Deon Burton and Burton O'Brien grabbed goals either side of the break to earn a precious victory for Wednesday.

The latter struck seven minutes before the interval and O'Brien capped an impressive win over the play-off chasing Lilywhites with his first goal in Owls colours six minutes into the second period.

The win extended Wednesday's cushion from the bottom three to five points and gave them a first league win over PNE since 1980.

The Owls managed to create the first real goal threat of the afternoon as Marcus Tudgay forced a corner with a shot that was deflected behind, after Burton had found his run with five minutes on the watch. The two sides then proceeded to spar with each other with neither creating a clear cut chance until just past the half-hour point, when Frank Simek rescued Wednesday. The American managed to get a block on Brett Ormerod's shot after Mikkel Bischoff's miskick gave the former Southampton man a sight of goal.

The next opportunity fell the Owls' way and it was one they gratefully took to gain the lead. Chris Brunt swung over a left-wing corner which Tudgay flicked towards goal and Burton was in the right place to nod in from close range.

Indeed, only a fine block from Carlos Nash prevented Burton adding a second within moments of the restart. The former Rotherham forward was fouled 25 yards from goal and saw his follow-up effort somehow diverted behind for a corner after Nash pushed out Glenn Whelan's low free-kick.

The goal had given Wednesday a real shot in the arm and Tudgay tested Nash with a diving header from the edge of the area after Brunt had broken away to cross from the left just before the break and the Owls had a second goal to celebrate six minutes into the second half.

Tudgay took a quick throw-in which released O'Brien and he allowed the ball to bounce on the left side of the box before calmly lobbing over Nash and into the far corner of the net.

Brian O'Neil lashed a dipping ball wide of the far post for North End and Tudgay had a goalbound header blocked by a defender at the other end. Burton was inches off target with a low shot that shaved the near post, but two goals was enough for SWFC to clinch the points.

Wednesday: Carson; Simek, Coughlan, Bischoff, Gilbert; Brunt, Folly, Whelan, O'Brien; Burton, Tudgay.

Subs: Adamson, Bullen, MacLean, Best, Hills.

Preston: Nash; Mears, Mawene, Davis, Alexander; Sedgwick, O'Neil (Jarrett 80), McKenna, Agyemang (Hibbert 63); Ormerod, Dichio (Whaley 22).

Subs: Jarrett, Whaley, Hibbert, L Neal, Wilson.