Joe Gelhardt scored two penalties as Hull City came from behind to claim a vital win over fellow Championship strugglers Preston North End.

The visitors took the lead before the break when full-back Lewis Gibson scored his first goal for the club with a cool low shot after the home side failed to clear a corner.

Gelhardt levelled for the home side after he had been felled in the area and then scored his second spot-kick of the day after Kyle Joseph had been brought down.

The win, just a fifth at home all season, keeps the Tigers two points above the bottom three with two games to play.

Preston have now won just one of their past 13 league matches and are three points clear of trouble.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom had launched a scathing attack on his own players after Friday's home reverse by Queens Park Rangers.

"It's obvious what needs to happen. Change or be changed. That's it. How much is possible won't be determined by me," he said.

His side responded, taking the lead when Gibson was left unmarked to slot home from eight yards. But that was as good as it got for them and they were indebted to a fine save from goalkeeper Dai Cornell to keep Lewie Coyle from levelling before the break.

The Tigers had their equaliser five minutes after the restart when Mads Frokjaer's clumsy challenge took Gelhardt out and the Leeds loanee scored from the spot.

Vital interventions from defenders John Egan and Charlie Hughes stopped Preston getting their noses back in front.

Stefan Thordarson took out Joseph as the striker looked to get to a loose ball after Cornell saved a Sean McLoughlin effort and Gelhardt was again perfect from the spot.

Preston now welcome bottom side Plymouth Argyle, who have won three of their past four, on Saturday, while Hull are at home again on the same day against the team one place behind them, Derby County.

Hull City boss Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I know in this part of the season things become so tight and emotional that every moment and action is crucial. At the end it was a fantastic feeling.

"In the second half we showed what we want to be. We showed a lot of character.

"I'm happy for the boys because they have been working hard to get the points and we didn't get as many as we wanted or as we deserved but it doesn't matter right now because the attitude has always been good.

"The three points today is simply massive to keep us with the two-point advantage and gives us the belief and feeling that we have been trying to find."

Preston North End assistant manager Stuart McCall told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The performance was ok to a point in that we controlled parts of the game and got a goal.

"I'm not biased, I'll be honest when I see things, I spoke to John Egan before the game today and they got a penalty given against them on Friday that was scandalous when the ball hit his face. Today we have had one given against us that is nowhere near a penalty kick.

"I think he gets the second one right but the big decision is the first one because it gave them the momentum."