Preston North End 0-1 Birmingham City: Maxime Colin header winner finally breaches Preston defence
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Maxime Colin's first-half goal was Birmingham's first away from home in the league this season
Preston North End conceded their first goal of the Championship season and suffered their first league defeat as Maxime Colin's header earned Birmingham just their second league victory of the season.
Colin was left unmarked to head home Jordan Graham's inviting cross from point-blank range to earn the visitors a half-time lead.
North End, who become only the third English side in history to start the league season with seven consecutive clean sheets when they beat Coventry on Wednesday, had been the more threatening side before then and continued to dominate possession and create chances.
On-loan Tottenham striker Troy Parrott came closest to grabbing an equaliser for a Preston side whose eight league games have produced just three goals in total this season.
And with only two goals scored and five goalless draws so far, Ryan Lowe's frustrations boiled over at the final whistle, with referee John Busby sending off the North End boss.
Blues had lost three league games in a row - and four in five - before this match, but buoyed by impressive displays from second debutants Tahith Chong and Krystian Bielik, they recovered from an edgy start to claim a crucial win.
Keeper John Ruddy had to make early saves from a Liam Lindsay header and a much better stop to thwart Emil Riis Jakobsen as the striker burst through one-on-one.
But Birmingham resisted the strong home start and, at the eighth time of asking, became the first side to breach the Preston defence in the league with a beautifully worked goal after 16 minutes.
Soon after Preston keeper Freddie Woodman had parried a shot from Graham, the defender teed up the opening goal for his fellow wing-back, picking out Colin with a delightful cross for Birmingham's first away league goal this term.
Marc Roberts headed wide as the visitors chased a second goal, while Jakobsen and Alistair McCann could also have extended the lead, but North End controlled possession and looked the more likely scorers.
Lindsay was a whisker away from making contact with a Robbie Brady cross, Parrott had an effort ruled out for a foul in Birmingham's favour and Alan Browne nearly turned in a Ben Whiteman cross.
The final chance fell to Parrott, but he shot wide when well placed and Birmingham hung on for just their second win in 12 visits to Deepdale.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe:
"There was a lack of quality today on the pitch and in front of goal, it wasn't for a lack of trying but you have to make your chances count when you are on top and we didn't.
"It's a poor goal to concede, which is disappointing after keeping the back door shut for so long. Fair play to Birmingham because they got their goal and dug deep to get the three points and we didn't dig deep enough to get something.
"We know we need to find that little bit of quality to score, I believe the lads we have at the club have got the quality to score goals. We are creating chances. I will speak to the strikers and try and instil some belief into them that they will score goals and I'm sure they will. I sensed a bit of tiredness after all the travelling but we don't want to make excuses.
"I have just spoken to the referee, he sent me off at the end because I was frustrated with some of the decisions. I apologised for what I said but I am still disappointed in some of the decisions."
Birmingham City manager John Eustace told BBC WM 95.6:
"I think the performances this season have been good but we haven't got our just rewards, so today to keep a clean sheet against an excellent team who haven't conceded a goal this season is full credit to the group and I'm very, very proud.
"We've been doing a lot of hard work on the training field working solidly on the patterns of play with both wing backs supporting the attack, so for it to come out in the game today when we scored was pleasing.
"A lots of things have been said about this group and the club, but people have to realise that this team is starting again.
"There's going to be lots more dark and miserable days ahead but the way we get through it is together and to get positive results like today."