Birmingham beat Reading 2-1 to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday, winning on a 67th-minute goal by Julian Gray.
Preston beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the other fourth-round replay with two goals by Daniele Dichio, including the winner in the 88th minute.
Birmingham took the lead on a goal by Mikael Forssell in the 30th minute before Stephen Hunt equalised in the 51st. Gray headed the winning goal from close range.
”It was a hard game for us, we knew they would come and try to push us back, but thankfully we got the result,” Gray said.
Reading, who lead the English League Championship standings by 10 points, rested many of their first team for the match, as did Birmingham.
”I’m delighted for the young lads. It was a horrible night and the ball was swerving all over the place in atrocious conditions,” Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said. ”It takes a little bit of time to settle. A few of them haven’t played at this level. I thought the reaction was terrific after Reading equalised.”
At Crystal Palace, Darren Ward gave Palace the lead in the 26th minute before Dichio rallied Preston with a goal in the 35th and his winner with two minutes remaining.
Birmingham will play Stoke City in the next round, while Preston will face either Coventry or Middlesbrough, who play their replay on Wednesday. — Sapa-AP