Championship quality shines through as Preston North End beat Mansfield Town to advance into the second round of the Carabao Cup

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Scott Sinclair and Emil Riis Jakobsen were on target for Preston North End as the Lilywhites knocked out the Stags at the first round stage for a second successive time.

Nigel Clough’s men did have chances throughout, but Preston’s killer instinct and quality was the difference between the two sides on the evening.

The Stags had the first chance through Rhys Oates. The forward danced into the box and directed his shot goalwards, however, the ball went straight at Daniel Iversen and into the grasp of the goalkeeper.

Nathan Bishop had to be quick off his line as Scott Sinclair raced through on goal with the goalkeeper making a vital save to deny the forward.

Oates had another chance after he was found on the edge of the box by Ryan Stirk. However, he fired his effort wide of the target.

A minute before the half-time interval, Stirk fired his effort through a sea of North End bodies with the shot eventually claimed by Iversen.

Preston went in front in added time of the first-half. The experienced Sinclair latched onto a Sean Maguire pass and lifted the ball over the on-rushing Bishop to open the scoring for the visitors.

Before he came off in the 64th minute, Oates played a part in two Stags chances with his header off target and his delivery into Jordan Bowery cleared by the Lilywhites’ defence.

Kellan Gordon whipped in a dangerous ball into the path of Ferrand Rawson but once more the visitors were alert to the danger and blocked the effort from the defender.

Frankie McAvoy’s men were 2-0 up after 71 minutes as a poor goal-kick from Bishop allowed Sinclair to fire an effort at goal. The effort was saved but Emil Riis Jakobsen was there to fire the follow-up into the roof of the net.

As the Championship side continued to knock on the door, they found their third in the 81st minute as Sinclair was at the double slotting the ball past Bishop and putting the game beyond the Stags’ reach.

For Mansfield Town, attentions now turn back to league action as they face Newport County at the One Call Stadium this weekend. Preston continue on their travels to play Reading in Championship action at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

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