Preston North End advanced to the Carling Cup Third Round with a gruelling 2-1 extra-time victory over a plucky Bradford City side.

Stunning goals from Paul Coutts and man-of-the-match Keith Treacy meant a fantastic effort by Preston, in which they rained 23 shots onto the Bantams goal and were rewarded with a win.

Coutts opened the scoring in the 45th minute with a low 25-yard strike that beat Jon McLaughlin in the Bradford goal. PNE then looked to be heading for victory until substitute Jake Speight headed in seven minutes from time. A frantic end to the game saw both teams have chances, but Keith Treacy stepped up to win it in the 109th minute with a thunderous left foot strike from outside the area.

Treacy's display was one of many brave efforts in a North End shirt with Craig Morgan and Bailey Wright both making countless blocks and tackles for the cause.

Darren Ferguson made one change to the side that beat Pompey 1-0 on Saturday, bringing in David Gray for Billy Jones at right back. Wayne Brown's injury meant Sean St. Ledger and Morgan played in central defence, with young Aussie starlet Wright on the bench. Meanwhile Paul Hayes and on-loan Manchester United striker Josh King continued their exciting partnership up front.

Fresh off their first round victory over Nottingham Forest, a confident Bradford named a strong side that included ex-PNE winger, Omar Daley. The Jamacian appeared 14 times for Preston after arriving in 2004 from Jamaica. Zesh Rahman captained the side, but manager Peter Taylor started with last season's top scorer James Hanson on the bench as they looked to claim yet another Championship scalp.

In the eighth minute Gray had PNE's first shot on target picking up a Matty James pass on the edge on the area and testing McLaughlin with a powerful right-foot shot, but the keeper gathered at the second attempt.

After a lengthy interruption for a change of linesman, Bradford had a glorious chance to go into the lead on 20 minutes. Gareth Evans led the Bantam's counter attack which saw them three-on-one, but his right-footed drive from the edge of the area hit Andy Lonergan's right-hand post and PNE cleared. It was an early warning of what Bradford could do to North End, who had enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.

Bradford's spell soon came to an end as Preston regained control of the game with ease. Tricky winger Treacy had the next two chances of note either side of the 25 minute mark. The first was a rasping left footer from 20-yards which forced a good save from McLaughlin with the second being a right-footed effort from the same distance that dropped the wrong side of the crossbar.

Bradford looked most dangerous on the counter, and proved it in the 43rd minute when Lonergan had to produce a wonder save to deny Gareth Evans what looked a certain goal. The ball was cut back by Moult for Evans, who placed his shot in the corner, but Lonners managed to get a hand to it before gathering it as it rolled towards the line.

The save looked to be twice as importand two minutes later when Paul Coutts gave Preston a 1-0 lead with a stunning 25-yarder. The midfielder hit a beautiful low drive that went through everybody and into the bottom right corner of McLaughlin's goal from an almost impossible distance. The strike was the last of the half as PNE went into the interval with a deserved 1-0 lead.

North End made what looked like an enforced change at half-time, with Wright coming on for St. Ledger. The Republic of Ireland international came out for the second half, but went off again before kick-off, which later proved to be mainly as a precaution for Saturday.

The young defender was immediately put under pressure by Bradford with a series of corners and balls into the box but the youngster soaked it up well.

The Bantams definitely came out with more menace in the second half, and although they were yet to really test Lonergan since the beak, they were piling pressure on PNE with long - route one - balls into the box.

Preston's final change came in the 68th minute, when Darel Russell replaced Danny Mayor, and was followed by Bradford replacing Daley with Jake Speight.

By now, Bradford were launching it long in search of an equaliser, but having no joy. Preston used their midfield well and it was James who could have doubled the lead on 74 minutes when his perfect first touch created a shooting opportunity but his right-footed shot was too clsoe to the goalkeeper.

The energy in Darren Ferguson's side was thrilling to watch at times, they weren't allowing Bradford a second on the ball. It was this energy that perhaps helped earn King a booking in the 77th minute, although he could count himself a little unlucky as he didn't seem to catch Luke O'Brien with his late tackle.

Both King and James had efforts on goal as the game entered the final ten minutes and became more open. Substitute Chris Brown was leading the line on his own, but was well supported by King and Gray down the right hand side.

Just as PNE looked like doubling their lead, an O'Brien cross from the left on 83 minutes found the head of substitute Speight, who headed low past Lonergan to make it 1-1.

The goal roused the crowd at Valley Parade, and they almost roared their team to a 2-1 lead two minutes later, as Speight forced a near post save from Lonners.

The Preston keeper seemed to be dealing with every long ball into the box Bradford could muster, before James almost won it for PNE at the other end. A Treacy ball evaded the keeper, but the angle was too tight at the far post for James who shot into the side netting.

It was now becoming a nervy affair, as into the first minute of five added on Bradford had a glorious chance to win it. The ball fell to Tom Adeyemi in the box, but Wright got in their for what was a crucial block, keeping Preston in the tie.

Extra-time continued in the frantic fashion that normal time ended, when Treacy had a effort wide at one end while David Syers hit the crossbar with a dipping effort at the other.

The Irish winger undoubtedly arguably man-of-the-match for Preston, and he continued to carve out openings in extra-time. His 98th minute strike with his right was all his own making, and although it was saved, the maurading Treacy really gave Bradford food for thought.

Treacy continued to be the dangerman for North End, having an off balence shot deflected wide as North End finished the half camped outside the Bradford 18-yard line, but without the crucial second goal they deserved.

Shots from distance seemed to be flavour of the week as the second half of extra-time began. The effects of the game were starting to show and Adeyemi cut in from the left to blaze a tired effort over Lonergan's crossbar in the 106th minute.

Treacy then had a shot from distance himself three minutes later, but this wasn't a tired effort at all, it flew straight into the top corner to give Preston a 2-1 lead. He had just hit the bar with a cross-shot a moment earlier, but this time he hit it left-footed from the edge of the box, sparking wild celebrations from the Preston players, even Lonners got involved from 70 yards away!

It was all PNE pressure now and Treacy used that traction-engine of a left-foot to rattle the Bantams crossbar once again in the 113th minute. He was a thorn in Bradford's side all game, and was very unlucky not to have his second.

A yellow card for kicking the ball away didn't tarnish Treacy's preformance though, he was a class act all night.

The goal was a hammer blow for Peter Taylor's men, who couldn't create anymore chances, and were helpless to prevent PNE seeing out the game well on top with a place in the third round in the bag.