[themaclad]

Sheffield United 3 Sharp, Basham, McGoldrick Preston North End 2 Robinson, Johnson

Sheffield United line-up: Henderson, Stevens, Fleck, O’Connell, Basham, Sharp © (M Johnson, 75), Egan, Norwood, McGoldrick (Stearman, 90), Freeman, Duffy (L Carke, 85). Subs not used: Lundstram, Woodburn, Moore, Washington.

PNE line-up: Maxwell, Clarke ©, Huntington, Davies, Fisher, Hughes, Ledson (Harrop, 90), Gallagher (Johnson, 62), Browne, Robinson, Barkhuizen (Barker, 71). Subs not used: Rudd, Earl, Moult, Burke.

Attendance: 23,857 (658 PNE fans)

Referee: Mr S Duncan

So close yet so far and another defeat sends us bottom of the league on goal difference from the Tractors. however there were positives from today's game first one being that we scored away from home but for the last half hour or so they actually started to play some decent football.
A nightmare last seven miles from the motorway to the ground saw us have to walk the last half mile or so to the ground due to traffic congestion, mainly due to pesky students arriving for their first year at Uni.
As for the game Neil made five changes with Maxwell playing his first league game of the season between the sticks. Pinned back for most the early stages with United passing teh ball about well and always seeming to have extra men spare on either flanks usually both attacking centre backs, always had space to fire in cross into the box in the main we dealt with them although McGoldrick went narrowly wide with a header.
Weathered the early storm and created half chances usually it was Robinson who worked his socks off today, we got round the back of the United defence but cross found a home defender and apart from a Robinson shot which went narrowly over did not really trouble the United keeper,
As with Tuesday at Leeds went one down in the 37th minute the goal was similar to the second Leeds scored, one of our attacks broke down a long ball into the channel, McGoldrick in space cross to Sharp does not miss from five yards. No more than United deserved.



Second have early free kick right hand side inch perfect cross Basham back header two down, Heads didn't go down possibly United eased down but seemed to me we started to relax the ball was played faster and we looked a bit more like a team, Johnson and Barker's arrival also helped and Brker fed in Fisher cross to the far post and glory be our first away goal of the season. Consolation but no minutes later we were level a bit of scramble in teh box and Johnson scores, Level.
Bizarrely had this daft though we may win this but the usual defensive liability struck again with five minutes left, O'Connell seemed to carry the ball for at least 50 yards arrived at the by line ball across and McGoldrick scored. No comeback this time.
Bottom with the Albion up next in the league, Pearson available again just need to sort the defence out a tad leaky at the moment.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:

"I'm delighted and proud with the way we set up.

"It was never dull, but the players showed tremendous character to get themselves back up off the canvas.

"I'm delighted we got our noses in front and the swagger about us was good to see."

Preston manager Alex Neil:

"That's been the story of the season so far. When we look like the side who's going to win and we've got a foothold back into the game, we get hurt with a sucker-punch.

"But it's about more than that. It's about game management, experience and recognising we can still throw caution to the wind along with the hard work.

"We scored two goals so there is definitely a threat there, but as a team we've got to stop conceding as many goals as we are."