Josh Murphy joined Portsmouth in the summer on a free transfer from Oxford United
Portsmouth climbed off the bottom of the Championship table as they overcame Preston North End at Fratton Park.
Winger Josh Murphy broke the deadlock after sustained Pompey pressure with a powerful strike before defender Connor Ogilvie slid in his side's second in the 45th minute.
After a dismal opening period, Preston started the second half much brighter with Emil Riis tapping in a Ryan Ledson cross soon after the restart but the Pompey defence held firm as visitors sought an equaliser.
Substitute Colby Bishop, making his first appearance of the season after undergoing heart surgery in the summer, then converted a late penalty to wrap up Pompey's second league win of the season.
The victory moves Portsmouth off the foot of the table, overtaking Queens Park Rangers who lost at Leeds, whilst Preston's defeat leaves the Lilywhites 20th in the table.
Following their 1-0 midweek loss at Plymouth, Portsmouth's Matt Ritchie reiterated that his boyhood club's return to the Championship - after a 12-year absence - would not be "easy" but a dominant first-half showing certainly helped the home side's fortunes.
Despite a cagey opening quarter, John Mousinho's side firmly took control of proceedings with Ritchie, Callum Lang and Freddie Potts in particular regularly stressing the Lilywhites backline with their deliveries into the box.
On the 36th minute, Pompey were rewarded for their efforts as summer signing Murphy fizzed a low shot into the bottom left of the goal, following one of their 11 corners.
Former Spurs academy player Ogilvie then created even further joy on the south coast as he poked in another brilliant Potts dead ball delivery.
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom responded with three substitutions from the restart but the former Sheffield United boss might have wished he had made them earlier as the Lancashire club played much better in the second half.
From creating chaos with their own set-pieces, Portsmouth found themselves struggling to deal with balls into the box and poor awareness from Wales centre back Regan Poole meant Danish forward Riis was able to tap in unmarked from substitute Ledson's floated cross.
That goal increased the anxiety of the Portsmouth fans as the visitors sought to complete their comeback, and a Jack Whatmough header which deflected off Kusuni Yengi forced home keeper Nicolas Schmid to make an outstanding reactionary save.
But, after failing to net an equaliser, a mistimed challenge from Andrew Hughes on Lang in the box meant Preston were to ultimately leave Hampshire empty handed as Bishop converted an 89th-minute penalty to wrap up all three points.
Win gives Pompey 'massive lift' - reaction
Portsmouth forward Callum Lang told BBC Radio Solent:
"It's nice to be back with a home win. I think this will give us a big lift.
"It's something that everyone needed; the players, the staff, all the fans. Hopefully, this will give us a massive lift and make this a tough place to come.
"He (Colby Bishop) works so hard. We've all been on the training ground and seeing him.
"Such a quick recovery as well, so fair play to him, he deserves it and it was a nice way to top off the night."
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"First half we were absolutely bullied. Of course it's surprising, it's unacceptable.
"It's surprising in the fact that we knew Portsmouth had changed now, how they played a lot of the last few games.
"They were a lot more direct in the last few games, compete for second balls, a lot of balls into the box and that being our preparation and yet we looked like a rabbit in headlights."
