On loan Blackpool winger Matt Phillips haunted Preston North End after two of his goals helped Sheffield United to a 4 – 2 win at Deepdale.
Substitute Lee Williamson - a former North End loanee added the other two for the Blades, after Clarke Carlisle’s header and Iain Hume’s fifth goal of the season twice pulled Preston back level.
Hume was fit to start after he recovered from his hamstring injury he picked up on International duty with Canada.
But Neil Mellor was still suffering from his injury he picked up at Walsall.
Youngster Danny Mayor came in for only his 2nd start of the season replacing Ian Ashbee who took his place on the bench.
Danny Wilson made three changes to his side that surrendered a two goal lead in the Steel city derby.
Matt Phillips on loan from North End rivals Blackpool made his first start for the club.
Top Scorers Richard Cresswell and Ched Evans had to settle for places on the bench as Chris Porter and Billy Clarke lead the Blades line.
Sheffield United and Phillips were lively from the off and it took only four minutes for Phillips to open his account.
Kevin McDonald played in the winger who cut in from the right and slotted a left footed drive past Iain Turner’s near post from 15 yards.
A minute later and the floodlights dimmed, but that didn’t stop Phillips’ vision as his right footed cross was headed over by Stephen Quinn.
That man Phillips was at it again, but he was only denied by a last ditch Brian McLean saving challenge on 12 minutes.
On 16 minutes, Phillips cut in from the right, but his shot from 20 yards was easily gathered by Turner.
It took all of 25 minutes before the home-side threatened as a mazy run from youngster Mayor woke the Deepdale faithful up.
A minute later and Preston had a shout for a penalty as Carlisle was pushed in the back, but the referee waved away the strong North End protests.
But Carlisle was not to be denied three minutes later as a Steven Smith free kick from the right was met by the powerful figure of Carlisle at the back post.
His header into the ground rebounded off the crossbar and crept over the line.
But 10 minutes later, Phillips doubled his and his teams tally as he cut inside yet again and slotted the ball past Turner at his near post after Clarke had nodded on.
Preston were close to levelling minutes into the second half, but
Mayor’s shot hit Jamie Proctor and the follow up was hit wide by Mayor from 8 yards.
On 62 minutes Hume did level the score line after he quickly swivelled and cooly finished low into the far corner from 15 yards.
Five minutes later and Coutts was close to putting North End in the lead, but he was only denied by a great sprawling save by Simonsen.
Preston were punished on 74 minutes as substitute Williamson made it 3 - 2.
The North End defence stood off Clarke and he played in Williamson who from 12 yards drilled low past Turner into the far corner.
North End’s Coutts was denied an equaliser five minutes before time by a great sprawling save by Simonsen and Carlisle came within inches seconds later but his header was blocked on the line.
Williamson made Preston pay as he doubled his tally to put the game beyond doubt three minutes before the end.
The winger mirrored his first goal drilling across Turner from 12 yards.
The result means Preston have now lost three straight league games, whereas Sheffield United picked up their first win in four to move into the playoff places.
You can also follow Jamie of twitter: @jamie_journo
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