Alfie Devine's goal ended Portsmouth's four-match unbeaten run and moved Preston North End back to the fringes of the play-off places.

The Tottenham Hotspur loanee headed in the only goal in a tight encounter to give the Deepdale fans only their second win in the last eight home league games.

The Lilywhites' new club-record signing Callum Lang was not fit to play against his former club, who remain in relegation trouble despite their improved recent form.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho was furious, however, as referee Adam Herczeg failed to award a penalty after Jordan Storey had clumsily brought down Adrian Segecic just inside the penalty area.

Pompey travelled north with some confidence, despite a 53-year wait for a win at Deepdale, after last week's victory over West Bromwich Albion and an unexpected midweek rest following the postponement of their fixture against Ipswich Town.

They also handed a debut to deadline-day signing Jacob Brown and brought on Santos winger Gustavo Caballero in a squad revamped over the winter transfer window.

They had a loud shot for a penalty with Segecic seemingly fouled by Storey but the unsighted official waved it away, leaving Pompey players with heads in hands and Mousinho livid on the touchline.

Preston's play-off push has been flagging but Devine got it back on track, seeing one deflected shot loop narrowly wide before he was unmarked to arc a header into the top corner from an excellent Andrija Vukcevic cross.

Goalkeeper David Cornell ensured the lead was intact at half-time with a superb diving save from Andre Dozzell, who claimed the winner when the sides met at Fratton Park in August.

Pompey dominated the second half but largely wasted their 14 corners and when they did get one right, Millenic Alli swung and missed when the ball fell at his feet 10 yards out.

Ebou Adams' header was cleared off the line, Alli had another close-range shot blocked and then saw his cross fired over the bar by Makenzie Kirk as Preston threatened to crumble under the siege.

It intensified in added time as John Swift's inswinging corner was tipped on to the crossbar by Cornell and from the resulting set-piece Connor Ogilvie's header was saved by the Preston keeper.

Preston debutant Andy Moran, on as a substitute, missed a great chance to settle it deep in added time as he raced clear, only for Pompey keeper Nico Schmid to sprint out and block his shot.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It was hard-fought, a very good three points in the end.

"I don't think we'll get many pretty games on that pitch but we might get good and exciting ones for different reasons and that one got tense.

"We never really opened them up to get that second goal which would have been nice so we had to defend our box well which we did, so I was pleased we could get the three points in the end."

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

"If you look at the balance of the game and how good we were for 90 minutes, we are scratching our heads as to why we didn't put one of those chances in the back of the net.

"We looked more dangerous as the game went on from set-pieces but there were four that went directly out for goal-kicks.

"It's a difficult surface so I understand that but still expect us to do a lot better. Once we started delivering the ball into good areas we looked threatening."

On the penalty appeal: "It's either a corner or a penalty, it's not a goal-kick. I'm completely baffled by that decision. It was a stonewall penalty."

On Jacob Brown's debut: "He led the line well. It's new territory for Jacob in terms of coming in and slotting into the system and seeing what we want from him. He was always going to tire around 60 minutes so that was the plan, to bring him off."