Preston playing in yellow were unchanged from their six nil drubbing of Cardiff and had the best chance of the first half when a Mellor cross hit the post. The rebounded landed atthe feet of Sedgewick who hit the side netting from six yards out.
Preston had three separate penalty shouts all turned down by Premiership referee Phil Dowd. The man clearly was having an off day. The first we can perhaps forgive as tv replays show Mellor being tugged back by Jaidi. There was then a clear handball by Qeudrue who had already been booked for a similar offence earlier in the game. Dowd looking right atthe incident gave nothing. The third incident saw Jaidi stand on Mellor's ankle but Dowd again waved away claims.
The tension grew which translated from the fans onto the pitch in the second half. St Ledger should have headed Preston in front when Mckenna found him free six yards out only for him to head wide.
Soon after Birmingham took the lead as Sedgewick failed to track his marker allowing a free header from close in to fly past Lonergan. The crowd arose and you felt it was going to be Birmingham's day.
The game then turned with a curious incident off the ball. Lee Bowyer forced Williamson to the ground. Both got up and appeared to put their heads onto one another. Dowd then sent the pair off although replays show Williamson a little unlucky being the victim in the incident. Irvine may well appeal the straight red.
The game became stretched with open spaces abundent. Preston had a four on two situation but Sedgewick failed to find the killer ball. Paul Mckenna who overtook Tom Finney's number of aperances for the club then stepped upto the plate with twenty minutes remaining to hit a swirling shot from around thirty yards which rocketed past the keeper, Maik Taylor.
Jerome then had the ball in the net for Birmingham which was correctly ruled out for offside. Both sides went for the killer winner and it was Preston who came up trumps. Preston were awarded a free kick some twenty five yards out with three minutes remaining. Wallace whipped it round the wall with Taylor having no chance as it went in off the post. Wallace celebrated by taking his shirt off thus receiving a second yellow and a red which means he misses the final game of the season.
Preston's nine men survived the final minutes of the match and now sit two points behind Burnley with a home match against QPR next Sunday. Preston have to win and hope either Burnley or Cardiff slip up for them to get into the play offs. Burnley face ahome game against Bristol City whilst Cardiff go to Hillsborough to face Sheff Wed.