Even without the sheep on the club crest, even the most hopeful of PNE fans would have thought North End were lambs to the slaughter.

Away at Birmingham City, one of the most intimidating football grounds in the country and live on telly as well - a fact which seems to have cursed North End in previous season.

Not to mention the fact that the blues would be out to seek revenge after they were dumped out of the play-off semi finals at Deepdale last season thanks to the antics of stroppy manager Trevor Francis, who spat his dummy out and managed to wobble his team when the penalties which decided the game weren't taken at the end he wanted.

Yes, it was fair to say North End could best hope for a draw.

But then, this is a North End side who have surprised many this season. Surprised many, that is, by struggling against Grimsby and Walsall and losing to West Brom, Gillingham and Wolves.

So how refreshing it was to see North End surprise everyone - by winning!

In what turned out to be a very scrappy affair, Rob Edwards produced the quality moment just before the hour with a magnificent 25-yard drive which substitue keeper Nico

Vaesen, on for injured Alan Kelly, had no chance of stopping.

By the end of the game, the Birmingham fans were booing, and it wasn't hard to see why - they really wanted revenge for last season but Birmingham missed several sitters and half-chances.

Graham Horsfield was one of the main culprits, gifted with the chance to level seven minutes after North End had gone ahead. His close range attempt should have gone in - but it hit the bar.

Preston clung on for the three points - in total contrast to the start of the game when they were totally in control. Colin Murdock and Jon Macken ran amok in the Birmingham bos, with David Healy chipping in too.

Mark Rankine had two of the best chances in the first half - but he rushed both.

The Brummie boys seemed very edgy and none more so than Rovers keeper Alan Kelly, playing his last game for Birmingham when he poleaxed David Holdsworth while trying to punch the ball away after a North End raid.

Kelly came off before half time with a shoulder injury collected as he tried to control his area after Murdock had tried to poach a goal.

Birmingham kicked back into life after North End's goal but Finnish keeper Tepi Moilanen had no problem dealing with any of the shots which didn't hit the post, go wide or head for the corner flag instead.

Rankine's return to midfield made all the difference. His role in distributing the ball will be even more important with both Murdock and captain Sean Gregan set to sit out of Wednesday's clash against Norwich, 2-1 victors over Burnley yesterday.

RESULT:

BIRMINGHAM CITY 0

PRESTON NORTH END 1

TEAMS:

Birmingham: Kelly, Gill, Holdsworth, Michael Johnson, Grainger, Eaden, Hughes, Sonner, Lazaridis, Horsfield, Andrew Johnson. Subs: Vaesen, Hutchinson, Woodhouse, Marcelo ,Furlong.

Preston: Moilanen, Alexander, Edwards, Murdock, Lucketti, Gregan, Cartwright, Rankine, McKenna, Macken, Healy. Subs: Lucas, Anderson, Cresswell, Barry-Murphy,

Jackson.