Marvin Johnson's classy finish on the break was enough to grab the three points for the Owls, who laid everything on the line with a blistering defensive effort in the second half.
It wasn't necessarily a display of scintillating attacking football - though they had their moments - or one packed to the rafters with eye-catching individual performances. What was impressive was an incredible amount of scrap, a huge commitment to the cause and a plan that worked despite injuries and a late red card for George Byers.
Six points separate the Owls from the safety spots as we turn into the New Year.
Here are our ratings from a hugely impressive win at Deepdale.
Six points separate the Owls from the safety spots as we turn into the New Year.
![A goal-saving intervention saved Musaba's blushes in the first half. There was a fair bit of action down his side in the half-hour he played and he did alright before he was subbed with an injury.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/10/16/Famewo%20UGC.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Akin Famewo - 7
A goal-saving intervention saved Musaba's blushes in the first half. There was a fair bit of action down his side in the half-hour he played and he did alright before he was subbed with an injury. | UGC / Steve Ellis
![Produced a couple of silky touches even before his goal, which was so well taken with plenty of time to think about it. A couple of fizzed crosses went cruelly unrewarded and he defended diligently.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/11/05/15/Marvin%20Johnson%20UGC.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Marvin Johnson - 8
Produced a couple of silky touches even before his goal, which was so well taken with plenty of time to think about it. A couple of fizzed crosses went cruelly unrewarded and he defended diligently. | UGC / Steve Ellis
![Had to do better with the early chance from Gassama's bout of trickery early doors. Scrapped about as ever, off towards the end of the first half with an injury.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/10/16/Vaulks%20UGC.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Will Vaulks - 6
Had to do better with the early chance from Gassama's bout of trickery early doors. Scrapped about as ever, off towards the end of the first half with an injury. | UGC / Getty
![Stewarded things well in there and was given a well-earned rest in the midst of the second half; who can blame him after the amount of football he's played in recent weeks? Got away with a possible yellow card. Battled hard.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/10/16/Bannan%20UGC.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Barry Bannan - 6
Stewarded things well in there and was given a well-earned rest in the midst of the second half; who can blame him after the amount of football he's played in recent weeks? Got away with a possible yellow card. Battled hard. | UGC / Steve Ellis