Alfie Devine has scored two goals for Preston this season
Alfie Devine earned Preston North End their first Championship victory away from home with a fierce first-half winner at Derby County.
The Tottenham loanee found the top corner with a thunderous finish to put the visitors ahead before the break.
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom's save from Milutin Osmajic limited the first-half damage for a Derby side that are still searching for their first win at home this season.
United States international Patrick Agyemang was bright off the bench for the Rams, creating a chance for Craig Forsyth before he tested Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen himself, but an equaliser eluded the hosts as they slipped to 21st in the table.
Victory for Preston keeps them among the high-flyers in fifth, and just a point adrift of Stoke City in second spot.
In the lead-up to their trip to Pride Park, Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom spoke about the Lilywhites' lack of spending power in the Championship – stressing that they "either accept that and roll over or do things our way" when written off ahead meeting against the likes of Derby.
While they may not have been able to match the transfer outlays of the Rams this summer, Heckingbottom managed to refresh his side with 12 additions.
Among them was Devine, the on-loan Spurs midfielder who broke the deadlock with a fierce left-footed shot from 20 yards that flew beyond the reach of Zetterstrom.
Both sides had late first-half chances, with Derby's Swedish goalkeeper keeping Osmajic out before Ben Brereton Diaz tested Daniel Iversen at the other end.
Rams boss John Eustace turned to near-£6m addition Agyemang in search of a greater attacking threat after the break, with the American playing a part in last week's smash-and-grab winner at West Bromwich Albion.
He caused havoc for the hosts, but could not beat Iversen after brilliantly crafting an opportunity for himself just after the hour mark.
'Bodies on the line to get over the line' - Heckingbottom
Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:
"The first-half performance wasn't anywhere near good enough, we are all very disappointed about that, but I thought in the second half we showed lots of energy and it was more like us. And I thought we were really unlucky not to at least get an equaliser.
"We have battled away in the last three or four games, and we have had a good solid formation to play from, and today that first-half formation didn't work for us and we were a little too passive and not getting tight enough.
"We deservedly went in [at half-time] 1-0 down, but it's about learning and growing as a group and getting the right formula and chemistry between the players. I thought today, the changes in the second half showed a different side to us."
John Eustace post-Preston North End (H)
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I've been happy with us throughout the season and the players should be proud of themselves.
"We had to show everything again today - we passed the ball well, caused them problems and are probably disappointed that we couldn't capitalise a little bit more, but we did score a fantastic goal.
"Then, as always happens in this league, if there is one goal in it then everyone puts their body on the line to make sure we got over the line as well. All-round, it was a really good away performance."
'All-round really good away performance' - Heckingbottom
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