Luke McNally's late fluke goal lifted Stoke out of the Championship relegation zone with a vital victory at Preston.
The on-loan Burnley centre-back knew little about the winner as the ball struck him amid a goalmouth melee and trickled over the line with three minutes left.
The goal earned the improving Potters a second win in a week and brought Preston's seven-match unbeaten run to an end.
After a forgettable first half, Preston's Andrew Hughes put through his own goal to give Steven Schumacher's side the lead but substitute Milutin Osmajic equalised within six minutes before McNally's late winner.