Paul Gallagher scored the only goal as Preston won for the first time this season - and condemned Sheffield Wednesday to their fifth league defeat. PNE skipper Kevin Nicholls was denied by Lee Grant, who later saved from Andy Carroll before Gallagher scored after pouncing on the rebound.
Etienne Esajas hit the post for the Owls with a long-range strike and Andy Lonergan denied Francis Jeffers.
Wednesday, bottom of the table, have had the worst start in their history.
Preston boss Paul Simpson:
"We knew it was a game we needed to win, so there's a bit of a relief but I think we deserved it because of our first-half performance. "We were positive and took the game to them, and I think we probably deserved
to be more than 1-0 up at half-time.
"Second half we had to dig in and defend. The players showed a fantastic attitude to want to go on and win it."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws:
"I'm devastated for the players and particularly the fans, who were magnificent. "I thought we had a stonewall penalty. It was so frustrating because nothing was given to us in the first half.
"I thought we made it happen for ourselves in the second half. We penned Preston in and deserved something out of the game."
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, Chilvers, Mawene, Davidson, Sedgwick (Pugh 82), Nicholls, Carter, Gallagher (Whaley 55), Agyemang (Ormerod 68), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Mellor.
Booked: Gallagher, Mawene.
Goals: Gallagher 28.
Sheff Wed: Grant, Simek, Wood, Watson, Spurr, Small (Johnson 70), Whelan, Folly, Esajas (Hinds 90), Jeffers (Burton 59), Sodje.
Subs Not Used: Burch, Lunt.
Booked: Watson, Johnson.
Att: 13,062
Ref: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).
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