Anthony Gerrard's header was enough for Hull City to beat former manager Phil Brown's Preston North End side at the Kingston Communications Stadium.
Brown, was sacked as boss of Hull in March 2010 and eventually replaced by Nigel Pearson in the summer. Brown was given the North End post in January, six matches ago, but he has failed to find his first win as new boss and Preston remain in freefall at the foot of the Championship table.
Hull bagged the three points after Anthony Gerrard's towering header on the stroke of half-time.
The Tigers have lost only one of their last 16 games since a 1-0 home defeat to rivals Scunthorpe in November, but Brown's side have won only one of their last 15 league games and remain 10 points adrift of safety.
Tunisia international Tijani Belaid was making his debut for Hull and was quickly in the action when his early angled drive was blocked by Preston defender Sean St Ledger.
Hull went close to taking a second-minute lead through Aaron Mclean's volley, but failed to create many clear-cut chances.
Preston's first chance fell to defender Leon Cort, who headed Adam Barton's corner wide in the 18th minute, while Hull midfielder Robert Koren forced on loan Preston goalkeeper Iain Turner into a fine save with his powerful shot a minute later.
Turner pulled off another commendable save 10 minutes before the break to deny Belaid from inside the area and on loan Manchester United defender Corry Evans saw his 20-yard effort blocked by Cort.
Tigers midfielder Koren skewed a long-range drive off target, but Hull took a deserved lead on the stroke of half-time when Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of Liverpool's Steven, rose to plant a downward header beyond Turner from Andy Dawson's corner.
Koren powered a 30-yard volley just wide seven minutes into the second half and although Eddie Johnson lashed in a 25-yard effort for North End, Hull threatened to extend their lead twice in quick succession.
Matty Fryatt's shot from inside the area was blocked by the over-worked Cort and Turner did well to hold on to Cameron Stewart's stinging drive following Dawson's quick free-kick.
Cort forced Hull goalkeeper Brad Guzan into a rare save in the 71st minute with another header before Gerrard diverted Barry Nicholson's shot.
Preston enjoyed their best spell midway through the second period. Nicholson, a 69th-minute replacement for Darel Russell, providing them with much-needed lift.
But Stewart fired just wide for Hull and Mclean's shot was blocked by Cort as the home side finished on top. North End threatened late on as Paul Hayes and defender David Gray volleyed over the crossbar, but it's another defeat for North End, whilst it's seven unbeaten for Hull City.
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