Birmingham City 1 PNE 0: Match Update

Preston North End began a busy April with a 1-0 road loss at Birmingham City.

In a goalless first half, PNE’s Noah Mawene and Robbie Brady had good chances, while the hosts’ Lee Buchanan hit the woodwork.

However, Jay Stansfield ended up winning the game when he sprinted through on goal in the 68th minute.

Ryan Lowe was without Alan Browne in the Midlands due to illness, so Brady was selected captain, with 19-year-old Mawene making his complete professional debut in midfield.

After a calm start, Juninho Bacuna put Freddie Woodman into action 15 minutes in, and the goalkeeper was relieved a minute later to see Jordan James’ effort whistle just wide.

North End’s best moment came in the 29th minute, when Mads Frøkjaer attempted to cushion a pass for Duane Holmes instead of shooting, but the touch was too heavy and went out of play.

Mawene had another good chance four minutes later, but he couldn’t quite find his feet and scuffed a 16-yard strike.

PNE were gaining ground in the game, and Brady, their captain for the day, did an excellent job of knocking it past Emanuel Aiwu and into the area. Instead of attempting to beat John Ruddy, the decision was made to pass back to Emil Riis, who noticed Lee Buchanan creep in ahead of him and intercept.

In the 42nd minute, the Birmingham City defender came closest to opening the scoring with a low effort that hit the post.

Chances came infrequently in the second half, until the 68th minute, when the hosts surely couldn’t believe their luck. An unfortunate slip by Liam Lindsay on halfway gave Stansfield an open run at goal, and he tapped past Woodman to break the deadlock.

North End made a double move up top to try to find a way back into the game, with Milutin Osmajić and Layton Stewart coming on, with fellow substitute Liam Millar being lively down the right.

In the end, PNE was unable to create an opening, and the hosts took the points on Easter Monday.

Birmingham City line-up: Ruddy; Laird, Aiwu, Sanderson, Buchanan; Paik (Šunjić, 90+2), Bielik; Miyoshi (Anderson, 81), James (Dozzell, 54), Bacuna (Gardner, 90+2); Stansfield (Hogan, 81). Subs not used: Etheridge, Roberts, Drameh, Dembele.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Holmes (Seary, 90+2), McCann, N.Mawene (Millar, 62), Brady; Frøkjær (Woodburn, 62), Riis (Osmajić, 74), Keane (Stewart, 74). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Storey, Best.

Attendance: 24,511 (1,389 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr O Langford.