McGoldrick scores late winner as Blades beat rock bottom Preston

Posted Sunday, September 23, 2018 by PA

Sheffield United climbed to fourth in the Sky Bet Championship after a thrilling 3-2 win over bottom of the table Preston at Bramall Lane.

A late winner from David McGoldrick saw United take all three points after his side had let a two-goal lead slip late in the game.

Jack O’Connell and Enda Stevens combined well down the left in the opening 10 minutes and it was the former who forced the game’s first corner for the home side.

The chance came to nothing but the Blades persisted with their ploy to maintain width and soon O’Connell was free to cross again, but this time McGoldrick could not time his header from eight yards out.

Although United started the brighter, Callum Robinson remained a threat for Preston and his curled shot from range had Dean Henderson running backwards as it went over.

The home side were quick to get back on the front foot and the best chance of the opening half hour fell to McGoldrick, on his return to the side, who saw his goal-bound header cleared by Paul Huntington.

In a turgid opening half with few chances for either side, it took an industrious piece of work from the lively McGoldrick to get the breakthrough.

He chased a long through ball down the right and beat the defender to the ball, getting a first-time shot away from the edge of the area. Chris Maxwell could only push it to his right and the onrushing Sharp (36) slotted the rebound into an empty net to give the Blades the lead.

An aerial threat throughout the game, McGoldrick almost made it two moments later, but his header under pressure went just wide.

The goal lifted the Blades and they continued to press in the second half.

Chris Basham advanced from the back as the home side pushed men forward, but his cut back from the by-line could not find a white shirt in the middle. But the centre back doubled the home side’s lead in the 51st minute after with a glancing header to guide Ollie Norwood’s free kick from the right into the far corner of the net.

Tom Clarke came close to dragging one back for Preston, but his effort from Paul Gallagher’s cross was scrambled away by the Blades’ defence after Henderson got a hand to the powerful header.

Gallagher and Tom Barkhuizen, who was isolated for much of the game, were replaced as Preston manager Alex Neil looked for a way back into the game.

The attacking intent brought by a change in formation worked and Preston stunned the home side with two goals in as many minutes.

Against the run of play they scored a first goal in five away league games through Robinson (80). His run into the six yard box went unnoticed and he tapped home past the stranded Henderson to give the visitors hope.

The unlikely comeback was complete with their next attack as substitute Daniel Johnson (82) fired a deflected shot home after making a good run to meet a low cross inside the box.

But United continued to press and in an end-to-end last 10 minutes, McGoldrick (87) grabbed a deserved winner, pulling away to find space inside the box and tapping home after good build-up play down the left.