Preston 1-1 Birmingham: Reaction from Simon Grayson and Gary Rowett

Jordan Pickford's slew of second-half saves may have earned Preston a point against Birmingham, but North End boss Simon Grayson revealed the goalkeeper felt the need to apologise for his part in Blues' goal.

On-loan Sunderland stopper Pickford denied Demarai Gray, Jon Toral, James Vaughan and Michael Morrison with a plethora of impressive stops for North End, who led when Adam Reach had curled in a fortuitous first-half opener.

However, Pickford's only lapse in concentration was punished as Morrison beat him to a 67th-minute corner and nodded it past the line before Marnick Vermijl could hook clear to make it 1-1.

The fact the Lilywhites were not swept aside in the second half was largely due to Pickford's brilliance, yet his first thought post-match was one of guilt.

"He was the first to admit when he came in there and apologised for the goal because he's come for it and missed it completely," Grayson said.

"We forgive him for that because he kept us in the game anyway. It shows he's got high standards for himself.

"We're very delighted that Sunderland have allowed him to be at our football club. The lad's got a bright future wherever he's going to be. We're just happy to have him and help with his development."

Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce recently conceded he was contemplating recalling Pickford to the north east and Grayson knows that there is a possibility he will lose a 21-year-old who has been their last line of defence for 12 clean sheets this term.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"We are grateful that we've had him," Grayson added. "What will be, will be in the future, we'll see where it goes."

The visitors controlled the game in the second period and along with Pickford's heroics, an unmarked Jacques Maghoma headed against the crossbar from six yards out and Jonathan Grounds' shot on the turn shaved the outside of a post.

Even then the home goalkeeper should have ended up on the losing team when the pacy Gray raced through for a one-on-one opportunity at the death.

However, as it had done for much of the evening, the end product did not match the teenager's run and he blazed wide of the mark.

"We conceded a very poor goal which we should have dealt with much better, but our goalkeeper has maybe made one save," said Blues manager Gary Rowett.

"We have had five one-on-ones, hit the bar, hit the post and their keeper has made three or four unbelievable saves.

"For the home keeper to get the man-of-the-match award tells you we should have won comfortably. We should have won tonight and a couple more games with those chances.

"After we scored I thought we would go on and win the game. We should have come away with three points really comfortably."