A first half Neil Mellor goal was enough to give Darren Ferguson a 1-0 win and his first as Preston North End manager. His return to Peterborough marked Preston's first ever league win at London Road on a Tuesday night.

The striker, who started from the right wing produced a moment of magic in the 34th minute, when he picked up a Ross Wallace ball 18 yards out and hammered home his left footed strike into the net.

Mellor's performance stood out in what was a good all round display from Preston, who battled hard throughout in order to secure a much needed away victory.

Danny Welbeck made his debut for the Lilywhite, and showed glimpses of what makes him such a hot prospect at Machester United. Ultimately, it was Mellor's goal that was the difference against Peterborough, who remain bottom.

Peterborough, captained by George Boyd, lined up in a 4-4-2 formation as they looked to avoid a second league defeat of the season against North End. Posh began the game three points adrift at the bottom of the table, and were banking on top scorers Boyd and Aaron Mclean to seal a much needed home win.

On Darren Ferguson's return to his old stamping ground, the Lilywhites boss named two changes to the side that lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday. The most notable was new loan signing Danny Welbeck, who started up front with Chris Brown in place of Darren Carter as North End reverted back to 4-4-2. Neil Mellor also played, in place on Chris Sedgwick on the right wing as Preston looked to secure Darren Ferguson's first victory as manager.

North End signalled their intent straight away, with makeshift winger Neil Mellor putting a cross into the corridor of uncertainty with under a minute gone. Michael Hart was surprisingly the man in the middle, but the full back couldn't quite get his shot off, but it was a positive start from the Lilywhites.

With Lonergan quite happy to let Chris Whepdale blaze two shots over his bar, Preston were looking to release the lightning fast Welbeck up front. He gave the travelling fans a glimpse of it on five minutes, chasing down a ball to the corner flag.

The home side hit back with the best early chance on eight minutes, Aaron Mclean nodding George Boyd's long ball into the grateful hands of Andy Lonergan.

North End captain left the field for five minutes to receive stitches, and returned with a heavilly bandaged head in the 12th minute, just in time to close down George Boyd, who curled one just wide of Lonergan's left hand post, to the disappointment of the home fans.

Mellor was looking lively on the right, combining beautifully with Chaplow on a couple of occasions. One of his balls, in the 16th minute did result in another PNE player needing a bandage, this time it was Chris Brown, who clashed with Gilbert while chaisng the pass.

Despite Preston's new striking acquisition, it was Peterborough's Charlie Lee that almost opened the scoring for PNE. He came very close to heading in Ross Wallace's cross, and had Joe Lewis to thank for saving his blushes in the 20th minute.

The chances, although not all that clear cut, were falling to Peterborough. George Boyd was the arcitect for most. In the 30th minute he picked up a Aaron Mclean pass and hit another shot hard and low, which was thankfully deflected out for a corner by Chaplow.

All this pressure didn't matter one bit in the 34th minute, when a piece of pure quality from Neil Mellor made it 1-0. The striker had made a run inside which was found by Ross Wallace. The next part was all Mellor though, taking it beautifully on his left foot and hammering into the right of the net past Joe Lewis. The net bulged and the 449 travelling North End fans were on their feet applauding.

Preston were beginning to show class all over the pitch, particularly on the wings with Mellor putting in a great shift. In the 40th minute he switched play brilliantly to the left, and the ball found its way to Chris Borwn in the box. The strikers flick played in Ross Wallace on the left, but the ball rose too high for the wide man, and his half volley blazed over.

That's not to say Peterborough were out of it though, not by a long shot. Josh Simpson gave PNE a timely reminder of the thret they posed twice in the 45th minute. Both his shots were from range and not far from dipping under Lonergan's crossbar at all.

The Lilywhites went in with a deserved 1-0 lead after two minutes of stoppage time. They had worked hard for it, and would be looking to extend that lead in the second half.

Both sides started the second half cautiously, with some good play spoiled by some poor passing. It wasn't until the 55th minute that North End put together a meaningful attack, coming courtesy of a Callum Davidson cross. Wallace had teed him up and the Scotsman found the head of Richard Chaplow, who's header was heading in were it not for a heroic save by Joe Lewis.

The chances then kept on coming, the next one fell to Sean St. Ledger, with a looping header towards goal from Wallace's corner. Posh failed to clear though, and it fell to North End again, Neil Mellor bursting in from the right and hammering a shot at the keeper, who could only push it back out to MEllor. This time his follow up evaded the keeper, but not Ryan Bennett, who clear off the line for Peterborough.

Mark Cooper clearly felt a change was needed to bring his side back into it, and in the 60th minute he brought on on-loan striker Izale McLeod for Reuben Reid.

Mellor was doing fantastic work for PNE, and everything seemed to be happening through him. He tried to combine with Danny Welbeck on numerous occasions, but couldn't quite utalise his pace. It was Mellor's threat that meant George Boyd couldn't get forward as freely as in the first half, and as a result the home side were restricted to a few scrambles in the box, McLean gulity of a missed oppurtunity in the 65th minute.

Just when he did look quiet, George Boyd woke from his slumber in the 69th minute. The winger hammered a left foot strike from over 30 yards, and it needed a save straight from the top drawer from Lonergan to keep it 1-0 to Preston. He got down brilliantly to his left in order to get a hand to it, gathering the rebound before McLean could get near it.

Unfortunately for North End, Lilywhites captain, Callum Davidson, already sporting a bandage, had to leave the field in the 72nd minute, following a clash with Aaron Mclean. Carter came on, meaning Billy Jone reverted to left back and Carter took up his usual central midfield role.

Another brilliant move from PNE on 75 minutes. Ross Wallace switched it fantastically to the right, finding Mellor on the break. The makeshift winger cut inside onto his left again, beating his man and getting the crowd on their feet. This time his powerful shot didn't hit the back of the net, but a Posh defender instead.

It was then time for Mark Cooper to make his second change, in the 78th minute. Lee Frecklington came on for Chris Whelpdale as the home side looked to get back into it through a set piece. Andy Lonergan stood in their way though, as George Boyd found out on numerous occasions throughout the match.

As the clock showed 80 minutes, North End introduced the 'Beast' Jon Parkin to proceedings in place of Neil Mellor, who had a fantastic game from wide right, capped off with a class goal.

With Preston threatening through Wellbeck wide right and Ross Wallace's free kicks, Chaplow was given the first booking whilst trying to win the ball. He was judged to have tripped Josh Simpson in the 83rd minute, to the delight of the home crowd.

Two glorious chances then fell to Peterborough with five minutes left, but thankfully they couldn't take any of them. The first fell to an advancing Izale McLeod, but Lonergan was brave and saved at the strikers feet. Seconds later it was Sean St. Ledger PNE had to thank, when he blocked George Boyd's shot following a neat cut inside from the left of the North End box.

Peterborough did not look like the team at the bottom of table, and with the last throw of the dice they brought striker Ben Wright on for Aaron Mclean in the 87th minute. It was desparate stuff from Posh, like North End, couldn't afford to lose this game.

Five minutes of stoppage time were announced by the fourth official, and it must have been agony for the 449 travelling PNE fans, as Josh Simpson went clean through on the right twice in one minute. Neither of his cut backs found a blue shirt though, thanks to some heroic defending from Danny Wellbeck.

It was to be Welbeck's last involvment, as he was replaced by Neil Collins. The 19 year old had a tough debut, but did a good job in a decent team performance.

Collins' involvement meant three centre backs and some tough defending, all over the pitch, even Parkin was booked deep into stoppage time for dissent.

After a gruelling seven minutes of added time, the referee finally blew, and Preston had their first away win since mid October, and first win under Darren Ferguson.

Peterborough United: Lewis, Gilbert, Lee, McLean, Boyd (c), Whelpdale, Bennett, Griffiths, Simpson, Reid, Livermore. Subs: Williams, Coutts, Frecklington, McLeod, McKeown, Rowe, Wright

PNE: Lonergan, Hart, Davidson (c), Chaplow, Mawene, Brown, St. Ledger, Wellbeck, Jones, Wallace, Mellor. Subs: Collins, Carter, Chilvers, Henderson, Parkin, Barton, Mayor