Kevin Nolan's eighth league goal of the season sent Newcastle back to the top of the Championship.
With the game drifting towards a draw, Nolan stunned home fans by turning sharply in the area and firing a low left-footed shot into the corner.
Preston had been the better side, with Neil Mellor drawing two sharp saves from Magpies goalkeeper Steve Harper and firing wide when through on goal.
But Nolan's goal proved enough to give Newcastle their fourth straight win.
The result puts Newcastle two points clear of West Brom and six ahead of third-placed Leicester as they look to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
And manager Chris Hughton will be delighted to have seen his team pick up another three points on the road without playing particularly well.
Mellor had Preston's best chances in the opening period, drawing a sharp save from Harper at his near post before shooting tamely at the goalkeeper when well-placed to score.
Michael Tonge, making his first Preston appearance since his loan move from Stoke, also went close with a longe-range shot which shaved the bar.
Newcastle struggled for fluency, with winger Jonas Gutierrez particularly wasteful in possession and the strike duo of Andy Carroll and Marlon Harewood struggling to make an impact.
But just when both teams seemed content to settle for a point, Nolan gathered the ball from Danny Guthrie's cross, swivelled and shot home to send Newcastle back to the Championship's summit.
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton: "When we took Nolan last season we knew he had goals in him.
"We've used him in a couple of positions, breaking from the middle and playing off the front.
"He's an experienced player with an eye for goal and you can always count on him."
Preston manager Alan Irvine: "I don't think we should have lost the game, certainly.
"I thought that we matched Newcastle for many parts of the game. I felt as if we had some good chances to score ourselves.
"But we didn't take our chances and Kevin Nolan finished his chance, which was maybe not even that much of a chance, very well."
90:00+3:47 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Save by Steve Harper.
90:00+3:24 Effort on goal by Jonas Gutierrez from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
90:00+0:14 Foul by Neil Mellor on Jonas Gutierrez, free kick awarded. Sanchez Jose Enrique takes the free kick.
89:28 Substitution Peter Lovenkrands is brought on as a substitute for Danny Guthrie.
88:28 Foul by Michael Tonge on Jonas Gutierrez, free kick awarded. Sanchez Jose Enrique takes the free kick.
85:32 Foul by Tamas Kadar on Chris Brown, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Michael Tonge, Alan Smith manages to make a clearance.
85:16 The ball is swung over by Marlon Harewood.
83:06 Paul Parry produces a cross, save by Steve Harper.
82:19 Nile Ranger takes a shot. Save made by Andy Lonergan.
79:31 Substitution Chris Sedgwick leaves the field to be replaced by Jon Parkin.
79:01 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Taylor.
78:28 Eddie Nolan takes a shot. Save by Steve Harper.
75:42 Billy Jones produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
73:57 Danny Guthrie provided the assist for the goal.
73:57 GOAL - Kevin Nolan:Preston 0 - 1 Newcastle Kevin Nolan scores a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Preston 0-1 Newcastle.
73:50 The ball is delivered by Danny Guthrie,
Correction - 72:49 Substitution Eddie Nolan on for Callum Davidson.
Correction - 72:49 Foul by Richard Chaplow on Nile Ranger, free kick awarded.
72:49 Direct free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
72:49 Substitution Eddie Nolan is brought on as a substitute for Callum Davidson.
72:49 Unfair challenge on Nile Ranger by Richard Chaplow results in a .
Correction - 71:40 Jonas Gutierrez delivers the ball,
71:40 A cross is delivered by Jonas Gutierrez, Richard Chaplow manages to make a clearance.
71:08 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Callum Davidson by Nile Ranger. Callum Davidson takes the free kick.
Correction - 69:47 Nile Ranger produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
69:47 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Tamas Kadar misses to the left of the target.
65:36 Effort from inside the area by Neil Mellor misses to the right of the goal.
64:39 Substitution Danny Simpson goes off and Tamas Kadar comes on.
63:05 The ball is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, save made by Steve Harper.
62:11 Corner from the right by-line taken by Danny Guthrie, Marlon Harewood has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
61:18 Direct free kick taken by Danny Guthrie.
61:18 Substitution Nile Ranger joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andrew Carroll.
61:18 Unfair challenge on Danny Simpson by Richard Chaplow results in a free kick.
60:04 A cross is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, blocked by Fabricio Coloccini. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Michael Tonge.
58:57 Shot from just outside the box by Jonas Gutierrez misses to the right of the goal.
58:39 Andrew Carroll takes a shot. Blocked by Billy Jones.
57:17 Chris Brown sends in a cross, save by Steve Harper.
54:21 Danny Guthrie takes the outswinging corner, save by Andy Lonergan.
54:14 The ball is swung over by Danny Simpson, Liam Chilvers manages to make a clearance.
52:26 Paul Parry produces a drilled left-footed shot from 30 yards. Save by Steve Harper.
51:43 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neil Mellor by Alan Smith. Michael Tonge takes the free kick.
51:01 Sanchez Jose Enrique takes a shot. Blocked by Fabricio Coloccini.
50:22 Marlon Harewood produces a cross, clearance made by Liam Chilvers. Danny Guthrie takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Chris Sedgwick makes a clearance.
49:22 The ball is crossed by Paul Parry, Sanchez Jose Enrique makes a clearance.
48:49 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Paul Parry played to the near post, Andrew Carroll manages to make a clearance.
48:41 The ball is swung over by Paul Parry, Danny Guthrie makes a clearance.
48:09 Sanchez Jose Enrique produces a cross, save by Andy Lonergan.
47:54 Liam Chilvers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Carroll. Free kick taken by Alan Smith.
47:44 Foul by Chris Brown on Kevin Nolan, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Alan Smith.
47:13 Shot from just outside the area by Andrew Carroll misses to the left of the target.
46:44 The ball is swung over by Chris Sedgwick, blocked by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
45:52 Sanchez Jose Enrique sends in a cross.
45:36 The ball is swung over by Jonas Gutierrez, Liam Chilvers manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The second half begins.
45:01 Substitution Liam Chilvers on for Youl Mawene.
Half Time
45:00+1:20 The ref blows to end the first period.
44:19 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael Tonge from the right by-line to the near post, Andrew Carroll makes a clearance.
43:56 The ball is crossed by Danny Guthrie.
43:26 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Steve Harper makes a save.
Correction - 42:03 Richard Chaplow produces a left-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.
42:03 Richard Chaplow has shot on goal from a long way out that goes wide left.
41:24 The ball is crossed by Marlon Harewood.
40:05 Centre by Chris Sedgwick, Neil Mellor produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
39:54 A cross is delivered by Paul Parry, Sanchez Jose Enrique manages to make a clearance.
39:17 The ball is crossed by Youl Mawene.
39:05 Centre by Paul Parry.
38:46 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Paul Parry, Andrew Carroll makes a clearance.
38:36 The ball is swung over by Chris Sedgwick, clearance by Steven Taylor.
38:27 Danny Guthrie produces a cross, Youl Mawene makes a clearance.
38:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Simpson by Paul Parry. Danny Simpson takes the free kick.
37:01 Chris Brown has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Save by Steve Harper.
35:44 Effort from outside the penalty area by Alan Smith goes wide left of the goal.
34:40 Chris Brown delivers the ball, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Paul Parry goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
33:11 The ball is swung over by Neil Mellor.
32:26 Paul Parry delivers the ball, Danny Simpson gets a block in.
31:48 A cross is delivered by Danny Simpson, clearance by Youl Mawene.
31:29 Centre by Danny Simpson, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance.
30:49 Billy Jones delivers the ball, Paul Parry has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
30:23 Billy Jones fouled by Andrew Carroll, the ref awards a free kick. Richard Chaplow takes the free kick.
29:10 Paul Parry takes a corner.
28:29 Foul by Andrew Carroll on Youl Mawene, free kick awarded. Callum Davidson restarts play with the free kick.
26:36 Unfair challenge on Danny Guthrie by Richard Chaplow results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin Nolan.
Correction - 25:44 Jonas Gutierrez sends in a cross, Kevin Nolan takes a shot.
25:44 The ball is swung over by Jonas Gutierrez, volleyed shot by Kevin Nolan.
25:11 Unfair challenge on Sanchez Jose Enrique by Chris Sedgwick results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Harper.
24:28 The assistant referee flags for offside against Andrew Carroll. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
23:51 Unfair challenge on Andrew Carroll by Billy Jones results in a free kick. Danny Guthrie crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.
23:01 Neil Mellor has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
22:50 Chris Sedgwick crosses the ball, Danny Simpson manages to make a clearance.
22:22 Andrew Carroll gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Youl Mawene. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
18:34 A cross is delivered by Billy Jones.
17:53 The ball is sent over by Danny Simpson, clearance made by Billy Jones.
16:15 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Steve Harper makes a save.
15:37 Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
15:37 Booking Alan Smith is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
15:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Smith on Chris Sedgwick.
14:41 Effort from outside the penalty box by Michael Tonge goes wide left of the goal.
14:06 Richard Chaplow takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan. Corner from left by-line taken by Paul Parry.
13:53 The ball is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, clearance made by Danny Simpson.
13:27 Kevin Nolan takes a shot. Save made by Andy Lonergan.
12:40 Chris Sedgwick crosses the ball.
12:25 The ball is delivered by Paul Parry, clearance by Alan Smith.
11:51 The ball is sent over by Jonas Gutierrez, save by Andy Lonergan.
10:51 The assistant referee flags for offside against Marlon Harewood. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
10:02 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Guthrie from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Chris Brown.
9:54 The ball is sent over by Jonas Gutierrez, blocked by Chris Sedgwick.
9:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Carroll by Michael Tonge. Sanchez Jose Enrique restarts play with the free kick.
8:59 Centre by Danny Guthrie, Michael Tonge manages to make a clearance.
8:36 Centre by Sanchez Jose Enrique, Neill Collins makes a clearance.
8:08 Marlon Harewood sends in a cross, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance.
7:45 Jonas Gutierrez delivers the ball, clearance by Youl Mawene.
7:32 Alan Smith takes a shot. Blocked by Billy Jones.
6:55 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Steve Harper.
6:01 Foul by Michael Tonge on Kevin Nolan, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Alan Smith.
5:25 A cross is delivered by Michael Tonge.
4:48 Corner taken by Danny Guthrie from the left by-line to the near post, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance.
4:37 Jonas Gutierrez produces a cross, blocked by Billy Jones.
3:31 Andrew Carroll is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.
1:01 The ball is delivered by Sanchez Jose Enrique, Close range header by Steven Taylor misses to the right of the target.
0:42 Foul by Youl Mawene on Marlon Harewood, free kick awarded. Alan Smith restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The referee gets the game started.
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