Birmingham braced for 12-point deduction over alleged FFP breaches that puts Championship status at risk

BIRMINGHAM will get no sympathy from their rivals if they are hit with a 12-point penalty by the Football League - as Alex Neil put the boot in.

Garry Monk’s men could be plunged into the relegation dogfight if they are punished for over-spending and signing £2million Kristian Pedersen under a ‘soft embargo’ in a double charge under the Financial Fair Play rules.

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It comes just a week after Birmingham were charged by the FA for the abhorrent attack by Blues fan Paul Mitchell on Aston Villa's Jack Grealish.

But an EFL hearing later this week will only look into a financial mayhem at St Andrew's - although it could see the club, currently sitting in 13th, nosediving to just two points off the relegation zone.

However, Preston chief Neil took a no-nonsense view ahead of the independent panel’s imminent decision.

Neil rapped: "The rules are put in place for a reason. If you break them you deserve the punishment.

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"If there are stipulations every team has got to abide by them."

Blues midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld summed up the mood: "We have talked about it but you can’t be worried about something you have no control over."

Sean Maguire scored a stoppage-time winner for Preston to maintain their push for the play-offs.

Their run-in features three of the top four but that does not scare them.

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Maguire said: "We play our best football against the top teams — we don’t fear anyone in this division.

"We want to finish this season on a high."