[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Robnson,Barkhuizen Middlesbrough 2 Fletcher, Tavernier (Boro win 4-3 on pens)

PNE line-up: Maxwell, Clarke ©, Hughes, Pearson, Storey, Huntington, Barkhuizen (Moult, 85), Ledson, Robinson, Browne (Harrop, 63), Barker (Burke, 81). Subs not used: Rudd, Earl, Johnson, Gallagher.

Middlesbrough line-up: Konstantopoulos, Batth, Leadbitter ©, McQueen, McNair, Fletcher, Fry, Wood (Chapman, 72), Wing, Tavernier, Gestede. Subs not used: Lonergan, Liddle, Stubbs, Spence, Malley, Walker.

Attendance: 5,095 (781 Middlesbrough fans)

Referee: Mr O Langford

Out of the fizzy drink cup against a reserve strength team from Middlesbrough although in saying that both Fletcher and Gestede cost 7 million and McNair cost 5.
Positive didn't lose and played our part in an entertraining game of football in which the draw was probably the right result.
Boro looked the more likelier early on when Leadbitter should have scored when they had two men spare but his shot was easily saved by Maxwell, McQueen also probably should have done better when he got a chance when stealing in unnoticed at the back post but he put his effort into the side netting. For North End Barker had a couple of surging runs which did cause problems but the Greek guy between the sticks for Boro was reletively untroubled until Pearson played a super pass to Browne, ball into the box Robinson fired home from close range. Slightly against the run of play but who cared.



We started to play with a bit of freedom but Boro were level within seven minutes, some quick passing around the box and Fletcher was played in took the ball around Maxwell and slotted home. Gestede could have put them ahead on the stroke of half time his header went inches wide.
Second half started really well Pearson fired in a shot semi cleared by the Greek guy before in the second phase of the action Barkhuizen hit the post from 20 yards.
It was then Boro's turn to hit the woodwork Maxwell pulled off a worldie to deny Fletcher, from the rebound Gestede hit the bar and he nearly got another chance when Storey back heeled a pass to him but Maxwell was alert and got the young defender of the hook.
Wasn't denied for long when a Boro attack broke down Hughes sent Barkhuizen on a run he fired home from 20 yards looked like the keeper probably should have saved it but Dimi's near 40 year old body couldn't get down in time.
North End were not ahead for long Pearsonpossibly may have been fouled on the touchline but no whistle the ball found it's way to Tavernier from outside the box he hit an unstoppable shot past Maxwell.
With penalties getting closer North End nearly won it at the death, Harrop got himself some space and the Greek guy Konstantopoulos pulled off a great save to deny him.
On to penalties Boro scored all four Robinson put the second of ours into the Boro fans and Burke put our last one onto the M6 at Broughton.
Stiffer tasks await notably against Albion on Saturday more positives last night, Ledson played well, Robinson haviing a really good spell and Pearson back but wearing pink boots!! Defence still needs sorting out young Storey had a difficult game against Gestede and also picked up a shoulder injury, but just need that all elusive win to kick start the season.
Alex Neil felt the only thing lacking from his side’s Carabao Cup tie against Middlesbrough at Deepdale was the result.

The Lilywhites put on an encouraging display with Callum Robinson and Tom Barkhuizen among the goals, but they were twice pegged back by quick Middlesbrough equalisers, the visitors going on to win 4-3 on penalties following the 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
The manager suggested his players were unfortunate not to have wrapped up the result in normal time but is now hoping they can draw some confidence from their performance.

“I thought we played well enough to win the game,” Alex told iFollow PNE. “The second goal is obviously a bit of a kick in the teeth because it’s a really good finish from distance.

“But we created really good chances and didn’t take them and then you leave yourselves susceptible to conceding late in the game, having led twice as well.

“We get unfortunate with Tom hitting the post as well. Naturally, we’re disappointed that we’re out of the cup but there’s certainly a lot of positives from tonight in terms of how the lads played and hopefully we can try to take that into the weekend.
“It was a good save [late on to deny Josh Harrop]. He was playing wide right at that stage as well and what he has got is good feet around the edge of the box where he can manoeuvre himself and get his shot away, so he was unfortunate that didn’t go in.

“The good thing is the lads are happy with how they played, I thought they played well, second half against Sheffield United we played well and again tonight, so hopefully we can take that into Saturday and that can help us and catapult us towards winning the game.”

The gaffer also spoke of numerous impressive individual displays, including that of his fluid front three and Tom Barkhuizen in particular, with Alex optimistic that his superb long-range strike can boost his confidence.

“Tom sometimes gets a bit of undue stick which I don’t think he deserves because he works extremely hard for us and he has got quality. The good thing about playing Callum [Robinson] up top is that I can flip Tom and Brandon [Barker] over because both can play either side.

“Naturally, Callum prefers the left when he does play and he’s been such a key player for us that Tom then generally plays on the right hand side. But he’s certainly dangerous cutting in from the left hand side and hopefully that [his goal] will get a shot in the arm in terms of his confidence going into the weekend.

“Callum always gets chances and a lot of them are self-made, he’s just an excellent player and his development over the last year has been outstanding. Ben Pearson was outstanding as well and Ryan Ledson, I think that’s his second start, you can see that he’s getting better; he’s got more confidence and he’ll get fitter in terms of getting the minutes.
“All in all, I thought there were a lot of positive performances and I think the only thing we lacked was getting the result that the lads deserved.”