Wayne Rooney has not played for Derby since the 3-0 defeat against Middlesbrough on 25 November
Alan Browne scored a stunning 96th-minute winner as Preston North End finally broke 10-man Derby County's resolve at Pride Park.
An inspired display by Rams goalkeeper David Marshall looked to have earned the hosts a gutsy point after the 20th-minute dismissal of Martyn Waghorn for an ugly studs-up challenge on Browne.
But Browne cut inside on the right and curled home a delightful effort past the Scotland keeper and into the far corner to reward a dominant North End.
Derby, who remain in the Championship relegation places, barely threatened after Waghorn's early exit and only managed one effort on target - but still seemed set to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games until Browne intervened.
- Relive Boxing Day's EFL action
Derby - and Waghorn's - afternoon started encouragingly, the striker going close with a headed chance and also forcing keeper Declan Rudd into a fine sprawling save from a curling strike.
But when his Boxing Day activity came to an abrupt end, so did Derby's goal threat.
The excellent Marshall made decent two saves from Josh Earl and then foiled Tom Barkhuizen with a superb near-post stop.
Marshall's heroics looked to have continued the good run which saw Derby beat high-flying Swansea last time out, but Browne's strike stole the points and ensured a sixth away Championship win to take Preston up to 13th in the table.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsDerby
- 1Marshall12Byrne2Wisdom16Clarke26Buchanan38Knight5Bielik4Shinnie9WaghornBooked at 20mins13Kazim-RichardsSubstituted forHector-Ingramat 90+5'minutes7JozwiakSubstituted forSibleyat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Forsyth8Bird11Ibe17Sibley21Roos22Evans25Holmes40Watson49Hector-Ingram
Preston
- 1Rudd2FisherBooked at 43minsSubstituted forStockleyat 60'minutes23Huntington6Davies3Earl8Browne12GallagherSubstituted forLedsonat 69'minutes29BarkhuizenSubstituted forHarropat 82'minutes11Johnson31SinclairSubstituted forBaylissat 69'minutes24MaguireSubstituted forRiis Jakobsenat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Bayliss10Harrop14Storey15Rafferty18Ledson19Riis Jakobsen20Stockley25Ripley32O'Reilly
Referee:Darren BondMatch StatsHome TeamDerbyAway TeamPrestonPossessionHome36%Away64%ShotsHome5Away9Shots on TargetHome1Away4CornersHome2Away7FoulsHome11Away10Live TextPost update
Match ends, Derby County 0, Preston North End 1.
90'+8'Full Time
Second Half ends, Derby County 0, Preston North End 1.
90'+6'goalGoal!
Goal! Derby County 0, Preston North End 1. Alan Browne (Preston North End) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Daniel Johnson.
90'+5'Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Jahmal Hector-Ingram replaces Colin Kazim-Richards.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Alan Browne (Preston North End).
90'+2'Post update
Graeme Shinnie (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'Post update
Joshua Earl (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Foul by Jason Knight (Derby County).
88'Post update
Foul by Alan Browne (Preston North End).
88'Post update
Colin Kazim-Richards (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Offside, Preston North End. Josh Harrop tries a through ball, but Jayden Stockley is caught offside.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Louie Sibley replaces Kamil Jozwiak.
84'Post update
Offside, Derby County. Graeme Shinnie tries a through ball, but Lee Buchanan is caught offside.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Josh Harrop replaces Tom Barkhuizen.
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Emil Riis Jakobsen (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Bayliss with a cross.
80'Post update
Attempt blocked. Kamil Jozwiak (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Byrne.
78'Post update
Foul by Daniel Johnson (Preston North End).
78'Post update
Kamil Jozwiak (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78'Post update
Alan Browne (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
78'Post update
Foul by Lee Buchanan (Derby County).
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Source: bbc.com