Tim Mercer’s verdict as Preston North End’s victory also heralded a long-awaited clean sheet.

I think it is safe to say we finally saw a real Graham Alexander team out on the Deepdale turf on Saturday, writes TIM MERCER.

Grit, determination, getting in the face of the opposition and never giving up were all on show in this deserved win.

The first half, in particular, was easily the best performance witnessed by this fan and those around him for a painfully long time.

North End pressed high, forced errors out of a passing team used to having their own way and got their reward with a stunning volley from Jordan Thompson just past the half-hour mark that flew into the corner of the net.

Other chances before and after went close - and it would not have flattered the Lilywhites to go into the interval with a two, possibly three-goal lead.

Given it would clearly be impossible to keep that level of intensity going for the next 45, the chat over our half-time cuppas was how would we take it through to a longed-for win?

All anxiety could have been wiped away in the opening minutes of the restart when Liam Lindsay nodded down to Thierry Small for a glorious chance on the corner of the six-yard area, only for a lack of composure to see the shot go high and wide with only the keeper to beat.

Inevitably, Southampton got more and more into the game from then on with some neat passing and dominance of possession.

It meant they would get chances and require a real all-hands-to-the-pumps approach for the hosts to maintain their narrow lead.

Subscribe now for HALF PRICE and catch every minute of our PNE coverage this season - from pre-season to the final whistle. Click here

In part this was done by a superb league debut for goalkeeper Lee Nicholls, who had started in place of the dropped Daniel Iversen following a poor game and mistakes in the midweek defeat to Sheffield United.

This was epitomised by Nicholls making a stunning tip over the bar from a vicious and deflected strike on target that required a mid-dive adjustment to get his hand to it.

More importantly, it contributed to that otherwise extinct creature around these parts known as the clean sheet; something not witnessed by any of us since a home win against Portsmouth back in February!

As players tired and took knocks, it was good to see the substitutions also get stuck in and give their all for the cause in a concerted rearguard action that continued for the remainder of the match and those precious three points.

Yes we are still bottom of the table, but at last some real cheer in the togetherness and improved fitness level of the whole team that will be needed if we are to negotiate the long and stony path ahead in an attempt to make up the large gap to safety.