Lewis Dobbin netted in back-to-back matches as Preston beat Southampton 2-0 to heap more pressure on Saints boss Will Still.
The Lilywhites bounced back into the play-off places with their first consecutive league wins since the opening two matches.
Aston Villa loanee Dobbin’s first-half rebound set them on their way before Mads Frokjaer-Jensen added gloss in the 94th minute.
Southampton have won just twice at home since the start of last season and hover just three points above the relegation zone. They were booed off at the end of the match.
Southampton had plenty of early possession but struggled to break down Preston and subsequently offered little in front of goal.
The first 25 minutes only offered two half-chances, at either end.
For Saints, Leo Scienza’s in-swinger bounced through to Ronnie Edwards at the back post, he pulled back to Flynn Downes but his shot was blocked in the six-yard box.
A rare foray forward for the visitors almost saw Alfie Devine clean through but the zip from a soaking pitch took it away from him and the best he could do was a stretched poke wide.
Scienza managed to produce a sparsely seen moment of quality as he was fed by Finn Azaz on the counter. He cut onto his right foot and forced Daniel Iversen into a fine diving save.
The Saints fans had quietly groaned through wayward passes and poor football but after Dobbin had shot over on the counter, they had seen enough and erupted with fury.
They chanted “Sport Republic, get out of our club” at the ownership group, who have led the club since 2022.
And almost immediately, the negativity in the stands spread to those on the pitch, heads went down and Dobbin did not squander his second big opportunity.
Devine crossed low into the box, Dobbin showed great strength to hold off Edwards before getting a shot away. The initial effort was saved by Alex McCarthy but, as the goalkeeper lay on the floor, Dobbin climbed over him to flick in.
Gleeful Preston supporters mocked Still with “sacked in the morning” chants, but the home fans defended their beleaguered boss with a reply of “sack the board”.
Boos inevitably met the half-time whistle but Southampton rallied at the break – with Still bringing Jay Robinson and Tom Fellows on and switching to four at the back.
Robinson immediately had a shot from distance blocked before Ryan Manning blazed a free-kick over the crossbar as Preston continued to defend impressively.
Caspar Jander drove a shot towards goal and it needed a combination of Iversen’s fingertips and the frame of the goal to maintain Preston’s lead.
Preston killed Saints off late on. Stefan Thordarson had already rasped a shot narrowly wide but deep into stoppage time he laid it on a plate for Frokjaer-Jensen to tap in.
