Derby 1-2 Preston: Cocu blames refereeing errors for Carabao Cup exit

Derby County manager Phillip Cocu blamed refereeing "mistakes" after Preston came from behind to knock them out of the Carabao Cup at Pride Park.

Rams defender Mike te Wiekerk was sent off shortly after Jason Knight had opened the scoring for the home side.

Tom Barkhuizen equalised before Preston were awarded a 92nd-minute penalty for a handball by Lee Buchanan and Daniel Johnson scored the winner.

Preston play Brighton or Portsmouth in the third round.

Cocu was unhappy with the penalty decision.

"It was not handball, it hit him in the face," he said. "That's why [Buchanan) was so angry.

"We all make mistakes but it's a crucial one, in the last minute. We deserved to have a shot at winning on penalties."

After watching his side dominate much of the proceedings, Preston boss Alex Neil saw things differently.

"We played well and deserved to win the game," he said. "They scored from their one attack, completely against the run of play.

"It would have been easy for heads to go down but our reaction was excellent."

Preston should have been in front after a one-sided first half with ex-Manchester United youngster Josh Harrop testing the reflexes of Kelle Roos, and Jayden Stockley firing a good chance over.

They were punished straight after half-time when Graeme Shinnie broke down the left and set up Knight, who scored at the second attempt.

Te Wierik was dismissed shortly afterwards for hauling down Sean Maguire and Preston finally found a way through when Barkhuizen crashed a breathtaking half-volley in off the crossbar.

As penalties loomed, a loose hand from Buchanan in the box presented Johnson with the chance to win the tie and he calmly sent Roos the wrong way from the spot.