“Jay Stansfield gave Birmingham the lead after capitalising on a scramble inside the box. Ibrahim Osman's right-footed shot from the left side was blocked, but Stansfield was sharpest to the loose ball, poking home from close range with his right foot to put the Blues ahead.”
Pivotal“Ibrahim Osman doubled Birmingham's advantage just six minutes later, turning provider into scorer. After Brad Potts conceded a corner, Osman met the delivery to fire into the right corner from the centre of the box, giving Birmingham a stunning two-goal cushion before the match had properly settled.”
Pivotal“Preston gave themselves a lifeline when Andrew Hughes powered home from close range following a corner, pulling the score back to 2-1. The goal changed the complexion of the match entirely, and for the remaining hour Preston pushed hard for an equaliser that never came.”
Pivotal
Birmingham City
Preston North End
Outstanding performance
Birmingham City•MidfielderBirmingham City made a blistering start at St Andrew's to secure a 2-1 victory over Preston North End, doing the damage early and then holding firm through an anxious second half. Jay Stansfield opened the scoring inside ten minutes, capitalising on a rebound after Ibrahim Osman's initial effort was blocked from a free-kick won on the edge of the box. Osman then doubled the advantage six minutes later, coolly finishing from the centre of the area following a corner, and it looked as though Birmingham were set for a comfortable evening. Preston pulled one back through Andrew Hughes at the 25-minute mark — also from a corner — and suddenly the contest had life again, but Ryan Lowe's side could not find the equaliser their pressure arguably merited. The statistics tell a remarkably even story: both teams registered 18 shots, 50 per cent possession each, and Preston actually created four big chances to Birmingham's three, missing three of them. That wastefulness in front of goal ultimately cost the visitors, while the home side were ruthlessly clinical in a devastating opening quarter-hour. For Birmingham, sitting 15th in the Championship, it is a timely three points that adds breathing space above the lower reaches. Preston, meanwhile, will rue their profligacy on a night when the chances were there to snatch something.
How entertaining was this match?
Liam Lindsay from Preston North End commits a foul.
Paik Seung-Ho from Birmingham City won a free kick in an attacking position.
Foul committed by Liam Lindsay of Preston North End.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 5 minutes of added time.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Christoph Klarer from Birmingham City.
Offside called against Birmingham City. August Priske is offside.
Liam Lindsay of Preston North End is flagged for offside.
Michael Smith of Preston North End won a free kick in an attacking position.
Foul committed by Tomoki Iwata against Birmingham City.
August Priske's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Carlos Vicente provided the assist.
Demarai Gray from Birmingham City attempts an attack, shooting with his right foot from a difficult position and long distance on the left. The shot is saved in the top left corner by Daniel Iversen of Preston North End.
Foul committed by Liam Lindsay of Preston North End.
August Priske of Birmingham City was awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution for Preston North End: Michael Smith replaces Lewis Dobbin.
Offside called against Birmingham City. Tomoki Iwata is offside.
Paik Seung-Ho from Birmingham City won a free kick on the right wing.
Fouled by Andrew Hughes of Preston North End.
Jhon Solís from Birmingham City misses a chance, shooting with his right foot from outside the box, sending it high and wide to the right. The assist came from Paik Seung-Ho.
New attacking attempt. Daniel Jebbison of Preston North End heads the ball from a few meters out, but it's saved in the top center of the goal by James Beadle of Birmingham City. The assist comes from Alfie Devine.
Carlos Vicente is flagged for offside for Birmingham City.
Substitution for Preston North End: Robert Brady replaces Andrija Vukcevic.
Alfie Devine from Preston North End missed a chance, shooting with his left foot from outside the box. The assist was from Daniel Jebbison.
Carlos Vicente from Birmingham City hits the right post with a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Substitution for Preston North End: Thierry Small replaces Pol Valentín.
Substitution for Preston North End: Daniel Jebbison replaces Milutin Osmajic.
Substitution for Birmingham City: Jhon Solís replaces Jay Stansfield.
Andrew MoranYellow CardAndrew Moran from Preston North End receives a yellow card for a foul.
Bright Osayi-Samuel of Birmingham City won a free kick on the right wing.
Fouled by Andrew Moran of Preston North End.
Foul committed by Lewis Dobbin of Preston North End.
Paik Seung-Ho from Birmingham City won a free kick in defense.
Andrew Moran from Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
Foul by Tomoki Iwata against Birmingham City.
Lewis Dobbin of Preston North End attempts an attack with a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the right corner by James Beadle of Birmingham City. The assist comes from Jordan Thompson.
Substitution for Preston North End: Andrew Moran replaces Brad Potts.
Substitution for Birmingham City: Bright Osayi-Samuel replaces Ethan Laird.
Demarai Gray's shot for Birmingham City from the right side of the box is blocked. The assist came from Jay Stansfield's cross.
Demarai Gray's shot for Birmingham City from the left side of the box is blocked.
Foul committed by Jay Stansfield for Birmingham City.
Andrew Hughes of Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
Offside called against Birmingham City. Carlos Vicente is in an offside position.
Brad Potts' shot from the center of the box for Preston North End is blocked.
New attacking attempt. Milutin Osmajic of Preston North End has a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it's saved in the right corner by James Beadle of Birmingham City. The assist came from Lewis Dobbin with a through ball.
Jay Stansfield's left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. The assist came from Paik Seung-Ho.
Liam Lindsay from Preston North End missed a headed chance from the center of the box, shooting to the left. Pol Valentín provided the assist.
Brad Potts from Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Paik Seung-Ho against Birmingham City.
Brad Potts from Preston North End had a missed chance, shooting with his right foot from the right side of the six-yard box, just missing the top right corner. The assist came from Andrija Vukcevic with a cross.
New attacking attempt. Milutin Osmajic of Preston North End heads the ball from the center of the box, but it is saved by Birmingham City goalkeeper James Beadle. The assist came from Andrija Vukcevic's cross.
Jordan Thompson of Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Jay Stansfield for Birmingham City.
Andrija Vukcevic from Preston North End has a left-footed shot from outside the box that gets blocked.
Alfie Devine's shot from the center of the box for Preston North End is blocked.
Milutin Osmajic from Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by August Priske for Birmingham City.
Jay Stansfield's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The assist came from Tomoki Iwata.
Foul by August Priske of Birmingham City.
Odeluga Offiah of Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
The second half starts with the score at Birmingham City 2, Preston North End 1.
The first half ends with Birmingham City leading 2-1 against Preston North End.
Handball by August Priske of Birmingham City.
Andrija VukcevicYellow CardAndrija Vukcevic from Preston North End receives a yellow card for a foul.
Andrija Vukcevic from Preston North End committed a foul.
Ethan Laird won a free kick for Birmingham City on the right wing.
Offside called against Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic is offside.
New attacking attempt. Jay Stansfield from Birmingham City takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, which is saved in the left corner by Daniel Iversen of Preston North End.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 5 minutes of added time.
Ethan Laird of Birmingham City attempts a header from the center of the box, but it is saved in the left corner by Daniel Iversen of Preston North End. The assist comes from Kai Wagner's cross.
Brad Potts from Preston North End won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Tomoki Iwata against Birmingham City.
Paik Seung-Ho from Birmingham City has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked.
Birmingham City wins a corner after Liam Lindsay concedes.
August Priske's right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box is blocked. The assist came from Jay Stansfield.
Lewis Dobbin from Preston North End misses a chance, shooting with his right foot from outside the box, just narrowly missing the goal. The assist came from Alfie Devine after a corner.
Corner awarded to Preston North End after Phil Neumann concedes.
Milutin Osmajic's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. The assist came from Brad Potts, who provided the cross.
Foul committed by Jay Stansfield for Birmingham City.
Jordan Thompson from Preston North End won a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution for Birmingham City: Demarai Gray replaces Ibrahim Osman due to injury.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City.
Missed chance. Lewis Dobbin from Preston North End shot with his left foot from the left side of the box.
Preston North End win a corner after Ethan Laird concedes.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Odeluga Offiah from Preston North End.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Ibrahim Osman from Birmingham City.
Goal! Birmingham City 2, Preston North End 1. Andrew Hughes scores for Preston North End with an attempt from a few meters to the center of the goal after a corner.
Preston North End win a corner after Carlos Vicente concedes.
Liam Lindsay of Preston North End missed a chance with a header from the center of the box.
Shot blocked. Paik Seung-Ho from Birmingham City had a right-footed shot from outside the box that was blocked.
Jay Stansfield of Birmingham City won a free kick in an attacking position.
Foul committed by Odeluga Offiah of Preston North End.
Jay Stansfield's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Ibrahim Osman provided the assist.
Goal! Birmingham City leads 2-0 against Preston North End. Ibrahim Osman scores for Birmingham City with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the right corner following a corner.
Birmingham City win a corner after Brad Potts concedes.
Birmingham City is called offside. August Priske is the player in an offside position.
assist: Ibrahim Osman
Goal! Birmingham City leads 1-0 against Preston North End. Jay Stansfield scores for Birmingham City with a right-footed shot from a few meters out.
Ibrahim Osman from Birmingham City had a shot with his right foot from the left side of the box, but it was blocked.
August Priske of Birmingham City won a free kick in an attacking position.
Fouled by Andrew Hughes of Preston North End.
Birmingham City wins a corner after Andrija Vukcevic concedes.
Carlos Vicente of Birmingham City won a free kick in defense.
Fouled by Andrew Hughes of Preston North End.
Carlos Vicente of Birmingham City won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Christoph Klarer of Birmingham City.
Milutin Osmajic from Preston North End won a free kick in an attacking position.
