Andre Dozzell scored the only goal as Portsmouth beat Preston
Preston North End's unbeaten start to the Championship season ended in a narrow defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Andre Dozzell's first-half strike gave the hosts the lead shortly before half-time when he collected the ball from a short corner and smashed in from range via a deflection.
Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen had previously produced an excellent save to deny Colby Bishop, before Josh Murphy and Zak Swanson missed chances to extend Pompey's lead in the second half.
Thierry Small and Michael Smith came closest for the visitors, who were beaten for the first time in the league this season.
The Lilywhites had picked up seven points from their opening three games and faced a Pompey side who had not won since the first day of the season.
John Swift sent an early shot over the bar for the hosts before Small curled just wide for the visitors.
Murphy then played the ball into Bishop at pace, with Iversen making a big save to keep the scoreline goalless but found himself picking the ball out of his net soon after.
Swift recieved the ball short from the corner and passed to Dozzell, who drove it in from outside the area, with the shot taking a touch off a defender that diverted it beyond Iversen.
Preston could not find an equaliser despite having more than 60% possession as they failed to score for the first time this season.
The two sides are eighth and ninth in the early-season table with the same number of points, goals scored and conceded.
'I've been told Murphy isn't for sale' - reaction
John Mousinho says he expects Josh Murphy to stay at Portsmouth
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:
"The performance was okay - defensively we were solid.
"We just didn't really kick on after scoring the goal - when things got more difficult in the second half we didn't get it in the net and we had the chances to do so.
"Andre [Dozzell] has been great - he's grown and grown into his role at the football club."
On transfer speculation surrounding Josh Murphy: "I've switched off from all that - it's down to the recruitment team and that's ins and outs.
"The only message I've been told is he isn't for sale and I'm pretty happy with that."
Paul Heckingbottom said nothing would fall for his team in their defeat at Portsmouth
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"Nothing fell for us in the second half, I was pleased with the performance.
"Not our day, another deflection. We've conceded three goals [this season], two of them deflections, one of them an own goal.
"But the performance was strong again, difficult place to come here. I think the fact we were so dominant in the second half was credit to the players and how we approached it but nothing would fall for us."
Player of the match
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
