[themaclad]

For those romantically involved it is Valentine's Day on Tuesday, invite yout partner to a candlelight dinner albeit four floodlight pylons and a pie and a pint and watch North End take on Birmingham City at what will be a half empty Deepdale, yesterday on a bone chilling Saturday we managed 10130, given Tuesday night is a Champions League night when Preston based supporters of PSG and Benfica get to see their favourites on TV giving up the opportunity of watching their local club play.
Given it is the Blues we are playing there might be a decent turnout of City fans which may give the ground a better atmosphere.
City arrive on the back of 1 win in the last 12 games after surprisingly potting Gary Rowett, they have gone from play off hopefuls to mid table nothingness, they really need to win on Tuesday to keep alive their slim hopes in the end of season party, North End meanwhile seven points from six place also need a week, probably this is a season defining week, given we have the Pies away on Saturday.
From what I saw of the Blues game on Friday night, they actually looked to be the better side until Wednesday bombed in two late goals, but as decent as they are going forward they seem to be a bit crap at the back letting in 18 goals from crosses or free kicks, pity Gallagher will probably not be fit however we didn't miss him yesterday.
Since being parachuted into the job by the Chinese owners Zola has spent a bit of money bringing a lad from the Italian second division Cheick Keita who looked a really good attacking wing back, Gardner, Nsue and Bielik are also newbies.
Sadly for Zola both Morrison and Shotton are out injured which leaves them a little bit short at the back. Whilst the useful Clayton Donaldson is also out.
Last three games between the sides have been draws.
Should be same again for North End, Gally, Welsh, Woods are likely to be missing, as I said a big week if we can win Tuesday and Saturday we may still sneak a play off place.

[themaclad]

For the fist thirty minutes of this game North End played as well as they have done all season, by rights they should have had had the points sealed by then but chances went a begging and Birmingham got back in the game with a change of formation at half time to 343 which caused North End considerable problems in the second period..
By the time Robinson had glanced home McGeady's super cross after seven minutes the home side had already been denied by a good point blank save by Kuszczak from a Hugill shot following great work by Pearson who intercepted a pass in midfield. Following the goal North End played some great football as with Saturday McGeady was inspired with some sublime skills although his shooting didn't mtach his approach play. Horgan was denied by Kuszczak, good save that was. Hugill had a couple of chances both spurned but this was top stuff by the home side.
Towarsd half time City got back into the game had a couple of shots one close ish the other not, towards the break Mr Robinson who had had a decent game began to lose the plot, started with North End getting a free kick and ended up with handbags between players which led to Pearson getting another booking although thought he might have been targeted by City mmmmm.
343 for City in the second half with both fulkl backs Nsue and Keita basically playing as wingers, worked a treat within a minute of the restart Adams had rifled one home from 20 yards decent goal has to be said.
North End had lost the initiative both wingers Horagn and McGeady found it harder to create danger and to be fair City looked the better side although without really creating anything apart from a Gardner free kick which Maxwell saved at the second attempt.
North End took off Robinson and put on Barkuizen who seems to be pacey to say the least, causing teh City backlines problems. North End won itb 12 minutes from time when Horgan advanced into the area fired in a cross from the right hand side only Hugill was alert to it and he scored easily from close range.
Within a minute City were down to 10 as Gardner collected his seacond booking a brief bit of pressure from the visitors but Horgan should have made it three but fired over the top from 10 yards.
Good week so far two wins out of two nearly 50 points and the season is far from over.

Preston North End 2 Birmingham City 1 Att 10230

Preston manager Simon Grayson:

"We dominated from start to finish, created some real good chances and there was some outstanding individual performances.

"We just needed a couple more goals to warrant that first-half performance.

"You always know if you don't take those chances, the opposition are going to have some spell in the game.

"We've shown a lot of character to stay in a game in the second half; we dug in and took our chances when they came along."

Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola:

"I don't want to talk about luck any more, I'm fed up of using that. The reason we keep losing games like this is not because we are unlucky, at the moment we are very poor, simple as that.

"I'm the first person responsible, we can do much better than this. We had total control in the second half. We were just waiting to score.

"The players are very edgy at the moment, the confidence is not there. I am sorry, I am very frustrated at the moment.

"Now is the moment we stop talking and just start acting a little better than we are at the minute."