Birmingham City 3 Preston North End 1

Saturday, September 9 2000 at St Andrew's.

PETROL has increased by 75 pence per gallon since Mark Rankine last scored a league goal for North End -- sadly it failed to fuel three points that looked to be there for the taking at half-time.

Preston deservedly took the lead on 35 minutes as Jon Macken won possession on the right of goal and threaded a pass into the path of Lee Cartwright.

The North End winger looked a certain scorer, but he completely miskicked and the ball ran to the edge of the box where Mark Rankine arrived perfectly on the scene to hit a powerful daisycutter hard and low into the corner of the net to set up elaborate celebrations among the delirious Preston fans.

Birmingham, tipped as one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season, were being outplayed and outclassed as Preston stroked the ball around the park in an almost arrogant fashion and the City fans started to let their played know of their dissatisfaction.

Then, with North End well on top, came the turning point of the match.

Steve Basham was sent clear on goal with three Birmingham defenders trying to catch him as the keeper advanced.

As he got to the edge of the box and with the Preston fans on their feet ready to double their celebrations, back came the right boot but a fraction of a seconds hesitation allowed David Holdsworth to get in a match saving tackle and it was only later that the cost of this missed opportunity was truly realised.

Birmingham manager Trevor Francis, brought on Andy Johnson at the start of the second-half.

It proved to be an inspired substitution as he turned the game inside out.

First, his sheer determination and drive to win saw him emerge from a tackle in midfield with the ball which he took on a couple of yards before playing the ball to Peter Ndlovu.

From there the City hitman smashed the ball beyond Lucas into the net off the inside of the far post. And having produced the equaliser Johnson scored the second.

He headed home from two yards after David Lucas could only push Martin Grainger's well struck free-kick back to him.

The ground erupted into a cauldron of noise.

The scoring was completed when Johnson was brought down in the box by Michael Jackson and up stepped Martin O'Connor to wrap up the points for Birmingham.

Preston battled back trying to salvage something from the wreckage and Paul McKenna and Sean Gregan both went close with good efforts.

North End came away with nothing but admiration from the Birmingham fans on a night when had it not been for some poor finishing and slack defending, they could have most certainly got a point.

Stockport County come to Deepdale on Saturday and they may just feel the backlash of this defeat as Preston try to stay with the early season pacesetters.

Scorer Mark Rankine was "very pleased to score a rare goal but we didn't take our chances, we could have been two goals up and there is no way they could have come back at us."

Birmingham boss Trevor Francis said: "I was very impressed with Preston, they are a very good side, they will do well in this division and some of their players who are not yet well known will be by Christmas."

David Moyes said: "We played well in the first half, we had a chance for two nil but didn't take it and then some poor defending has cost us the game."