A late goal from Danny Mayor completed a North End comeback at Prenton Park against the club the winger went on loan to last season.
North End went behind in the first half after Ryan Fraughan scored in the first twenty minutes. But the David Unsworth's young side displayed a superb second half comeback, firstly scoring through Ryan McGreevy and then through Mayor.
This goal was enough to win the game and give North End their second league win of the totesport.com campaign.
Preston had the first chance of the afternoon after Captain for the day Adam Barton played Scott Davidson in on the left hand side but Tranmere keeper Joe Collister palmed away the winger's curling right footed shot.
Unsworth's side came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute when Mayor picked the ball up from his own half and drove at the heart of the Tranmere defence. Mayor then played the ball in behind the back four and found the run of Dougan, who was just unable to beat the goalkeeper.
Following this move though, Tranmere's left back Aaron Creswell found space on the left hand side and unleashed a driven shot from around 30-yards out and this effort beat Comrie but hit the woodwork. This was a let off for Preston who up until that point had looked the more likely to open the scoreline.
Rovers began to control proceedings and made up for this missed chance in the 19th minute when Michael Ricketts played the ball through to Fraughan who found himself in a one-on-one situation following a slip from a Preston defender. Fraughan made no mistake with the finish though, rifling the ball into the roof of the net and giving the home side the lead.
This goal spurred the home side on who came close to extending their lead before the half hour mark but were denied by a string of fine saves by Comrie.
In the 34th minute, the Lilywhites were almost celebrating a goal themselves after Daniel Devine's header crashed off of the post. Dougan played a one-two from a corner with McGreevy and then whipped the ball into a congested penalty area, finding Devine whose towering header came off the post and out for a goal kick.
This was the last chance for North End in a half that saw Preston play some neat football, only to be undone by some misfortune at the back.
The second half started at a steady pace but in the 54th minute, Conor McLaughlin tried his luck from range and forced a smart save out of Collister. Following this chance Preston were knocking the ball around and enjoying a lot more of the possession.
Mayor was proving to be a menace on the right hand side again in the second half and was almost able to put the ball on a place for McGreevy in the penalty area after beating his man, but his low cross was cleared away at the front post.
The winger was then at it again, setting up Barton for a shot on goal and then releasing Dougan, who was brought down by Collister, but any shouts for a penalty were waved away as Dougan was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
The youthful reserve outfit were up against some experienced Tranmere players and one of these players almost punished Preston in the 65th minute. Ex-England international Ricketts spotted Comrie off of his line and chipped the goalkeeper, but fortunately for Preston it dropped onto the roof of the net.
Three minute later, there was a moment of confusion as McGreevy latched onto a through ball and powered the ball past Collister from inside the penalty area. The linesman had his flag up to indicate that McGreevy was offisde but the referee disagreed and overruled the decision, meaning Unsworth's side were back on level terms.
Although the home fans at Prenton Park didn't agree with the goal, this was just rewards for North End who had really taken the game to Tranmere in the second half.
Confidence was flowing throughout the away side now as they went on search of a winning goal. Mayor came close again midway through the second half but his long range effort was hit straight at Collister.
Preston's confident play was being orchestrated by Mayor and he got his rewards for a superb performance with a magnificent solo goal. The winger, who went to Tranmere on a month's loan last season, picked the ball up just in front of the halfway line and again drove into the heart of Rovers defence. This time though Mayor found himself in lots of space and slotted the ball into the corner of the goal with his left foot.
This late goal was nothing short of what Preston deserved and the Lilywhites showed great character to comeback from a goal behind and grab all three points against a Tranmere team packed with experience.
Tranmere: Collister, Pursehouse, Cresswell, Baker, Ashcroft, Barcellos, Macauley, McLaren, Ricketts, Barnett, Fraughan. Unused Subs: Mackreth, Power, Benson, McNamara, Jennings.
PNE: Comrie, McLaughlin, Quirk, Miller (Owens, 69), Smyth, Devine, Mayor, Barton, McGreevy, Dougan, Davidson. Unused Subs: Wright, Hayhurst, Hart, Clucas.
