A goal on his full debut from Neil Mellor set North End on their way to a superb three points against fellow promotion hopefuls Southampton.

The former Liverpool striker fired the home side ahead on the stroke of half time somewhat against the run of play but Paul Simpson's side deserved everything they got tonight with a second half display worthy of winning any game.

The Lilywhites had Andy Lonergan to thank for keeping them in it in the first half as he pulled off as string of saves and was unlucky to finally be beaten when he was, pulling off two excellent saves before Rasiak finally got the visitors back on level terms.

In the end the goal proved to be a mere consolation as Nugent bagged his 15th of the season before an own goal from Chris Baird secured the three points for Preston to see them leapfrog the Saints in to fifth place.

Paul Simpson made four changes from the side that lost at Cardiff just over a week ago, three of which were enforced.

The injured Paul McKenna and Simon Whaley were replaced by Chris Sedgwick and Neil Mellor, while Callum Davidson came in for the suspended Matt Hill.

Michael Ricketts also returned coming in for Danny Dichio as Simpson opts for a 4-3-3 formation and Adam Nowland was named on the bench for the first time since suffering a double break of his leg on January 2nd 2006.

Gareth Bale had an early sighter on goal on three minutes, hitting a high effort high and wide of Lonergan's left hand post.

A minute later and the North End keeper was called into action saving well with his legs after Belmadi had got in behind the defence.

At the other end Neil Mellor bought a good save out of Kelvin Davis after the former Liverpool striker, making his first start for North End had got in behind. Davis did well to race out and block the effort and put it behind for a corner.

On 17 minutes Lonergan was in the thick of things again, saving well from Surman who hit an effort from the edge of the area. Jones reacted quickly to pick up the loose ball but Davidson matched him for pace and put a superb block in to keep the score goalless, Chilvers then put the ball behind under pressure from Rasiak.

North End responded well and just moments later a burst from Nugent down the right opened up the Saints defence, he hit a high looping cross which was met by the incoming Danny Pugh, but he got under the ball and his header went sailing over the bar.

Lonergan was certainly the busier of the two keepers in the early stages, as the home side at times struggled to clear their lines, but in their defence they were having to defend against a strong whipping wind but the North End keeper was alert on 22 minutes to parry an effort from Belmadi behind for a corner.

Only a last ditch block by Pavel Pergl on the edge of the box on 34 minutes prevented Southampton possibly taking the lead after the away side broke with pace. A corner from Pugh was easily cut out and the visitors broke quickly down the right, as they cut infield Pergl made the block and was forced to concede a dangerous free kick but Bale curled the effort over.

Two minutes later and Davidson was forced to slice the ball over his own bar as Southampton continued to put the backline under pressure.

Callum Davidson was the first man in the book on 40 minutes, cautioned for a trip on Viafara, just outside the Southampton box.

Southampton were continuing to push for a goal but in Andy Lonergan they found a man in form as he stayed on his feet when faced by Andrew Surman who was through on goal once more but the North End number one pulled off an excellent save.

Once again Preston responded well and this time went down the other end and opened the scoring, Neil Mellor netting on his first start for North End. It might not have been his best goal ever but it was a goal all the same as he scrambled home from less than six yards out.

A cross in from the right was headed on by Nugent and Ricketts and the loose ball fell to the feet of the Sheffield born striker who stabbed home to send his team mates and the crowd wild. The goal was timed at 45 minutes exactly, what a time to score a goal!!

Just two minutes after the restart and North End were nearly 2-0 up after a marauding run from Chris Sedgwick. The midfielder, who is yet to score this season, got past two men but his touch took the ball too close to Kelvin Davis who just reached the ball first.

A minute later and Mellor was in the hunt again, taking advantage of a great burst of speed from David Nugent. The youngster burst down the left and with three men closing in, he squared the ball for the advancing Mellor but his first time effort was a fairly routine stop for Kelvin Davis.

North End were certainly beginning to dominate and Mellor went close again on 56 minutes inches away from diverting a superb left wing cross from Davidson beyond Davis. The striker got a toe on the in swinger but not enough to divert it home.

At the other end the visitors were somewhat controversially back on level terms a minute later Grzegorz Rasiak beating Andy Lonergan at the third time of asking. The Preston keeper saved an initial shot from Surman but could only parry it to the feet of Rasiak, he then made a second excellent save before the Polish striker reacted quickly to loop a header over Lonergan which came down off the crossbar but the linesman decided the ball crossed the line and the goal was given.

Paul Simpson made his first change on 66 minutes, Patrick Agyemang replacing the goalscorer Neil Mellor, who understandably left the field to a standing ovation. The pacey front man almost made an immediate impact racing half the lengthy of the field taking on and beating anyone who got in his way but he took the ball too close to Davis who collected at the second attempt.

Agyemang's pace was causing more problems a minute later as he reached the by-line but his cut back for Nugent was pushed wide by the former Bury striker.

Nugent and Agyemang were linking up well from the off and the duo combined superbly well on 75 minutes to fire North End back in front with David Nugent scoring his 15th of the season.

Agyemang was looking full of running and gave Baird a torrid time as he ran at him full pelt, but just as the defender went to put ion the challenge Agyemang flicked the ball for Nugent to race clear. After getting clear of his man and with only the keeper to beat Nugent stopped the ball took it round Davis and fired home into an empty net.

Burley responded by making his first change Bradley Wright Phillips replacing Kenwyne Jones.

In was 3-1 with 10 minutes to go Chris Baird putting through his own net. North End were asking all the questions and the visitors were looking less and less composed at the back. The goal came from perseverance on the part of Chris Sedgwick who battled to win the ball in the area, he fired a low cross right across the face of goal and Baird could do little else then divert the ball home.

Marek Sagonowski replaced Andrew Surman with six minutes remaining, while Wilson came on for Ricketts a minute later.

In the final change Danny Dichio replaced David Nugent as the manager seemed to bow to fan power with the fans in the Town End chanting for the former QPR and West Brom striker.
The three points were just what the doctor ordered and a great way to banish any lingering memories of the defeat at Cardiff and set us up for the remaining 11 games of the season.

PNE: Lonergan, Alexander, Davidson, Chilvers, St Ledger, Pergl, Sedgwick, Pugh, Mellor (Agyemang 66), Nugent (Dichio 86) and Ricketts (Wilson 85).

Subs: Henderson, Wilson, Dichio, Nowland

Southampton: Davis, Lundekvam, Rasiak, Wright, Jones (Bradley Wright-Phillips 75), Belmadi, Makin, Baird, Bale, Viafara, Surman (Sagonowski 85)

Subs: Bialkowski, Pele, Wright-Phillips, Sagonowski, Guthrie