Preston North End 1-2 Birmingham City
- Published
Gary Gardner headed in his first goal of the season against Preston
Preston set an unwanted club record of six straight home defeats as Gary Gardner's late header earned Birmingham the points at Deepdale.
Riley McGree lashed the visitors ahead on his first City start, latching on to a loose ball after Declan Rudd saved from Jonathan Leko and Lukas Jutkiewicz sent a misdirected shot into the Australian's path.
The Lilywhites had failed to score at Deepdale since 29 August, but were level when Jayden Stockley broke that duck in style, controlling a headed clearance and hitting a dipping half-volley into the top corner from 30 yards.
Jutkiewicz had a header disallowed for offside before Mikel San Jose picked out Gardner unmarked in the six-yard box to head the winner.
Prospects of a high-scoring game had looked remote at kick-off, with Preston having failed to score in their previous five games at Deepdale and City having found the net just once in four away trips this season, but the first half brought danger at both ends and two goals.
After a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of former Preston player and manager Nobby Stiles, the match started at a lively pace, Stockley heading straight at Blues goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, and Paul Gallagher throwing himself in front of Leko's shot.
After conceding a first-half goal for the first time this season, City almost fell behind soon after the break when Alan Browne headed over at the back post just seconds after Etheridge had saved well from Tom Barkhuizen's shot across goal.
Alex Neil's side have 12 goals in five away games this season, but their inability to find the net at home cost them dear as the Blues finished strongly, Jeremie Bela twice drawing saves from Rudd before Gardner struck.
Barkhuizen went close to grabbing a point with a late curling effort which drew an equally good stop from Etheridge, but Blues held on for their first win at Deepdale since February 2001.
Birmingham's first away win of the season saw them climb to 11th, leapfrogging Preston who dropped to 16th.
Preston manager Alex Neil:
"Our away form is excellent, but our home form is certainly affecting me. I'd be surprised if it wasn't affecting the players.
"This was the first time I saw a lack of confidence at home. We're not stupid, we need to be better.
"Hard work and repetition is the only way of turning things around. We need to try and find the solutions and take the criticism on the chin."
Birmingham boss Aitor Karanka:
"We are feeling really good and improving. We've won two in a row, so hopefully we can build on this situation.
"The tactics are always important, but the attitude and spirit on the pitch is important. They showed that on the pitch, we need to keep going.
"I'm really excited for the team, but we are in October and I don't want to make the mistake of saying we'll be up the top. It's important to take it game by game and keep building."