Super sub James Thomas handed Sheffield United a deserved win in this
five-goal thriller.
United had come from 2-0 behind after David Healy and Mark Rankine netted for
Preston in the opening 20 minutes.
But a penalty from Bobby Ford gave the Blades a lifeline before half-time.
David Kelly and then Thomas forced the Blades into the lead to continue their
excellent home form.
Preston had got off to a dream start through new arrival Healy. The
21-year-old Northern Ireland international, who arrived on loan from Manchester
United on Friday before making an expected permanent move, scored his first goal
for the club in the fourth minute.
A Gary Parkinson corner was flicked on by Sean Gregan to Healy who headed past
United keeper Simon Tracey and into the bottom left corner.
United took time to find their feet after the early blow and went close to
falling further behind, but Brian McBride and Michael Appleton both failed to
hit the target from close range.
The visitors doubled their lead after 20 minutes when a Lee Cartwright cross
was met by Rankine. The midfielder flung himself at the ball to head into the
bottom right corner for his fifth goal of the season.
But nine minutes later the Blades pulled a goal back when Kelly was brought
down by Parkinson to hand the home side their third penalty in four games. Ford
calmly stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
Minutes before the half-time whistle the Blades went close to scoring the
equaliser through Michael Brown.
The midfielder cut inside the Preston defence before unleashing a fierce drive
which was heading for the bottom left corner, only for keeper David Lucas to
pull off a brilliant one-handed save.
United forced the visitors onto the back foot after the break by winning two
corners in the first eight minutes.
It was a corner which nearly handed United the chance to level the scores.
A Paul Devlin corner was met by the head of Shaun Murphy. The ball fell to
Ford, whose first-time volley skimmed off Preston's right hand post.
The Blades continued to press and eventually secured the equaliser on 70
minutes.
Devlin was again involved with a cross which skimmed off the head of Ryan Kidd
and over Lucas to leave Kelly with an easy finish from two yards out.
Preston were rocked by the equaliser and failed to create too many chances in
the second half.
The decisive appearance of Thomas on 77 minutes proved to be a crucial change
by United manager Neil Warnock.
The 21-year-old had only been on the field for four minutes before netting the
Blades' winner.
A long ball from Devlin was met by Thomas who squeezed in between two Preston
defenders to leave himself with only Lucas to beat.
The on-loan striker from Blackburn calmly slotted the ball past the helpless
Lucas, much to the delight of Warnock.
Preston had a chance to go away with a point but McBride again headed wide
from eight yards.
Teams
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Kozluk, Woodhouse, Uhlenbeek, Murphy,
Michael Brown, Santos, Ford, Devlin, Suffo (Thomas 77),Kelly (Jagielka 90).
Subs Not Used: Quinn, Montgomery, Doane.
Booked: Woodhouse, Uhlenbeek, Santos, Kelly.
Goals: Ford 30 pen, Kelly 70, Thomas 80.
Preston: Lucas, Edwards (Kidd 39), Jackson, Gregan, Rankine,
Appleton, McKenna, Cartwright (Anderson 76), Parkinson,
Healy (Barry-Murphy 75), McBride.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Moilanen.
Booked: Rankine, Kidd.
Goals: Healy 4, Rankine 20.
Att: 22,316
Ref: R Olivier (Sutton Coldfield).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook