John Roper’s Preston North End Fans’ Panel verdict: Great chance to reach Carabao Cup last 16

A first 45 minutes of good build-up play but no final output saw North End go in at half-time on top in the game but level on goals.

After the break it looked like being one of those evenings, when Derby took the lead early in the second half.

A red card saw the Rams reduced to 10 men but it took Preston all of the 35 minutes that they had the man advantage to finally put Derby to the sword.

A Tom Barkhuizen thunderbolt and Johnson’s spot-kick right at the end turned the game around but it was nothing more than the boys deserved with this much Improved performance.

Yes Derby had a few first-choices missing but so did we and that certainly should not detract from this cup-tie victory

A very much changed PNE, in their new blue away kit, started the game well and although the host tried to break quickly in the opening encounters the Preston defence was well up to it.

It wasn’t long before North End were in the ascendancy with some good work in midfield, particularly by Harrop and Browne, as we took the game to Derby in the first quarter.

We had a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions but both Gallagher and Maguire could not hit the target and the chances went begging.

In fact I think the ‘shots on goal’ stat in the first half was 1-0 to North End as both sides couldn’t make that final telling pass.

Darnell Fisher was having his own little battle with Wayne Rooney, with the former England international getting more and more frustrated as the half went on.

Derby rallied a little near the break but North End were good value for the 0-0 at half-time and were certainly ahead on ‘points’.

After the break the game became full of incident, particularly in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Derby took the lead after 51 minutes when Knight poked the ball home but, to be honest, I thought Bauer should have done better with his defending and it was a poor goal to concede.

Just a few minutes later Maguire had an excellent chance but was then brought down when clean through.

Exit stage left for Te Wierik and the hosts were down to 10 men.

Stockley then had a shot but some how Derby kept themselves in front as the clock ticked on.

Barkhuizen, Sinclair and Johnson were brought on for Bayliss, Gally and Harrop and, as we entered the final 15 minutes, the game started to change.

It was all North End and Barkhuizen levelled things up in the 79th minute with an absolute rocket from 20 yards to lift the North End spirits.

It looked like we were heading to penalties but an infringement in the box on the stroke of full-time saw the merry whistle blower point to the spot and DJ slotted home as cool as you like.

Game, set and match and a fully deserved win for Alex Neil and all at the football club.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer but this was clearly a much better performance from North End than Saturday and one which will lift everyone ahead of a tough looking trip to Norfolk on Saturday afternoon.

The play was quicker and brighter and we had much more energy on the evening with Bayliss and Harrop looking particularly good in the first half.

I thought that was the best game I have seen Tom Bayliss have for us, he looks physically stronger and put in plenty of tackles before being subbed later in the game for Barkhuizen.

We will have to wait until Thursday evening to see whether it is Brighton or Portsmouth at home next week, but with both playing on Sunday, I fancy it will be Wednesday next week when our third-round tie is played.

Whoever it is won’t fancy a long midweek trip to Deepdale and I think it is a great chance for us to get into the last 16.