the other hand, Ipswich boss Roy Keane will come under more pressure from the fans with this sixth successive Championship defeat, however Keane was given a vote of confidence by Town chief executive Simon Clegg earlier this week.
Darren Ferguson named an unchanged starting line-up, while Ipswich were missing Gareth McAuley, inspirational Connor Wickham and youngster Luke Hyam because of injuries.
Yet veteran Mark Kennedy returned from a hamstring problem and skipper David Norris was also passed fit to start after recovering from a virus that kept him out of last weekend's defeat to Swansea.
North End began the better of the two teams and in the fourth minute on-loan Stoke midfielder Michael Tonge hit a 30 yard effort which Town goalkeeper Brian Murphy did well to save.
Ipswich quickly got back into the game and winger Carlos Edwards had a shot blocked by defender Wayne Brown.
Moments later, Grant Leadbitter drilled a 25-yard shot wide and former Wigan Athletic striker Jason Scotland fired a left-foot effort off target from 12-yards.
Keane's men began to increase the pressure on the North End defence and in the 20th minute Rory Fallon collected possession 20 yards from goal and drilled in a fierce shot which Andy Lonergan did well to tip round the post.
North End fought back and came within an inch of breaking the deadlock.
A 28th minute corner from Danny Pugh was met by Billy Jones and his firm header from six yards struck the Ipswich woodwork.
In the 30th minute, Ipswich midfielder Grant Leadbitter again tried his luck from distance but Lonergan was standing firm and was equal to it.
20 year old central defender Tommy Smith then headed wide for Ipswich and North End’s Iain Hume then blazed over the crossbar from 12 yards.
However, Hume put that right on 50 minutes as he signed off in style.
Jones clipped a fine ball down the channel to Jon Parkin, who showed great footwork to cut the ball back for the Canadian born Hume to fire home a low right-foot finish from around the penalty spot.
Parkin then tried to double North End’s lead as he hit an 18-yard shot which Murphy did well to save before Tonge had a shot blocked by Kennedy.
Pugh twice went close with efforts from the edge of the penalty area and youngster Darel Russell then saw an attempt blocked.
In the 68th minute, Ipswich's Troy Brown headed goalwards from 12 yards but Lonergan was again equal to the effort and saved comfortably.
Ipswich substitute Jaime Peters entered the field and he instantly met a cross from Jack Colback with a firm header that Lonergan saved superbly.
That was the last meaningful effort of the game and Preston North End held on for a much needed victory.
After the game, North End’s goalscorer Iain Hume wanted to focus on the team rather than his winning goal:
“The win was the main thing for us today; we are in a tough spot at the moment. We are at the wrong end of the league and we do not want to be there.
Hume went onto say: "The three points has been the most important bit but it has been nice to keep another clean sheet after doing so against Millwall and almost doing so at Cardiff.
"We have got a testing period coming up over Christmas so hopefully we can now push on and get the results to see us pulling away from the bottom in the New Year."
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