Neil Mellor's strike earned Preston a 1-0 win at Hartlepool on Tuesday night to earn North End a first victory in 10 League One games.

Mellor's strike proved the difference against a Pools side which has now lost seven successive home games in all competitions. The hosts should have been awarded a penalty after 16 minutes when Jamie McCombe handled in the area from a Peter Hartley header but referee Jock Waugh played on. North End, winless in the league since September 27, then scored the only goal five minutes later. Mellor picked up a loose ball and drilled a low, first-time shot into the net from 25 yards. Lilywhites goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann saved from Antony Sweeney and James Poole as the home side searched for a leveller. The closest they came to scoring was on the hour mark when Poole galloped forward 70 yards in possession and whipped in a low shot that Stuckmann did well to push around the post. Pools have only scored one goal - a penalty - at home since September 17, a run of 576 minutes and have lost seven matches in a row at Victoria Park.