Dave Seddon's verdict: Preston North End 0 Brighton 2 - spark is missing in Carabao Cup exit

Preston North End exited the Carabao Cup without really troubling Brighton’s energetic second string.
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The Lilywhites lacked a bit of zip and craft against the visitors, the second half something of a non-event from their point of view.

In the first half they had been very much in the contest, their best two chances coming 30 second apart.

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Albion’s 57th minute opener was to be the turning point of the third round tie.

Preston North End defender Patrick Bauer sees his header hit the bar against BrightonPreston North End defender Patrick Bauer sees his header hit the bar against Brighton
Preston North End defender Patrick Bauer sees his header hit the bar against Brighton

North End couldn’t raise a gallop after that in terms of getting close to the Brighton box in search of an equaliser.

The Premier League side comfortably soaked up what was offered and played on the counter-attack, with that approach bringing the reward of a second goal 15 minutes from time.

Just eight days on from winning in the second round against Derby – and the excitement that generated – their run in the competition ended at this stage for a third year running.

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If those who had played and won at Derby made Alex Neil’s team selection a tough one for last week’s visit to Norwich, that was not the case this time ahead of Saturday’s game with Stoke.

PNE left-back Andrew Hughes battles with Brighton winger Alireza JahanbakhshPNE left-back Andrew Hughes battles with Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh
PNE left-back Andrew Hughes battles with Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Patrick Bauer in my book was PNE’s best player on Wednesday night, the German one of two players to stay in the side from Norwich.

That was down to numbers at the back, a suspension for Paul Huntington meaning only one centre-half could be changed.

Joe Rafferty was the other to start both this one and Norwich, shifting over to right-back after being on the left at Carrow Road.

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Not too many pressed their claim in this one, the evening more about honest toil than anything.

Patrick Bauer and Victor Gyokeres challenge in the airPatrick Bauer and Victor Gyokeres challenge in the air
Patrick Bauer and Victor Gyokeres challenge in the air

Brighton had that bit more about them, mixing some experience in the shape of Dan Burn, Pascal Gross, Davy Propper and Alireza Jahanbakhsh with talent on the fringes of their squad.

Some of that was home grown, some brought in.

PNE went 4-2-3-1 as usual, Paul Gallagher and Tom Bayliss the deeper midfielders.

Brad Potts played further forward behind Jayden Stockley, Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop operating wider.

PNE manager Alex NeilPNE manager Alex Neil
PNE manager Alex Neil
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In the first half Harrop looked the more likely of that attacking crop of players to make something happen, with him keen to get on the ball and pick a pass.

Potts didn’t quite click, Bodin never really getting into it from the right hand side.

Stockley worked hard and was to have one of the two chances which fell Preston’s way, but his influence waned in the second half.

Much of the opening half hour was devoid of action in either box.

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The game gathered pace nearer to half-time though, Connor Ripley saving well from Jahanbakhsh’s low shot at the near post.

PNE’s best move of the match came in the 38th minute, the ball worked up to Potts who found Stockley with a good pass on the edge of the box.

The striker got a low shot away which Albion keeper Jason Steele plunged to his left to glove past the post.

Gallagher’s corner found Bauer who hit the top of the bar with a header.

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As it turned out, there wasn’t really a sight of goal again for PNE after that double chance.

Brighton started the second half well, having switched shape to a midfield diamond, and were on top when they took the lead in the 57th minute.

Bernardo got the ball down the left channel and sent over a cross which bounced across the Preston box and fell to Jahanbakhsh.

The Iran international finished impressively, hitting it powerfully back across Ripley into the far corner of the net.

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The second goal came with quarter of an hour to play, Gross spinning past Jordan Storey and running him down the right hand side of the box.

Reaching the byline, the German midfielder pulled the ball back for Alexis MacAllister to run in and finish from six yards.

Just a few minutes before that second goal, Alex Neil had introduced Sean Maguire, Scott Sinclair and then Ben Pearson off the bench – the bigger guns on to try and find a goal.

They’d hardly had time to get involved when Argentinian MacAllister struck, no chance to repeat the success of the substitutions made at Derby.

Brighton now face Manchester United in the fourth round next week, that forming a double header as they meet in the Premier League this weekend.