Sheffield United 2 - 1 Preston North End : Blades cut down Preston

Posted Sunday, January 11, 2015 by PA

Second-half goals from Marc McNulty and Jamal Campbell-Ryce kept Sheffield United's faint hopes of automatic promotion alive as they stunned Preston 2-1.

McNulty scored his 10th of the season with a superb finish following a scramble in the penalty area before Campbell-Ryce ended the visitors' hopes after combining well with Jamie Murphy.

It was a deserved and crucial victory for United who, despite beating the likes of Southampton, West Ham and QPR of late, have struggled to translate their form in knockout competition into a positive run of League One results.

Substitute Josh Brownhill set up a nervous finish by converting a 90th minute free-kick but United held on.

Simon Grayson has fashioned North End into a formidable unit since taking charge at Deepdale. And, with the vastly experienced duo of Jermaine Beckford and Kevin Davies spearheading their attack, they presented a young United team with a fearsome physical challenge.

However, despite looking dangerous on the break, North End were powerless to prevent Nigel Clough's side causing them plenty of problems during the first half with Murphy shooting wide from distance early on before captain Michael Doyle followed suit.

Terry Kennedy, another product of United's youth system, bravely tried to bundle home after contesting a high ball with Thorsten Stuckmann but the North End goalkeeper stood firm. Stefan Scougall and McNulty combined well midway through the opening period but the latter shot wide.

Another excellent passage of play, this time insitgated by Doyle, saw McNulty force Stuckmann to save just before the break but there was still time for Paul Gallagher to serve notice of the threat North End posed when he swept wide.

United deservedly took the lead in the 54th minute when McNulty turned home beyond Stuckmann and they should have doubled their advantage soon after but Doyle prodded wide.

Campbell-Ryce did increase the lead in the 70th minute after slipping the ball through Stuckmann's legs following Murphy's driving run.

North End responded by producing their best period of the game with Brownwhill reducing the deficit in the 90th minute.