Manager Darren Ferguson was delighted after his side 'annihilated' Nottingham Forest in the first half at Deepdale on Saturday and then showed great character and defend resolutely as the visitors threw the kitchen sink at the North End goal in the last 15 minutes.
"It was heart attack stuff," admitted the gaffer of the fingernail-biting closing stages. "It was an unbelievable performance in the first half; I thought it could have been even more than three.
"At half-time we spoke about the levels of concentration and trying to keep the tempo, which is hard, considering the amount of energy we put into the first half.
"We knew the next goal would be really important and they started to go back to front, went four up, but it was a great win for us, a fantastic victory."
The team got out of the blocks from the opening exchanges and pressed their lofty opponents into their final third: "We knew we had to have good energies and play on the front foot and then got us on a right good day, in the first half we were outstanding, I was delighted," added Ferguson.
"We saw the other side to my team too. When it went to 3-2 with 15 minutes to go you wonder what might happen, but we dug in, we threw our heads on things and playing against a team third in the league you take the win and the positives of the first half were clear."
North End went 1-0 with a goal of quality from the influential Ross Wallace: "We broke on them quickly and it was a great pass from Mellor, good weight and it was a good first touch from Ross and a great finish.
"The second goal was a penalty and then Jamo scored a class shot and we should have had another penalty on Browny and we didn't want half-time, so I was really pleased - it was top drawer in every department, a really good team performance."
The game added extra hype with the return of Billy Davies, but North End's current boss did not feel that had any bearing on matters: "It's just coincidental that Billy came back today and Alan comes back on Tuesday, but as I wrote in my programme notes, it is not about me and Billy or me and Alan; football is the way it is, people come and go and as soon as the lads cross the line we have done our work and it is up to the lads from both teams to go about their business and as the manager I thought they were magnificent today.
"We have to get as many points as we can and see where it takes us and if we get that level of performance, where we have just annihilated a team that is third in the first half, we will beat any team in this league. Those are the standards we have set now and we have to maintain them.
"It could have been four wins in a row and if it had been then you could have started talking about Play-Offs, but there are a lot of teams above us and if you are not at it, you will be trouble, no matter who you play.
"I was confident today - that is not being arrogant, I am not that sort of person - but I felt that at home, if we were at it, we would give them a game and it showed today. Forest didn't pack in though and I am sure Billy will take that positive away from today."
North End got the win without two recent top performers as well, Tom Williams and Jon Parkin both missing out through injury, whilst Youl Mawene left the field in the first half, to be replaced by Liam Chilvers and the gaffer admitted all three will be doubts for Tuesday's clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
"Youl had a tight groin. He felt it quite early and when the third goal went in he signalled to the bench that it had stiffened up, and we will have to see how he is in the morning, but Liam came on and did fine.
"Tom [ankle] and Jon's [knee] injuries both came from Tuesday and we will see how they are tomorrow, but they are both looking doubtful for Tuesday as well."
