Morecambe 2-4 Preston North End
Carabao Cup
The Mazuma Stadium
Tuesday 24 August 2021
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Attendance: 4,334 (1,774 away)
A valiant display from the Shrimps see them put up a strong fight against Sky Bet Championship side Preston North End, but it untimely ends in defeat at the Mazuma Stadium.
A brace from Emil Riis Jakobsen, one from Ryan Ledson and one from full-back Sepp van den Berg helped the Lilywhites to a 4-2 victory in Round Two.
Goals from Anthony O’Connor and Cole Stockton originally brought the home side back on level terms on the hour mark, but two goals in the remaining half an hour sealed the result for the visitors.
It was Stephen Robinson’s men that had the first opportunity of the game, a short corner found Greg Leigh, the full-back cross was deep to the back post in the direction of Sam Lavelle who had made his way up from the back, but the central defender could not beat Declan Rudd in the PNE goal.
From that save came the Lilywhites opening goal.
A well-worked move down the Shrimps’ left side saw the ball eventually slipped through to Riis Jakobsen who slid the ball past the advancing Jokull Andresson in the Morecambe goal.
The visitors made it two just after the hour mark, a long ball through the middle saw Riis Jakobsen, Lavelle and Andressen clash, the referee let the game proceed which left Riis Jakobsen with the easy Jon of passing the ball into an empty net.
The hosts did get one back before the break, after Courtney Duffus was chopped down by Andrew Hughes, a free-kick from Leigh found its way to the back post, and there was O’Connor to nod home from close range.
Half-time: Morecambe 1-2 Preston North End
Robinson men came out battling at the start of the second half with Duffus on the front foot from the get go.
It was that man Duffus who had the first effort of the second, a rasping effort from the new man made sure Rudd was on his toes to make a decent save in the Preston goal.
The comeback was complete for the hosts on the hour mark as Stockton found himself back on the scoresheet.
A drilled ball into the feet of the number nine saw his delicate touch evade the backtracking defender before smashing the ball past Rudd.
However, the home sides jubilation was cut short three minutes later, as Ledson’s 25-yard strike found the top-right corner of Andresson’s goal, leaving the Icelandic with no hope in the world.
Frankie McAvoy’s men made it four with 10 minutes of the game remaining, a cross from the left found the right-back at the far post, and there he was to tap home and give the Lilywhites back their two-goal advantage.
Morecambe did have the ball in the back of the net in stoppage time, but the assistant on the far side had his flag up to deny Stockton his second of the game.
Full-time: Morecambe 2-4 Preston North End
Robinson’s men return to Sky Bet League One action on Saturday, as we host Sheffield Wednesday at the Mazuma Stadium.
Morecambe: Andresson, Leigh, O’Connor, Lavelle (c), Diagouraga, Stockton, McLoughlin (McPake 80’), Cooney, Gnahoua (McDonald 75’), McCalmont, Duffus (Phillips 80’).
Subs not used: Roche, Jones, Mensah, Wootton.
Goals: O’Connor 45’, Stockton 60’
Bookings: Duffus 39’
Red cards: None
Preston North End: Rudd, Van Den Berg, Cunningham, Johnson (c) (Bayliss 83’), Storey, Rafferty (Bauer 75’), Hughes, Ledson, Riis Jakobsen, Sinclair (Maguire 59’), Potts.
Subs not used: Iverson, Leigh, Earl, Thomas.
Goals: Riis Jakobsen 8’, 33’, Ledson 64’, Van Den Berg 79’
Bookings: Hughes 45’, Ledson 55’, Van Den Berg 90’
Red cards: None