Phil Brown finally tasted victory as Preston manager at the 13th attempt as they ran out comfortable winners at relegation rivals Scunthorpe.
First-half goals from Keith Treacy, Billy Jones and Iain Hume handed victory to Brown a year ago to the day since he was sacked as Hull boss.
Treacy finished off a superb pass from the impressive Hume for the opener and Jones bundled a second from a corner.
Hume's diving header then put Preston 3-0 up and in total control.
Preston still face a huge fight on their hands to beat the drop as they lie 10 points adrift of safety, but the win will no doubt restore some confidence ahead of a home game against Coventry at the weekend after a wretched run.
Scunthorpe also have an uphill battle to avoid the drop after a match in which they failed to create a single opening in the first 45 minutes, much to the disgust of the home supporters who booed their team off at half-time and again at the final whistle.
Eddie Johnson and Chris Brown (twice) had chances before Preston broke the deadlock when Hume broke from deep and slipped a superb pass into Treacy, who beat the offside trap and drilled a low right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Five minutes later Preston had their second when Treacy's inswinging corner from the right found Jones to bundle home from point-blank range.
Johnson then blazed wide from eight yards out in the 40th minute from Hume's intelligent pass, but Preston claimed their third two minutes before the break.
A deep cross into the box was headed down by Brown into Hume's path and the Canadian stooped to nod into the net from six yards.
Preston had further chances with Johnson wasteful again, while Scunthorpe striker Joe Garner hit a 20-yard shot into Iain Turner's arms with 15 minutes remaining that proved to be the hosts' only effort of note in the 90 minutes.
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Scunthorpe
0-3
Preston
FT
(HT 0-3)
Treacy 32
Jones 37
Hume 43
Scunthorpe
22 Lillis
12 Raynes
14 Nelson
21 Nolan
28 Reid yellow card (O'Connor 57)
10 Hughes (Wright 35)
16 Wright
18 Collins
31 Duffy (Dagnall 63)
19 Miller
33 Garner
Substitutes
13 Slocombe,
15 Mirfin,
02 Wright,
08 O'Connor,
20 Ibrahim,
09 Dagnall,
17 Grant
Preston
21 Turner
02 Morgan
04 St. Ledger
19 Jones
11 Treacy (Parry 80)
24 Ashbee
28 Gardner
41 Carter
09 Brown
16 Hume (Ellington 71)
27 Johnson (Nicholson 85)
Substitutes
01 Lonergan,
42 Wright,
10 Nicholson,
15 Barton,
17 Parry,
18 Ellington,
23 Clarke
Ref: MillerAtt: 4,190
SCUNTHORPE
PRESTON
Possession
Scunthorpe46%
Preston54%
Attempts on target
Scunthorpe3
Preston9
Attempts off target
Scunthorpe2
Preston12
Corners
Scunthorpe3
Preston5
Fouls
Scunthorpe10
Preston6
Full Time
90:00+2:30 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+1:07 Effort on goal by Chris Dagnall from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
87:53 Outswinging corner taken by Paul Parry from the left by-line played to the near post, Michael Nelson manages to make a clearance.
87:40 Barry Nicholson produces a cross.
86:56 Chris Dagnall gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Ellington. Craig Morgan restarts play with the free kick.
85:46 Nathan Ellington has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
84:34 Ricardo Gardner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Dagnall. Free kick taken by Josh Lillis.
84:34 Substitution (Preston) makes a substitution, with Barry Nicholson coming on for Eddie Johnson.
82:19 Corner taken right-footed by Michael O'Connor.
81:23 Paul Parry delivers the ball, comfortable save by Josh Lillis.
79:59 Substitution Keith Treacy leaves the field to be replaced by Paul Parry.
78:45 Outswinging corner taken by Michael O'Connor from the right by-line, clearance made by Keith Treacy.
78:25 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael O'Connor from the right by-line, Sean St. Ledger manages to make a clearance.
77:33 Nathan Ellington has an effort at goal. Josh Lillis makes a save.
76:53 Effort from outside the penalty area by Darren Carter goes wide left of the goal.
75:42 Unfair challenge on Nathan Ellington by Michael Raynes results in a free kick. Eddie Johnson has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
75:20 Joe Garner takes a shot from 20 yards. Save by Iain Turner.
72:42 Joe Garner has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left of the target.
71:40 A cross is delivered by Nathan Ellington, Andrew Wright makes a clearance.
70:12 Substitution Nathan Ellington comes on in place of Iain Hume.
68:26 Eddie Nolan sends in a cross, clearance by Craig Morgan.
64:59 Eddie Nolan crosses the ball, Keith Treacy makes a clearance.
64:06 The ball is delivered by Keith Treacy, Eddie Johnson has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
62:44 Substitution Chris Dagnall joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mark Duffy.
60:09 Iain Hume crosses the ball.
59:28 The ball is swung over by Keith Treacy, clearance by Andrew Wright.
58:58 Corner taken left-footed by Keith Treacy to the near post, Michael O'Connor makes a clearance.
58:41 Eddie Johnson takes a shot. Michael Raynes makes a clearance.
58:31 Billy Jones crosses the ball, Michael Raynes makes a clearance.
58:09 A cross is delivered by Chris Brown, Michael Nelson manages to make a clearance.
57:36 Iain Hume challenges Michael Nelson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Josh Lillis restarts play with the free kick.
56:29 Foul by Craig Morgan on Joe Garner, free kick awarded. Mark Duffy fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Iain Turner.
56:29 Substitution Michael O'Connor is brought on as a substitute for Paul Reid.
55:37 Unfair challenge on Eddie Johnson by Eddie Nolan results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Keith Treacy, save made by Josh Lillis.
54:18 Michael Collins challenges Ian Ashbee unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Morgan.
53:02 Paul Reid challenges Chris Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Morgan takes the free kick.
53:02 Booking Paul Reid is cautioned.
52:25 A cross is delivered by Michael Collins, Sean St. Ledger makes a clearance.
50:59 The referee blows for offside. Iain Turner takes the free kick.
50:32 Iain Hume gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Wright. Andrew Wright restarts play with the free kick.
50:19 The ball is swung over by Keith Treacy, save made by Josh Lillis.
48:54 A cross is delivered by Eddie Johnson, Andrew Wright makes a clearance.
48:11 Craig Morgan fouled by Lee Miller, the ref awards a free kick. Iain Turner takes the free kick.
47:51 The referee blows for offside against Chris Brown. Josh Lillis takes the free kick.
46:29 The ball is crossed by Chris Brown, clearance by Michael Nelson.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:23 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+1:57 Ian Ashbee takes a shot. Save by Josh Lillis.
45:00+1:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Garner on Ricardo Gardner. Sean St. Ledger takes the direct free kick.
45:00+0:21 The ball is swung over by Darren Carter, Michael Nelson manages to make a clearance.
44:20 The ball is crossed by Billy Jones, Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Keith Treacy goes wide of the right-hand upright.
43:39 Billy Jones fouled by Joe Garner, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Craig Morgan.
42:35 Assist on the goal came from Chris Brown.
42:35 GOAL - Iain Hume:Scunthorpe 0 - 3 Preston Iain Hume finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Scunthorpe 0-3 Preston.
40:41 Iain Hume crosses the ball, Effort from inside the area by Eddie Johnson misses to the right of the goal.
38:33 The referee blows for offside against Chris Brown. Josh Lillis takes the free kick.
38:09 Joe Garner takes a shot. Save made by Iain Turner.
36:04 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Keith Treacy, assist by Keith Treacy.
36:04 GOAL - Billy Jones:Scunthorpe 0 - 2 Preston Billy Jones finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Scunthorpe 0-2 Preston.
34:56 Corner taken by Keith Treacy from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Andrew Wright.
34:16 Substitution Andy Hughes goes off and Andrew Wright comes on.
Correction - 33:58 Lee Miller is caught offside. Iain Turner takes the indirect free kick.
33:58 Lee Miller is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Iain Turner.
31:37 Assist by Iain Hume.
31:37 GOAL - Keith Treacy:Scunthorpe 0 - 1 Preston Keith Treacy fires in a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Scunthorpe 0-1 Preston.
Correction - 31:03 A cross is delivered by Ricardo Gardner, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Chris Brown goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
31:03 A cross is delivered by Ricardo Gardner, Header from deep inside the area by Chris Brown goes over the bar.
30:18 The ball is sent over by Iain Hume.
28:58 Effort on goal by Billy Jones from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
27:30 The assistant referee signals for offside against Joe Garner. Iain Turner restarts play with the free kick.
27:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Collins by Eddie Johnson. Paul Reid restarts play with the free kick.
24:42 Foul by Iain Hume on Andy Hughes, free kick awarded. Josh Lillis restarts play with the free kick.
24:12 The ball is delivered by Eddie Nolan, clearance by Sean St. Ledger.
23:00 Effort on goal by Chris Brown from just inside the area clears the bar.
22:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Gardner by Mark Duffy. Iain Turner restarts play with the free kick.
20:43 A cross is delivered by Mark Duffy, Craig Morgan manages to make a clearance.
19:23 Keith Treacy sends in a cross, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Eddie Johnson misses to the right of the target.
16:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Brown. Indirect free kick taken by Josh Lillis.
15:33 Darren Carter takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
13:22 Inswinging corner taken by Keith Treacy from the right by-line played to the near post, Andy Hughes makes a clearance.
13:13 Eddie Johnson produces a cross, blocked by Eddie Nolan.
12:08 Shot by Darren Carter from a long way out goes over the target.
11:49 Keith Treacy sends in a cross, Iain Hume takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Reid.
11:43 Ian Ashbee produces a cross.
8:41 Keith Treacy fouled by Andy Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. A cross is delivered by Keith Treacy, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Sean St. Ledger misses to the right of the goal.
8:28 Keith Treacy delivers the ball, Michael Nelson makes a clearance.
8:03 The ball is crossed by Josh Wright, save by Iain Turner.
7:26 Keith Treacy takes a shot. Josh Lillis makes a comfortable save.
Correction - 6:25 Iain Hume produces a cross, Michael Nelson makes a clearance.
6:25 The ball is sent over by Iain Hume, clearance made by Eddie Nolan.
3:18 A cross is delivered by Ricardo Gardner, Josh Lillis makes a save.
1:05 The ball is crossed by Mark Duffy.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
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