Paul Heckingbottom's side have endured a frustrating run of five draws and one defeat since beating Coventry in the middle of October.

But Potts' cool finish on the hour mark, his second in three games, secured all three points for North End and only a second victory in their past 13 matches.

It edged Preston away from the drop zone and into 15th place but left Ruben Selles's Tigers, now without a win in seven on the road, right in the mix at the bottom of the table.

Defeat saw former Reading manager's new side, in his fourth game in the Tigers dugout, drop a place into the final relegation place in 22nd.