A last-minute goal from substitute Lewis Neal gave Preston a vital 1-0 win at Southampton as the Lilywhites battle for Championship survival.

The home side had had the better of the contest at St Mary's as both teams went for broke after the break following a dour first half.

The best chance of that opening period probably came early on. A clever one-two with Andrew Davies sent Adam Hammill free to put a good ball across the face of goal but Bradley Wright-Phillips agonisingly could not make contact at the near post.

Darren Carter had hit the post for North End with a rocket of a shot from 35 yards, the ball ricocheting into the back of Kelvin Davis, only to be cleared by three defenders.

Grzegorz Rasiak was denied by Andy Lonergan late on before Neal arrived at the far post to meet a Patrick Agyemang cross and finish from 12 yards.