Preston North End 2-1 Plymouth Argyle: Lilywhites return to top of Championship with win
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Duane Holmes celebrated his third goal for Preston since a summer move from Huddersfield Town
Preston returned to the top of the Championship as they beat manager Ryan Lowe's former side Plymouth Argyle 2-1 at Deepdale.
Duane Holmes gave the hosts a dream start as he converted debutant Liam Millar's cross after just 45 seconds.
Canada international Millar then doubled the lead with a precision effort into the bottom corner after Argyle had lost possession in midfield.
Ryan Hardie pulled a goal back following a good flowing move after an hour, before Preston's Brad Potts hit the post 10 minutes later.
The win sees the Lilywhites re-establish their one-point lead at the top of the Championship while the newly promoted Pilgrims drop to 13th place.
The game saw Lowe come up against former assistant and his successor as Argyle manager Steven Schumacher for the first time.
Holmes' early goal set the tone for a good first half as Ryan Ledson curled an effort just wide of the Argyle goal soon after the opener.
Freddie Woodman twice had to do well to stop dangerous crosses by Bali Mumba and Hardie as the Pilgrims looked dangerous on the break.
Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher (left) and Preston boss Ryan Lowe are still close friends after their time working together
But a loose pass from Morgan Whittaker gave Preston possession and Milutin Osmajic played the ball into his fellow debutant Millar who cut in and doubled the lead.
Woodman again had to do well to save an effort by Kaine Kesler-Hayden as the first half drew to a close, while Finn Azaz and Whittaker went close for the Pilgrims soon after the restart.
Hardie got his fifth goal of the season as he confidently finished Luke Cundle's lay-off after a fine flowing move.
Five minutes later Conor Hazard produced a wonderful point-blank save to keep Argyle in it as Osmajic got on the end of a cross from Millar, while the Lilywhites hit the post soon after as Brad Potts got on the end of a Holmes pass.
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"The lads put everything on the line to make sure they came away with three points.
"First half we were well worthy of the two goals, we came out with a really fast start, which we wanted.
"The second half was always going to be tough, fair play to Plymouth, they changed a few things around, especially bringing all the subs on, and really had a good go.
"I thought the game was a fantastic entertaining game for the Championship, and however [the] way, you find a way to win, especially in the second half by keeping the back door shut, but I thought we were excellent first half."
Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Devon:
"I felt our performance probably didn't deserve to lose the game, but we have come away from home again, played really well, caused the top-of-the-table team loads of problems and found ourselves coming away with nothing.
"I'm really disappointed, but I'm also proud and pleased at the players' performance because we were brave today.
"Even after going 1-0 down we were brave to keep playing and we were more than a game for them today."