Preston North End are on the verge of Premiership glory following tonight's dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over luckless Birmingham City at Deepdale. Birmingham, beaten in the last two play-offs, held a slender 1-0 lead going into this evening's second leg, but Northern Ireland international forward David Healy fired Preston back into contention with a superb dipping volley which beat Birmingham keeper Ian Bennett after hesitation in the visitors' defence.
Geoff Horsfield restored City's advantage in the 58th minute, but Mark Rankine forced extra-time when he levelled the tie minutes from time. However, the added thirty minutes failed to separate the sides and the lottery of penalties were required. Paul McKenna scored the winning penalty after Graham Alexander, David Healy and Sean Gregan had all converted from the spot.
Rob Edwards had missed his spot-kick but early failures from Marcelo and Darren Purse meant it was all over for Birmingham. Even successful kicks from Stan Lazaridis and Nicky Eaden could not save them and, as two years ago against Watford, they lost a play-off semi-final in a penalty shoot-out.
Preston now meet Bolton in the First Division play-off final in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 28.
Filed by Shane Murray
