Sheffield United's play-off hopes ended in disappointment after a point from a
3-3 thriller at Preston was not enough to see them into the top six.
Nothing less than a win would do for the visitors and it would only suffice if
other results went in their favour.
The Blades took the lead three times, with Andy Gray scoring twice, but they
could not hold on and now face the prospect of another season in Division One
after a disastrous run of form saw them tumble from a seemingly impregnable
third position.
United simply had to win and their attacking approach left them exposed at the
back which North End were quick to exploit in the early stages.
The Blades were clearly nervous and there was a lack of fluidity to their
play, while Preston put together some incisive passing moves but with little end
product.
But the visitors took a vital lead in the 21st minute when Phil Jagielka
headed Rob Kozluk's pinpoint cross from the right low past the stranded keeper
with the Preston defence leaden-footed.
However, just three minutes later Graham Alexander levelled with a thunderous
drive from 25 yards which flew past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and high into his
left-hand corner.
Preston were dominant and almost caught United on the break when Richard
Cresswell sent a weak shot into Kenny's arms when a cross would have been the
better option, before Lewis shot narrowly over with United's defence wobbling.
But out of nowhere Gray put the Blades back into the lead when he hit a fierce
right-foot volley past the goalkeeper from a tight angle on the left of the
area.
Michael Tonge almost put the Blades further ahead in injury time but Gould
pulled off a fine save from the winger's low, hard shot to put the ball out for
a corner.
David Healy brought Preston level with a beautifully-placed 25-yard free-kick
from the left of the area which went past Kenny's despairing dive in the 54th
minute and nestled in the corner of the net.
A minute later Gray almost put United back into the lead when his close-range
shot beat the keeper but came back off the bar in a goalmouth scramble with
Izale McLeod unable to follow up.
The woodwork again saved the hosts when Alan Wright's 25-yard free-kick then
cannoned back off the right-hand post in the 60th minute with Gould again
beaten.
Jagielka put a header just over as United turned the screw in search of that
all-important winner.
Gray restored the lead after 72 minutes when he calmly slotted home from close
range after he controlled a ball which had been floated in by Wright from the
left-hand side to send the Blades fans into ecstasy.
Preston were back on level terms when Ricardo Fuller nodded home when unmarked
in front of goal after Blades defender Chris Morgan was caught between two North
End players. Moments later the same player fluffed what seemed to be an
unmissable chance when he put the ball wide when unmarked two yards out.
Kenny then pulled off a reaction save from Fuller's blistering drive before
saving with his legs from a volley by the same player seconds later as Preston
took the upper hand with United leaving acres of space at the back.
United could not come back again as a difficult season caught up with them to
leave the Blades facing another attempt to break into the Premiership next
year.
Teams
Preston Gould, Alexander, Davis, Lucketti, Broomes, Lewis,
McKenna (Koumantarakis 81), Etuhu (McCormack 45), Healy,
Fuller, Cresswell.
Subs Not Used: Lucas, Smith, Michael Jackson.
Booked: Fuller.
Goals: Alexander 24, Healy 54, Fuller 79.
Sheff Utd Kenny, Kozluk, Page, Morgan, Wright, Gray,
McCall (Forte 80), Phil Jagielka, Tonge, McLeod, Allison.
Subs Not Used: Shaw, Ndlovu, Rankine, Francis.
Booked: Page, Kozluk, Phil Jagielka.
Goals: Phil Jagielka 21, Gray 38, 77.
Att: 16,612
Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).
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