EVER had one of those days when nothing seems to go right?

Darren Purse had one on Saturday - and he was good enough to share it with 14,000 North End fans as well!

First the Birmingham defender was booked for unsporting behaviour on 31 minutes.

Then, four minutes later, he inadvertently tapped home Richard Cresswell's cross which had been sent square for Jon Macken to fire into the net.

It was the sort of clanger which will haunt Purse forever - especially with no attempt made by the pitch-side announcer to accredit the goal to a North End player as he gleefully gave Purse full credit.

Three minutes later and Dickson Etuhu hit a long range strike from 25 yards which went just over the bar.

He had been responsible for North End's first chance of the game, when he played Cresswell into space 25 yards out. His shot went wide.

A minute earlier and only a good block from Chris Lucketti on a Tommy Mooney shot had kept North End level.

After taking the lead, North End defended well, but contained to press Birmingham up front as well.

The Blues, in return, tried to break down Preston but every attempt on goal was blocked by Colin Hendry, debuting for North End for his first game of his month's loan.

But David Lucas pulled off possibly the save of the seaon as he leapt at full stretch to tip a Mooney shot from a Jeff Kenna cross around the goal.

On 63 minutes Macken made way for David Healy after going down injured.

Within a minute, he had the ball in the back of the net, set up by Thordor Gudjonsson, only for it to be given offside by the officals who, as is becoming typical for this league, failed to inspire confidence from either set of fans and struggled to get a handle on the game.

For North End, the three vital points failed to move them up the league table but they are now within three points of the playoffs.

What a difference a week makes!

PNE 1

Birmingham City 0