Preston North End suffered yet another defeat in caretaker manager David Unsworth’s first game in charge as they lost 2-1 at home to Derby County.
Former chief Darren Ferguson lost his job earlier in the week after the Lilywhites found themselves languishing at the bottom of the Championship at the halfway point of the season.
However it was a disappointing start to the new era of 2011 as Chris Porter's second-half double overshadowed Callum Davidson's late consolation to ensure North End’s miserable run continued.
Unsworth, who took temporary charge on Thursday, was quick to stamp his authority on North End, making seven changes to the side which fell to a 3-1 defeat against Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Derby have had troubles of their own with manager Nigel Clough berating many of his players after Wednesday's 5-2 derby hammering to Nottingham Forest.
And Derby County’s troubles look set to continue as the hosts dominated the opening exchanges.
Preston could have taken an early lead through Chris Brown but, the striker scuffed his effort after good work from Keith Treacy.
Winger Treacy, who was being deployed as a striker, began to influence the game in North End’s favour. He sent over a pin-point free-kick, which Davidson was unable to convert.
After weathering the storm, the Rams started to come back into the game midway through the opening period with Conor Doyle hitting just over.
That seemed to open the game up and moments later, the Lilywhites had an excellent chance of their own.
Sean St Ledger swung a dangerous ball in, allowing Chris Brown to head the ball back across goal, only for the ball to elude a Preston player.
North End continied to create chances, but caretaker boss Unsworth could only watch on in frustration as his side continued to search for that elusive opener.
They almost paid the price for their failure to find the net as on the stroke of half-time Porter spurned an excellent chance despite being played clean through.
It was a different kettle of fish in the second half as Nigel Clough’s men started to dominate.
Kris Commons came agonisingly close to putting the visitors ahead when he fired just over, before Stephen Pearson saw his curling effort go just wide of Lonergan’s post.
However, unlike North End, the away side made their supremacy count. In the 65th minute Porter fired home a precise shot from the edge of the area.
The home side tried desperately to get back into the game, but Porter doubled his and his sides tally when he swept home from 12 yards to wrap up the points for the visitors.
Callum Davidson pulled a consolation goal back from the spot after Robbie Savage handled, before Treacy’s goal bound effort was agonisingly cleared off the line in the dying seconds.
Caretaker boss Unsworth insisted he was a proud man despite the defeat:
"I asked for a game full of desire and passion and for them to play on the front foot and give me everything they had and I think they did that.
"The crowd were brilliant, they were with the team from the first minute to the end and I was a proud man today.
"Yes it was a disappointing result in a game we had the better chances, but I didn't think we deserved to lose.”
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