No dream start for new Boro boss Carrick
Michael Carrick got an immediate insight into the cold realities of fulltime football management when Jordan Storey’s stoppage-time goal earned Preston a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over his Middlesbrough side.
Former Manchester United caretaker boss Carrick, who was appointed head coach on Teesside on Monday, enjoyed a promising start to his tenure when Chuba Akpom nodded Boro in front after just eight minutes.
But Emil Riis Jakobsen thrashed home his fifth goal of the campaign to equalise 10 minutes before the break.
And Storey stole in to head home in the first of three added minutes, securing only a second home success for Preston this term.
Carrick’s team could not have enjoyed a much brighter opening to the game.
Akpom was denied by Storey’s brave block, but from the resulting corner the striker stooped to score his fifth goal of the campaign.
Ryan Giles swung in the set-piece which, save for a touch from Darragh Lenihan, was allowed to travel across the face of goal without interference.
Akpom arrived at the back post for the decisive touch to add to the feelgood factor evident among the away fans.
There was a definite momentum swing, though, after 35 minutes. A ball sat up invitingly for Jakobsen following Liam Lindsay’s hook forward from the edge of the box.
Riis duly unfurled a jackhammer of a first-time strike into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.
Akpom steered wide from Giles’ delivery three minutes before the break. But it was Preston with their blood up and Woodburn soon sent a shot screaming fractionally beyond the far post after neat approach play.
Muniz came close with a deflected shot and a header over the top after the restart.
Boro steadily retreated and after Alan Browne had a goal ruled out for offside and Woodburn flashed a 12-yard shot too high, Preston struck late to ruin Carrick’s managerial debut.
Ryan Ledson, on as a sub, directed a free-kick he had won to the back post. Lindsay rose highest to supply his second assist of the afternoon – a header to the back post for Storey to bundle in.