Ryan Lowe was pleased to see Preston edge a “great battle” against a Plymouth side managed by his former assistant Steven Schumacher.
North End returned to the top of the Championship thanks to Duane Holmes’ opener after just 38 seconds and a second goal before half-time from debutant Liam Millar.
Schumacher, who succeeded Lowe at Home Park after working as his number two, changed things around at half-time and Ryan Hardie pulled one back for the visitors.
In an end-to-end encounter Argyle could have scored more, while Brad Potts hit a post for the hosts with 20 minutes to go.
“The lads put everything on the line to make sure they came away with the three points,” Lowe said.
“In the first half we were well worthy of the two goals. We came out with a really fast start and the second half was always going to be tough.
“Fair play to Plymouth, they changed a few things round and brought a lot of subs on and had a good go.
“They got one back, but our lads put their bodies on the line and caught everything in passes and tackles.
“It was good for me and the coaches because we were thinking all the time, and I know Shuey will have been, so it was a great battle.
“We knew they were going to have large parts of the ball, we didn’t do as well as we would have liked in the second half.
“It could have been 4-4 or 5-5 there were that many chances, we both did the right thing and tried to win a game of football.”
The two bosses shared a warm embrace ahead of kick-off as they geared up for their first clash as rival managers.
The action got off to an explosive start as Millar darted down the left, Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard could not hold his cross and Holmes charged in and headed home the loose ball.
Montenegro international Milutin Osmajic then expertly played in Millar, who side-stepped a defender before coolly slotting past Hazard to make it 2-0.
Argyle went on to dominate the remainder of the first period, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden missing their best chance to halve the deficit, firing straight at Freddie Woodman after being played in.
Finn Azaz and Morgan Whittaker threatened early in the second half for Argyle before Luke Cundle played in Hardie for a deserved goal.
But it was Preston who finished the stronger as Osmajic was denied by Hazard before Potts struck the woodwork, leaving Schumacher to rue a missed opportunity.
He said: “I am disappointed to lose the game.
“I didn’t feel that we deserved to lose, but we’ve come away from home again and played really well and caused the top-of-the-table team loads of problems.
“I am also proud and pleased with the players’ performance because we were brave.
“Even after going 1-0 down we kept playing and we were more than game for them.
“I don’t know if Preston would have had any other games this season where the opposition created so many chances, so credit to Ryan and his staff in getting them organised and getting people in the way.
“They block shots, they block crosses and they put their bodies on the line and their goalkeeper is a top goalie.
“If we believe that we can continue to play in this way and creating opportunities, then our first win away from home won’t be far away.”
'Heartbroken' Leeds United confirm Gray sale to Tottenham
Archie Gray has joined Tottenham from a "heartbroken" Leeds United in a deal reportedly worth up to £40million.
Gray, the great nephew of Leeds great Eddie Gray, enjoyed a breakthrough season at Elland Road last season.
The 18-year-old made 47 appearances in the Championship for Daniel Farke's team in 2023-24, as Leeds lost to Southampton in the play-off final.
And the Whites have confirmed that a clause in the youngster's contract, which became active when Leeds failed to return to the Premier League, opened the door for teams to swoop.
Gray seemed destined to move to Brentford over the weekend, undertaking a medical with the Bees, until Leeds rejected the payment structure of a £35m offer.
That enabled Spurs to come in and sign the midfielder.
Leeds posted on X that they were "heartbroken to see one of our own depart".
In a separate transaction, however, Joe Rodon has moved from Spurs to Leeds.
The Wales defender spent last season on loan at Elland Road.
Ronaldo hit 'rock bottom' after penalty miss against Slovenia
Cristiano Ronaldo conceded the feelings were bittersweet after Portugal progressed to the last eight of Euro 2024.
Ronaldo saw a penalty brilliantly saved by Jan Oblak during extra time of Monday's clash with Slovenia.
The 39-year-old was in tears at the interval during the extra 30 minutes, but stepped up to take Portugal's first spot-kick in the shootout and made no mistake with his finish.
Diogo Costa was Portugal's hero, as he became the first goalkeeper to save three shots in a European Championship penalty shootout without conceding.
Ronaldo teared up again during his media duties at full-time.
"Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most," said Ronaldo, as quoted by BBC Sport.
"Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That's what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.
"But the important thing is to enjoy it. The team did an extraordinary job.
"We fought right to the end and I think we deserved it."
Ronaldo, the record goalscorer and appearance maker at the Euros, has had 20 shots so far in Germany without finding the back of the net.
"We all know that Cristiano is the hardest worker," said goalkeeper Costa.
"I understand how frustrated he is because he devotes all his time to this. It’s a pleasure and an honour to be on the same team as him.
"We're a family, I really think this. I focus on making the best of these chances and I wanted to help the team. This is the most important thing."
Portugal will take on fellow heavyweights France in the quarter-finals.
Southgate salutes England's 'togetherness and spirit' but acknowledges need for improvement
Gareth Southgate hailed the togetherness and spirit demonstrated by England, but acknowledged the need to improve ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland.
The Three Lions were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way in Germany, but have produced generally underwhelming displays in their four matches so far.
England topped Group B despite winning just one of their three games, and were just seconds away from a humbling last-16 exit against Slovakia, until Jude Bellingham's sublime acrobatic effort spared their blushes.
Harry Kane then completed the turnaround in the early stages of extra time, as Southgate's relieved side scraped through to the last eight by the skin of their teeth.
Nevertheless, the England boss is adamant his players' last-gasp exploits against Slovakia will provide momentum ahead of facing Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday.
"There's no question it will give the whole group belief," said Southgate.
“We know we should be better than we've been, but we've ended up with a lot of young players in important positions and trying to solve problems right the way through the four weeks of the camp.
"But the standout is the way the players are dealing with it. Their togetherness, their spirit."
Southgate referred to the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 as similar instances where England were slow out of the blocks, before going on to reach the semi-finals at each tournament.
"Everybody now, 30 years on, looks back at [Euro] 96 in a different way to how it was at the time," the Three Lions boss added.
"We were bang average against Switzerland [in the opening game at Euro 96]. We were the same against Scotland; Scotland missed a penalty at 1-0 [down]. Spain should have beaten us in a 0-0 draw [in the quarter-finals].
"1990 was similar, so you do go through these moments in tournaments."
The 53-year-old will oversee his 100th England game in charge against Switzerland, becoming only the third Three Lions head coach to reach triple figures after Walter Winterbottom and Bobby Robson.
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