Ireland on target for Man City

FA Cup/Preston NE 1 - Manchester City 3: Late goals by striker Georgios Samaras and midfielder Stephen Ireland gave Manchester…

FA Cup/Preston NE 1 - Manchester City 3:Late goals by striker Georgios Samaras and midfielder Stephen Ireland gave Manchester City a 3-1 comeback win at Preston North End on Sunday and a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Striker David Nugent gave the second division side a shock lead after eight minutes, pouncing from close range after City keeper Nicky Weaver had parried a Michael Ricketts header.

However Preston did not look the same after Ricketts was carried off and taken to hospital for X-rays on what appeared to be a damaged shoulder.

City levelled with a booming half-volley by defender Michael Ball in the 35th minute but things remained level until Greek striker Samaras got Stuart Pearce's team's second goal with a deflected close-range shot in the six minutes from the end.

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Ireland wrapped it up in stoppage time with a stunning volley from the edge of the D after Corradi's volley had been blocked.