There were shocking scenes inside Deepdale as Preston fans and stewards took to clash with children caught up and looked on distressed.
A video has surfaced on social media, appearing to show just what happened, with it alleged that fans didn’t sit in their seats near the top of the Town End.
Others say this was caused by the security being ‘heavy handed’ and ‘completely out of order’. You can see in the clip just how shameful it is to see a young girl caught up and surrounded by squabbling adults.
Fans getting agitated after conceding our first goal 😟#pnefc pic.twitter.com/CCu2m4OJnl
— Brad Potts lover 🐴⚪️⚪️🍋 (@_TownEndHarry) September 3, 2022
The game itself saw Preston North End conceded their first goal of the Championship season and suffered their first league defeat as Maxime Colin’s header give Birmingham just their second league victory of the season.
Colin was left unmarked to head home Jordan Graham’s cross from point-blank range to earn the visitors a half time lead.
The Lilywhites, who become only the third English side in history to start the league season with seven consecutive clean sheets when they beat Coventry on Wednesday, showed a more threatening side before then and continued to dominate possession and create chances.
Troy Parrott was close to getting an equaliser for Preston, whose eight league games have produced just three goals in total this season.
Scoring just two goals and producing five goalless draws so far, Ryan Lowe’s frustrations boiled over at the final whistle, with referee John Busby sending off the North End boss.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe:
“I have just spoken to him in there. He sent me off because I was frustrated with some of the decisions; we should’ve had a foul on the edge of the box and the goal Troy (Parrott) scores probably should stand, because I don’t see any real foul in it.
“So yeah, I have apologised to him but I still felt that the performance wasn’t good enough from the officials. I still stand by that, but I apologised because I probably shouldn’t have gone on (to the pitch), pointed at his face and said what I said. But, the fact of the matter is that I’m disappointed in his performance today – as well as my team’s.”
When asked if he wants his side to play quicker at home, Lowe told LancsLive: “I thought we had a few chances. Emil had a great chance in the first five minutes – so definitely not in the first 15 minutes, no. I thought there were large parts of the game where we could speed it up and be that bit quicker.
“Our aim was to get them to one side of the pitch and get it switched quicker, so yeah of course we could do things a bit quicker. Without looking for excuses, maybe there was a bit of tiredness there because of the travel and the games. I don’t like to make excuses though; possibly we could’ve played quicker in the middle before half-time. I said to the group to get them to one side and move the ball faster, but I thought the start was good.”
On the performance, he added: “The performance lacked a bit of quality if I am being honest – not for a lack of trying – but the final third was a bit of an issue. Fair play to Birmingham, but we’re disappointed with the goal we’ve given away. We told them to keep Graham down the left and not to let him cut inside. We created some good chances – ten attempts with four on target and you have to score one of those. Towards the end we huffed, puffed and threw long balls in which is just not us. It wasn’t to be today.”
🎥 “Thought the performance lacked a bit of quality. It wasn’t for the lack of trying but the quality in the final third was obviously was a bit of an issue” – manager Ryan Lowe#Preston North End lost 1-0 at home to #Birmingham City#pnefc #bbcefl #bbcfootball
— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) September 3, 2022
Birmingham City manager John Eustace told BBC WM 95.6:
“I think the performances this season have been good but we haven’t got our just rewards, so today to keep a clean sheet against an excellent team who haven’t conceded a goal this season is full credit to the group and I’m very, very proud.
“We’ve been doing a lot of hard work on the training field working solidly on the patterns of play with both wing backs supporting the attack, so for it to come out in the game today when we scored was pleasing.
“A lots of things have been said about this group and the club, but people have to realise that this team is starting again.
“There’s going to be lots more dark and miserable days ahead but the way we get through it is together and to get positive results like today.”
Twitter users gave their reaction as Preston fans and stewards clash with children distressed…
@1993Danny: This was caused by the security being heavy handed, I wasn’t involved at all but witnessed most of it and some (but not all) of the security were completely out of order
@LordLummy: Imagine acting like that around children…
@louise_pne: Wth come on guys we are better than this!
@MarkPow95301026: Going well at deepdale for all the new season card holders 😂 no goals 😂 fighting in front of women and kids 😂manager sent off 😂 flags stolen 😂 a parrot that talks but can’t score 😂 but the shuttle bus is still running 👍
@AntonioPneCha: It actually was the Asian steward who you can’t actually see who grabbed some fans little girl witch to be fair anyone would have acted the same the steward who you can’t actually see got told to go down and he got reported to the cops at half time
@DavidFincham13: Grown people squabbling in front of young kids, great work. Take a look in the mirror, give your heads a wobble and then apologise for being giants pricks
@frday90: That poor girl stuck in the middle of it. Fuckin idiots.
@whaity1981: Buying kids tickets as adults, fighting infront of kids. No goals. What a tinpot shithole
@Alex33796845: The people close to this saying that stewerds/security were to blame, and I’ve no reason to doubt them. Some of them pricks act like they own the place. Had a few run ins with them myself #pnefc
@EastHullTiger: Preston stewards at it again #hcafc
@PeakDan_: Embarrassing this
@Jonty72FY1: Oh dear oh dear oh dear
@Orme_Jacob: Climbing over kids to scrap, doesn’t surprise me in the slightest the rats.
@CRoberts95: Little girl looks terrified nice one PNE
@AthersBFC: Women & kids about ffs
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