Birmingham edged Preston 2-1 at St. Andrew's, with loan‑winger Ibrahim Osman scoring both goals. The first came from a quick Stansfield tap‑in, the second a curling shot after a cut‑in from Jordan Thompson. The win lifts the Blues into the top ten of the Championship table.

Osman suffered a head clash in the 36th minute and was replaced by Demarai Gray. Preston struck back through Andrew Hughes, whose chested goal equalised at 25 minutes. The visitors created chances in the second half, but Birmingham’s defence held firm, denying further chances and sealing the result in a tightly contested encounter and a firm performance.

Jay Stansfield’s 10th Championship strike snapped a 13‑match drought, while Osman’s two goals showcased his Premier League potential, prompting manager Chris Davies to praise his speed and unpredictability. Davies noted that Osman would thrive where he is valued and minutes are plentiful, hinting at a possible future move before the summer.

Preston’s manager Paul Heckingbottom admitted the early deficit hurt the team, but praised the second‑half resilience and goal‑scoring effort. The result keeps Birmingham in a promotion‑challenging spot, while Preston remains mid‑table, needing consistent performances to climb the standings before the winter break as the season enters its critical third phase and fans await next fixtures.