Preston North End 1 Bauer Birmingam City 1 Hogan
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Potts (Barkhuizen, 71), Whiteman, Browne, Johnson, Cunningham; Evans (Sinclair, 87), Riis (Maguire, 71). Subs not used: Ripley, Lindsay, McCann, Rafferty.
Birmingham City line-up: Etheridge; Mengi, Roberts, Pedersen; Colin, Gardner, James, Sunjic (Woods, 82), Bela (Bellingham, 83); Jutkiewicz, Hernandez (Hogan, 83). Subs not used: Trueman, Walker, Masampu, Campbell.
Attendance: 12,821 (1,994 away fans).
Referee: Mr A Davies.
I am not sure whether we did really enough to win this game, we took a point but could so easily have ended up with nothing at the end. Work in progress some of the old faults still there, poor final ball and the usual ability to sit deep and invite pressure when one up as we did today. Have to say the three substitutions made little impact although Barkhuizen got into some good position, however City's substitutes did as one of them scored
Compared to the game at St Andrews at times this was a very open game we create the better chances denied by some stubborn Birmingham defending City offered little up front apart from new loan signing Hernadez who was a constant danger until substituted just before the end.
Browne unlucky from about 40 yards when Etheridge headed clear 25 yards from goal, the North End's skipper effort just wide on a empty goal.
Took a deserved lead ball cleared to Browne at the edge of the box not the most powerful of shots took a nick of Bauer and in it went, Ethridge wrong footed.
Deservedly in front at half time City started the second half on top, James influence began to increase as the game wore on looks a useful player, could have equalised very early on in the second half but his goal bound shot was deflected wide by Whiteman. A bit tetchy in the second period Evans probably lucky not to get booked in the first half engaged in a great battle Mengi like the game that ended a draw.
We had chances to kill them off but let down on several times by a poor final ball. As the game drew to a close we got deeper and deeper and five minutes from time Hogan dived to head the ball home to be fair they probably deserved for the second half performance, they nearly won it at the death a corner by passed everyone look to be going directly into the net two home players more by luck managed to clear the ball.
Johnson and Whiteman excellent, Browne played well, Evans put in a mighty shift. Cunningham gets into better positions than Earl does when going forward. Riis needs a goal just not going for him at the moment and Potts had a quietly effective game
Birmingham manager Lee Bowyer told BBC Radio WM:
"I have to give the players full credit for keeping going and pushing to the end like that. We could have nicked it in the end.
"We dug deep and kept pushing and fighting. I'll keep fighting and pushing these players and they'll keep fighting for the club and that's what they've just done.
"I thought from the second half we looked the most likely to score. They hit us on the break a couple of times which was obviously going to happen because we we pushing for the equaliser.
"I'm really pleased because Scotty [Hogan] has had a tough week with some personal things going on away from the game so I'm glad he got the goal."
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Potts (Barkhuizen, 71), Whiteman, Browne, Johnson, Cunningham; Evans (Sinclair, 87), Riis (Maguire, 71). Subs not used: Ripley, Lindsay, McCann, Rafferty.
Birmingham City line-up: Etheridge; Mengi, Roberts, Pedersen; Colin, Gardner, James, Sunjic (Woods, 82), Bela (Bellingham, 83); Jutkiewicz, Hernandez (Hogan, 83). Subs not used: Trueman, Walker, Masampu, Campbell.
Attendance: 12,821 (1,994 away fans).
Referee: Mr A Davies.
I am not sure whether we did really enough to win this game, we took a point but could so easily have ended up with nothing at the end. Work in progress some of the old faults still there, poor final ball and the usual ability to sit deep and invite pressure when one up as we did today. Have to say the three substitutions made little impact although Barkhuizen got into some good position, however City's substitutes did as one of them scored
Compared to the game at St Andrews at times this was a very open game we create the better chances denied by some stubborn Birmingham defending City offered little up front apart from new loan signing Hernadez who was a constant danger until substituted just before the end.
Browne unlucky from about 40 yards when Etheridge headed clear 25 yards from goal, the North End's skipper effort just wide on a empty goal.
Took a deserved lead ball cleared to Browne at the edge of the box not the most powerful of shots took a nick of Bauer and in it went, Ethridge wrong footed.
Deservedly in front at half time City started the second half on top, James influence began to increase as the game wore on looks a useful player, could have equalised very early on in the second half but his goal bound shot was deflected wide by Whiteman. A bit tetchy in the second period Evans probably lucky not to get booked in the first half engaged in a great battle Mengi like the game that ended a draw.
We had chances to kill them off but let down on several times by a poor final ball. As the game drew to a close we got deeper and deeper and five minutes from time Hogan dived to head the ball home to be fair they probably deserved for the second half performance, they nearly won it at the death a corner by passed everyone look to be going directly into the net two home players more by luck managed to clear the ball.
Johnson and Whiteman excellent, Browne played well, Evans put in a mighty shift. Cunningham gets into better positions than Earl does when going forward. Riis needs a goal just not going for him at the moment and Potts had a quietly effective game
Birmingham manager Lee Bowyer told BBC Radio WM:
"I have to give the players full credit for keeping going and pushing to the end like that. We could have nicked it in the end.
"We dug deep and kept pushing and fighting. I'll keep fighting and pushing these players and they'll keep fighting for the club and that's what they've just done.
"I thought from the second half we looked the most likely to score. They hit us on the break a couple of times which was obviously going to happen because we we pushing for the equaliser.
"I'm really pleased because Scotty [Hogan] has had a tough week with some personal things going on away from the game so I'm glad he got the goal."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?