WITH the crucial FA Cup tie against Arsenal coming up, PNE rested Jimmy Milne and Bobbie Beattie for the league game away at Birmingham.

Bob Batey stood in for Milne with 18-year-old Archie Garrett making his league debut at inside left.

North End treated the St Andrews crowd to a footballing feast of delightful, imaginative, attacking football.

A first half double from Jimmy Dougal enabled Preston to return home from the Midlands with a 2-0 win.

It was the first time that they had won at Birmingham in 16 seasons. Att: 24,908.

The game against strongly fancied FA Cup favourites Arsenal was, according to the so-called experts, going to be the end of the line for Preston North End.

But true Northern grit showed through.

'Arsenal Outmanoeuvred', 'Preston Good Winners', 'Iron Defence Smash Arsenal Attacks', 'Mutch Too Much For Arsenal', these were just a few of the headlines printed when North End sprang a smash and grab surprise on the huge crowd assembled at Highbury.

First-time tackling, coupled with uncanny accurate positioning, put Arsenal's attacking force right off their usual game.

Great defensive displays by Holdcroft, Beattie and captain Smith over the likes of Drake, Kirchen and Bastin gave Preston the foundations on which to build their victory.

Jimmy Dougal gave the Gunners' defenders a torrid time as he wandered from wing to wing, even though he was supposed to be the centre-forward.

They did not know whether he was coming or going, he was like quicksilver, especially on the hour when he darted through the centre to get himself onto the end of one George Mutch's crosses to score the game's only goal.

Their reward was another away draw, again in London, this time against first division league leaders Brentford.

Att: 72,121. Receipts were a record £7,210.

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