Preston Hartlepool United: Remember Fleetwood says Carl Magnay

Carl Magnay insists Hartlepool United should not write off tonight's EFL Cup tie at Preston North End.
Carl Magnay in action against Colchester United. Picture by FRANK REIDCarl Magnay in action against Colchester United. Picture by FRANK REID
Carl Magnay in action against Colchester United. Picture by FRANK REID

On paper it has the makings of a damage limitation exercise as a League Two club visits a middle-of-the-road Sky Bet Championship side (kick-off 7.45pm).

But Magnay points to 12 months ago when Pools visited League One outfit Fleetwood at the same stage of the competition – and won 1-0 to set up a second round tie with Bournemouth.

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It was backs-to-the-wall stuff at times for the side managed by Sam Collins in the absence of Ronnie Moore.

Adam Bartlett was outstanding in goal for Pools who won thanks to Billy Paynter’s second-half header from Jake Carroll’s free-kick.

And while Preston are clearly a notch above the Cod Army, Magnay says Pools can take confidence from that night in another corner of Lancashire.

“Fleetwood was a fantastic performance by us,” he said.

“We were really impressive and we turned them over.

“You could say Preston is a sterner challenge but it’s one we’re all looking forward to.

“We can’t wait – it’s a great stadium to play football at.

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“We had a similar challenge last year at Fleetwood and we managed to nick a win and get through to the second round, we’ll be looking for more of the same.”

Pools have won at Deepdale in the past, both in league and cup, including a 2-1 victory in the Auto Windscreens Shield in the early days of the millennium, Tommy Miller and Craig Midgley scoring the goals to KO a side managed by a certain David Moyes.