Richard Cresswell made Sheffield United pay for a string of missed chances with a spectacular overhead kick to score the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.

United took the lead through Leigh Bromby's first-half goal but squandered several opportunities to double their advantage.

Steve Kabba started ahead of David Johnson in attack as United looked to get their play-off push back on track having lost six of their last eight matches.

Preston, defeated only once in their last eight, were unchanged with new loan signing Yohan Folly replacing the suspended Dickson Etuhu among the substitutes.

United came desperately close to taking the lead after four minutes when Phil Jagielka's cross went inches wide of the post with both Kabba and Bromby stretching to meet it.

In the 18th minute Michael Tonge set Jon Harley free down the left and his cross found Kabba on the penalty spot but the striker, still rusty after 22 months out, stabbed a shot goalwards which Callum Davidson did well to deflect just wide.

On the half-hour David Nugent waltzed his way into the box to set up Eddie Lewis with an apparent sitter but he mis-timed his shot wildly and Kabba quickly raced to the other end to win his side a corner.

Harley delivered an inswinger and after a slip by Brian O'Neil, Bromby was on hand to fire a half-volley into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Three minutes before half-time Harley struck the woodwork from 25 yards when his half-volley was deflected over a helpless Chris Day.

Andy Gray thought he had scored in first-half injury-time with a good turn and shot but it was chalked off for a handball.

Preston then stunned United straight after the break. United failed to clear Chris Sedgwick's corner, and Cresswell powered an overhead kick from six yards into the net with Paddy Kenny a spectator.

United were rocking and five minutes later David Nugent could have doubled the lead having nipped in behind United's defence but he hit his shot straight at Kenny.

The game went stale until Preston boss Billy Davies brought on Patrick Agyemang to liven things up but it was United who took the initiative.

Gray somehow failed to reach a Harley cross but a moments later connected with Rob Kozluk's effort to head straight at Day.

Neil Warnock brought on Johnson for Alan Quinn in the 81st minute as he switched to a 4-3-3 in search of a winner.

The on-loan Nottingham Forest man got up to head Kozluk's throw goalwards but it was an easy catch for Day, virtually his only touch.

Teams

Sheff Utd Kenny, Kozluk, Jagielka, Bromby, Harley, Liddell, Montgomery, Quinn (David Johnson 81), Tonge, Gray, Kabba (Shaw 89).

Subs Not Used: Thirlwell, Geary, Cullip.

Booked: Montgomery.

Goals: Bromby 31.

Preston Day, Alexander, Davidson, Mawene, O'Neil, McKenna (Hill 76), Lucketti, Sedgwick, Lewis (Davis 81), Cresswell, Nugent (Agyemang 72).

Subs Not Used: Folly, Ward.

Booked: Mawene.

Goals: Cresswell 48.

Att: 18,647

Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).