Sheffield United 2-3 Preston North End: Hecky’s Men Bruise Blades Once More

Unused: Walton, Cornell, Lukovic, Nelson, Nolan.

First Half

The visitors made a blistering start, taking the lead inside the opening five minutes through Liam Lindsay. Rising early at the near post, he guided his header expertly across goal and into the far corner after meeting Alfie Devine’s inswinging delivery.

Searching for an immediate response, the Blades threatened when Callum O’Hare volleyed over from a clever, looping ball played in behind by Chong. However, momentum swung further in the visitors’ favour after Thompson was booked for a heavy challenge on Oliver Arblaster. From the resulting pressure, North End struck again, once more from a corner, as Lindsay repeated his earlier movement to the near post and finished clinically, with Devine registering his second assist of the afternoon.

Before the interval, the hosts showed brief signs of life. Sydie Peck curled an effort narrowly wide after a driving run from Chong, while Vukcevic saw yellow for hauling down O’Hare to halt a promising break. Despite these moments, clear-cut chances remained scarce for the Blades before the whistle.

Second Half

A change at the break saw Harrison Burrows introduced, and early in the second half the hosts nearly pulled one back. Chong found space in the box from Gustavo Hamer’s deft chip, but failed to convert. At the other end, only a superb save from Adam Davies denied Lewis Dobbin, after Daniel Jebbison had surged clear to set up the chance.

On 70 minutes, the referee pointed to the spot after Vukcevic brought down Femi Seriki. Hamer stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty to give the hosts a lifeline. But any hopes of a comeback were quickly dented when Dobbin broke through again just six minutes later, rounding Davies with composure to restore the two-goal cushion.

The contest remained open, and with eight minutes to play, Patrick Bamford finished sharply at the near post to reignite belief. The move was sparked by Seriki’s incisive pass, which released O’Hare down the right. Yet despite late pressure, the equaliser never came, Bamford himself later diverting Peck’s strike agonisingly wide.

Seven minutes of added time brought two final opportunities but the Blades could not find an equaliser.