PAUL INCE’S BLACKPOOL suffered an embarrassing exit from the English League Cup on Monday as the Championship club were beaten 1-0 by local rivals Preston in the first round, amid a match that was marred by crowd trouble.
Ince, a former Manchester United, Liverpool and England star, had fielded a strong side at Deepdale, but it was League One Preston who took the bragging rights and a place in the second round.
Blackpool had opened their second tier campaign with a 3-1 win at Doncaster, but they were dumped out of the Cup in painful fashion.
There were just three minutes left to play when Tom Clarke got the only goal, the defender heading in a free-kick at the far post to give Preston their first home win over Blackpool since 1999.
Just 14 miles separate the two clubs and passions were running high at the final whistle.
Fans flooded onto the pitch to celebrate and then taunt the Blackpool supporters massed at one end, with mounted police called on to get between the two factions before trouble could break out.
During the trouble, a steward was trampled on by a police horse, with the TV pictures showing the individual involved to be unharmed following this incident.
YouTube credit: MKnighty1994
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy