Match ends, Preston North End 2, Fulham 1.
Preston North End ended a run of four consecutive Championship defeats as they beat Fulham in a game which saw both sides reduced to 10 men.
Sean Maguire put the hosts ahead from close range, before Fulham's Denis Odoi was dismissed soon after for an elbow on Patrick Bauer.
Preston were shown a red card of their own just before the break when Joe Rafferty was sent off for a bad tackle on Joe Bryan.
David Nugent doubled Preston's lead after the break when he bundled home, while Aleksandar Mitrovic pulled a goal back with a deflected long-range strike.
Defeat was Fulham's second in a row in the league, having lost against Bristol City on Saturday, and leaves them 10 points behind second-placed West Bromwich Albion in third.
Meanwhile, Preston moved up to sixth thanks to their victory, which gives them a two-point cushion on seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday.
Preston almost made their player advantage count soon after Odoi's red card when Maguire fired goalbound, but his effort was parried away by Cottagers keeper Marek Rodak.
That advantage did not last long after Rafferty's red card on the stroke of half-time, but the hosts scored again after the break and were almost out of sight.
Veteran forward Nugent, who rejoined the club in the summer, scored his first goal for Preston since 2007 as the hosts took control.
However, Mitrovic inspired a late Fulham rally courtesy of his strike that bounced and deflected past North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd.
Preston North End boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We've built an expectation up this season, we've done really well so far and after our previous defeats it hurts more.
"I still don't think the balance is quite right, we're missing that tactician in the centre of midfield. Once we have everybody available I think we'll be strong."
[On Joe Rafferty's sending off] "At the time I thought he had been hard done by. I've actually had a word with him now because it was a really bad challenge."
Fulham manager Scott Parker told BBC Radio London:
"I am disappointed we have not been able to get a result out of the game, but I am disappointed with our performance as well.
"We didn't defend well and I didn't think we had enough quality in the final third. At both ends of the pitch we weren't on it and ultimately we need to improve on that.
"We huffed and puffed and had a few chances, and maybe on another day we can get a draw. But you can't walk around feeling sorry for yourself, especially in this league."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Rudd
- 15RaffertyBooked at 45mins
- 21Bauer
- 23HuntingtonBooked at 76mins
- 16Hughes
- 4PearsonBooked at 34minsSubstituted forClarkeat 83'minutes
- 39BodinSubstituted forHarropat 84'minutes
- 8BrowneBooked at 75mins
- 44PottsBooked at 83mins
- 24Maguire
- 35NugentSubstituted forBarkhuizenat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Clarke
- 7Bayliss
- 10Harrop
- 18Ledson
- 20Stockley
- 28Hudson
- 29Barkhuizen
Fulham
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 12Rodák
- 22Christie
- 5MawsonSubstituted forKebanoat 60'minutes
- 13Ream
- 4OdoiBooked at 28mins
- 25OnomahBooked at 88mins
- 8Johansen
- 24KnockaertSubstituted forDe La Torreat 90+2'minutes
- 19CavaleiroSubstituted forBryanat 32'minutes
- 47Kamara
- 9Mitrovic
Substitutes
- 1Bettinelli
- 7Kebano
- 23Bryan
- 33O'Riley
- 36De La Torre
- 39Taylor-Crossdale
- 46Harris
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 10,093
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 2, Fulham 1.
Post update
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Paul Huntington.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Joe Bryan with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sean Maguire (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alan Browne.
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Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Patrick Bauer (Preston North End).
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Luca De La Torre replaces Anthony Knockaert.
Post update
Stefan Johansen (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josh Harrop (Preston North End).
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Neeskens Kebano (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Clarke (Preston North End).
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Attempt saved. Tom Barkhuizen (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Harrop.
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Attempt missed. Josh Harrop (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Barkhuizen.
Booking
Josh Onomah (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Josh Onomah (Fulham).
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Sean Maguire (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Patrick Bauer (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Josh Harrop with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Cyrus Christie.