Hull City 0-1 Preston North End: Cameron Archer winner earns points for Lilywhites
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Cameron Archer has scored two goals in four appearances for Preston since his loan move
Preston moved to within four points of the Championship play-offs as they inflicted a first defeat on Hull City head coach Shota Arveladze.
Cameron Archer hit the post for Preston with a turn and shot in an entertaining and even first half which somehow ended goalless.
Aston Villa loanee Archer then showed fine skill to bring down the ball on his chest and slotted past Tigers goalkeeper Matt Ingram.
Hull were denied an equaliser when Tom Eaves' header was ruled out for offside as new owner Acun Ilicali tasted defeat for the first time since last month's takeover.
The Tigers resisted the temptation to start any of their three deadline day loan signings, with midfielder Liam Walsh, and strikers Marcus Forss and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh all on the bench.
Both goalkeepers played their part in keeping a frantic first half scoreless, with Preston's Daniel Iversen making a fine early save from Di'Shon Bernard's back-post header.
The Dane made an even more impressive stop to keep out Tom Eaves' diving header, from a Keane Lewis-Potter cross, before Matt Ingram got down well to save Archer's shot.
The Lilywhites made a lightning start to the second half, with Alan Browne's powerful finish ruled out for handball, moments before Archer scored his second goal in four appearances since his January loan move.
Having conceded their first goal in four games, City responded by bringing on Brentford striker Forss, but they could not test Iversen again as Jacob Greaves headed wide and Richard Smallwood saw his shot deflected over.
Hull, whose defeat follows three successive wins, drop to 19th, but 12 points clear of the bottom three, while Preston move up to 11th after a run of just one league defeat in nine matches under manager Ryan Lowe.
Hull City head coach Shota Arveladze told BBC Radio Humberside:
"They worked hard and could have equalised with the last corner, but that's football and the pain makes us stronger for the next games.
"We know it's not an easy time, we know there are changes, some new players, we need them all. It was a short list of players and now it's a little bit longer so everyone has to take this chance and be ready.
"We have to do better (with the goal). We pulled out and then a short pass we lost and then we left the striker free and it was a good reaction.
"We tried second half to push and use all of our power to make an equaliser, but give them credit, too, they defended well."
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe:
"It was a frustrating first half, and it was a decent game. It was end-to-end. My heart was in my mouth at times, but the boys put their bodies on the line.
"Foundations are built on clean sheets. Ultimately you have to be solid and resolute. The boys have been fantastic.
"We wanted to take the shackles off the boys, and I want to play the style I want to play. We're in good form but we're not going to get carried away.
"If you get back-to-back wins in the Championship, it gets you up there. All we can do is look to the next one."