Alex Neil hails Preston’s strength in depth after Carabo Cup victory

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

Preston boss Alex Neil was thrilled with his side’s strength in depth as they eased into the Carabao Cup second round with a 3-1 victory over Morecambe.

Neil made 11 changes to the side that lost at Swansea at the weekend with Brandon Barker and Graham Burke both scoring on their first Preston starts.

Louis Moult scored between their efforts with Liam Mandeville goal’s in first-half stoppage time failing to spark a Shrimps comeback.

Neil: “We have such quality in depth in our squad now that I was able to make the changes and I don’t think anyone would have noticed.

“Players like Brandon Barker and Graham Burke made their first starts and were excellent and I felt we were in control for much of the game.

“It was job done really. There was good quality throughout the game from all the lads and we had a good shape.

“We went out in the first round to Accrington last year and I remember the disappointment after that game. I think we are stronger now and we can afford to make changes and not worry about it.

“I was frustrated at the break when they scored because it was a sloppy goal to concede but we got a third goal and that just calmed things down and we should have perhaps scored more.”

Manchester City loanee Barker hit a stunning strike to break the deadlock on 14 minutes with Moult adding a second with a neat finish on the half hour.

Mandeville then scored Morecambe’s first goal of the season before Burke’s strike sealed Preston’s progress, but Morecambe boss Jim Bentley took positives from the defeat.

He said: “Their first goal was a good strike but the second came from our mistake that came from them putting us under pressure.

“But I have to give the lads credit because they bounced back and showed some real spirit. We scored a goal, our first of the season, at a great time and that gave us a real lift.

“We changed things around for the second half and it made a big difference. We really put them under pressure but were undone by their third goal which killed us off really.

“It was a bad goal to give away and it cost us but I can take heart from the performance and look to take the good bits into the weekend.”

“It was a tough game for us and the first half wasn’t great to be honest. Preston were as good off the ball as they were on it and they worked hard to get the ball back when they lost it.

“We found it really hard to get any momentum and we weren’t as sharp as we should have been.”