"I'm pleased for Lee," says Moyes

The winger, who still lives in the Valley, latched onto Graham Alexander's cross in injury time in the first half and headed the ball in at the far post.

"'I'm pleased for Lee," said manager David Moyes.

"He has been terrific in the last month and played well.

"We had been saying he needed to get a goal and he came up with it.

"We have been encouraging him to get into more forward positions in training.

"We are spreading our goals around the team, we are not just relying on the front two and that is good."

The goal gave Preston their fourth win on the trot and last year's Play-Off finalists are now making an impression at the top of the table.

"We have had seven wins in the last ten games we just want to keep the matches coming," continued the boss.

"The games are coming thick and fast now and we have Coventry on Wednesday.

"They are near the top of league but we are in good form.

"We have a lot of belief in ourselves and as long as the players are still believing and steer clear of injury we fear no one."

All the pre match chat was of Portsmouth's recent signing Japan's international keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi but it was 42-year-old Dave Beasant who was between the sticks for Pompey.

And he was immediately in action when Preston found the back of the net on six minutes - only for it to be disallowed.

Mark Rankine fired home a Healy cross but it was ruled that the ball had run out as Healy crossed from the by-line.

Next, transfer-listed Jon Macken, thought to be interesting Premier side Southampton, was denied by the feet of Beasant as Preston pressed.

Cartwright then made a chance count and Steve Lovell came close to levelling for the home side after the break testing Tepi Moilanen.

And Pompey appealed for a penalty late on when Alexander tackled Lovell in the area.

But Preston hung on - and they will be keen to keep their position in the play-off spots after occupying one for the first time this season.