Adam Federici the hero as Bournemouth finally see off Preston on penalties
Goalkeeper Adam Federici saved three penalties as Bournemouth eventually overcame Preston in a penalty shoot-out at Deepdale to progress in the Capital One Cup.
Simon Grayson's hosts had twice staged late comebacks, both in normal time to make it 1-1 and at the end of extra time to level it up at two apiece, only for Federici to thwart Jordan Hugill, Alan Browne and Daniel Johnson with three saves in a 3-2 spot-kicks victory.
Shaun MacDonald set the much-changed visitors on their way when he headed home his first goal in eight months after neither goalkeeper Jordan Pickford or defender Greg Cunningham had taken charge of the situation.
However, the Lilywhites, who eliminated Watford in the previous round, rallied in the second half against another Barclays Premier League opponent and substitute Hugill's late header took the game into extra time.
Fellow replacement Marc Pugh, himself only introduced in the 81st minute, lurked at the back post to convert Josh King's attempt and restore Bournemouth's lead, yet the same player's handball inside the area allowed Johnson to score from 12 yards and force spot-kicks, where Federici came to the fore.
Eddie Howe made nine changes from the side that defeated Sunderland three days ago but, as they had done when he shuffled his pack against Hartlepool in the last round, they started in the ascendancy, Junior Stanislas going close following a one-two with King.
With five-goal forward Callum Wilson given the night off, King looked to spearhead the attack and drove one effort at Pickford before bringing out a sharp reaction stop from the keeper when he lashed in a volley on the turn.
The England Under-21 international earned applause for that save but less than 60 seconds later he was caught out of position for the opener.
Attempting to punch a centre from the left away, he was beaten to it by a weak Cunningham header which went straight to MacDonald, who looped it back over the Preston goalkeeper to send Howe's side in front.
Grayson's half-time words sparked an improvement after the interval, although Stanislas almost gave them a helping hand.
He was caught out by Browne when he tried to flick past him on the edge of his area only for the winger to recover with a sliding challenge as the Irishman threatened to pull the trigger.
From the resulting corner, Johnson's delivery found its way to an unmarked Tom Clarke at the back post and his diving header crashed into the wrong side of the netting.
Will Keane then pulled another chance past Federici's far post as the home side's six minutes of dominance failed to reap a reward.
However, Grayson brought on three substitutes in quick succession and the trio produced some late pressure that eventually told as Cunningham's back-post cross was nodded beyond Federici by Hugill with six minutes remaining.
It was the 23-year-old's first appearance since his short cameo against MK Dons last month when he was dismissed with an altogether different contribution from the bench.
Early in extra time, it was another replacement who restored the Cherries' lead.
King stabbed a shot towards the back post and Clarke's attempted block diverted the ball into the path of Pugh, who slotted home from close range amid protests from the home defence that he was offside.
Pickford then made a fine double save to deny Lee Tomlin after he had raced through having nutmegged Bailey Wright before the hosts staged their second fightback.
Pugh was adjudged to have handled from a high ball as he tried to challenge Wright and Johnson dispatched the penalty past Federici's right arm.
However, the goalkeeper would have the last laugh by making three denials from penalties aimed in the very same corner.
Source: PA
