Preston North End boss Alex Neil: Victory at Birmingham was clinched in 20-minute spell after half-time

Scott Sinclair's 61st minute goal settled the game in difficult conditions at St Andrew's, rain sweeping across the pitch for much of the contest.

The winner came during North End's spell of the match, with Brad Potts having hit the post before that and other chances falling their way.

Towards the end they had to dig in and see out the game, with referee Tony Harrington adding on seven minutes of stoppage-time.

Neil said: "It was a great night. I thought we started really well, the first 20 minutes I thought we looked bright and really aggressive.

"Then we sort of drifted to half-time, we sat a little bit deep and didn't really retain the ball well at the top end of the pitch.

"It felt like we got caught offside about 100 times in the first half which was frustrating.

"At half-time we spoke about a few things that we needed to do a bit better with, we needed to squeeze the line and keep the ball at the top end of the pitch a bit better.

"That 20 minutes after half-time won us the match, we had three or four really good chances in that spell.

"Brad Potts hit the post with a really good chance after Emil Riis timed his run better, Scott had a chance which just ran away from him, Pottsy had another one from which the keeper made a great save.

"Then obviously we get the goal and I thought if you look across the match, we had the better opportunities.

"I thought we were the more threatening team and deserved to win the game."

The goal on the counter-attack delighted Neil, it being a real strength of North End when they get it right.

Recent signings Jayson Molumby and Ben Whiteman were both heavily involved in the build-up.

Neil said: "The first goal at this level is crucial and we got it.

"It was a great pass by Ben into Scott's feet, he turns it round the corner and Jay drives with it.

"Scott gets his finish so I'm really pleased."

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