Sean St Ledger and Jon Parkin scored as Preston defeated Derby at Deepdale.
Richard Chaplow shot wide and Billy Jones missed with a header before St Ledger slotted home from 12 yards.
Andy Lonergan saved Paul Green's 20-yard shot and an effort from Kris Commons while Rob Hulse headed wide from six yards as Derby threatened.
Ross Wallace struck the post for Preston with a free-kick but he later crossed for Parkin to smash the decisive second goal from 18 yards.
Preston manager Alan Irvine:
"We are getting close to the target of 53 points which I set at the start of the season.
"2007 was a really bad year. 2008 has been a good year. We have to make sure that 2009 is as good, if not better.
"This was a tough. We started slowly and I was disappointed with how we played early on and I was more than happy to go in 1-0 up at half time."
Derby manager Paul Jewell:
"We deserved something out of the game, without a doubt - we would have been disappointed to go in 0-0 at half time, never mind 1-0 down.
"For 45 minutes we were outstanding and by far the better team - we were in a different class to Preston.
"We played some good football but we gave away a poor goal. One long ball and we got done. It's disappointing."
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson, Sedgwick, Chaplow (Nicholson 75), McKenna, Wallace, Parkin (Brown 87), Mellor (Elliott 64).
Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Nolan.
Booked: St. Ledger.
Goals: St. Ledger 30, Parkin 68.
Derby: Bywater, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga, Tomkins, Stewart, Teale (Barazite 56), Green, Addison, Commons, Ellington, Hulse.
Subs Not Used: Price, Varney, Davies, Barnes.
Att: 13,896
Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
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