Head-to-Head: Preston North End

Last updated : 28 August 2014 By @blades_mad1889

Sheffield United have a lot of thank you's to give to Preston North End, in the first ever Football League season - where there was only one league, the Lilywhites capped a pulsating double; winning both the league and the cup at a cantor and without losing a single fixture. There first ever professional defeat came at Aston Villa (3-5) in September 1889 but it was months earlier on the 16 March which changed football in Sheffield.

North End had, had a splendid cup run - beating off Bootle (3-0), Grimsby Town (0-2) and Birmingham St. Georges (2-0) in previous rounds before being allotted a semi-final draw on neutral ground at Bramall Lane whom (with the exception of occasional Wednesday matches) held no germinant place for a football team. They beat West Bromwich Albion by one goal to nil but the directions at the Lane where impressed by the interest football generated and acted quickly to form a Football Club - had the game taken place elsewhere then perhaps SUFC would have never existed?

The Blades and the Lilywhites have met in virtually every professional competition in existence - they have met in all top three leagues of the Football Pyramid with expectation of the old Fourth Division. The Blades were promoted (via a play-off system) to the old First Division in 1893 and played professional top flight games until 1925 during United's cup winning triumph but 'poor' Preston were to suffer the hands of relegation for the second time in their history having previously handed the same fate in 1901.

Having won promotion in 1893 the first meetings the Blades had accumulated a decent record in the league in their first season in the top flight and with 2 points awarded for a victory were second behind Aston Villa prior to their meeting with North End on 20 November with the game at Bramall Lane ending 1-1. A brief report in the Birmingham Daily Post read; 'After crossing over some exciting play was seen, and at the end of fifteen minutes the United equalised, the ball being rushed through in a scrimmage after Trainer had saved finely from Gallacher. The United attacked again, but Trainer saved cleverly from Hammond and Gallacher. With ten minutes to play Hendry, the Sheffield captain was carried off the field hurt. Each goal had narrow escapes close on time, but nothing further was scored, and the game ended in a draw of 1 goal each' It's best to note that in those days there were no substitutions so in the event of an injury (or sending off) the said team had to carry on with whatever players that were left on the field of play.

North End, who were still a dominant force to be contended with during the Victorian era won the return fixture on the final day of the season (7 April) by three goals without reply at Deepdale. A poor run during December and January had halted any chances of United winning the league at the first attempt but they managed to finish 10th (10 points above Preston) and more importently above The Wednesday. They completed the double the following season in narrow victories and United had to wait until 30 September 1895 until their first victory over the Lancastrians was achieved. Before a crowd of 5,000 at the Lane saw United see two goals dismissed prior to the break with all the goals coming in the second 45. A mistake from keeper Trainer allowed Drummond to take the lead for the Blades, Pierce levelled for Preston before Richardson found the winner - a report from this game can be seen at the image to your left.

Sheffield United had to wait until 1897/98 season before they extracted their first double over these opponents. It was a fine season to do so with the Blades winning the First Division for the first (and only) time. They won 3-1 at Deepdale in September and little over a month later won 2-1 at the Lane.

Skipping forward to the most recent seasons, our most memorable battles came in the play-off games during the 2008/09 season. Both sides had, had pretty much 'bad luck' in the play-offs but when the pair met in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Finals in May 2009 only one team had to win. The Blades had narrowly finished third in the league (behind Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City) and almost piped automatic promotion on the final day of the season.

However they had to settle for the play-offs and had drawn Preston North End but made their way through 2-1 on aggregate. The pair drew the first leg 1-1 at Deepdale, though it was the home side who stuck first; Sean St Ledger (21 minutes) was lucky not to be offside after Nick Montgomery headed back after a free-kick and the former Peterborough United defender tricked Paddy Kenny to score with ease.

United's performance in the first half was disappointing but they made up for it in the second forty-five minutes when straight from kick-off the visitors attacked straight immediately which and resulted in a goal; Darius Henderson saw his close range shot saved by the spectacular Andrew Lonergan in the Lilywhites net; the ball fell wide to Jamie Ward who lofted the ball over for Brian Howard to score on the volley - the goal was timed at 21 seconds. The performance in Lancashire was equally as good at Bramall Lane despite striker Craig Beattie hashing chances in both games, however the Blades came out victors in the Steel City when again chance after chance went begging; until the 59th minute when young Kyle Walker saw his superb cross meet the top of Greg Halford's head which flew into the top left hand corner of the goal, and in front of the Kop.

United haven't been defeat at Bramall Lane by North End since November 1978, ironically in the third Division but this fixture has become a regular occurrence since North End won promotion to the Championship in 2000 - only the Blades Premier League season of 2006/07 has separated the pair. In May 2011 the two teams battle hard against relegation but both suffered the same fate and since has become a traditional third tier fixture. During the 2011/12 campaign United completed the double; winning 4-2 at Deepdale and 2-1 at the Lane.

Last season the Blades won their match at Deepdale (on 20 October) by a single goal via Dave Kitson (42 minutes) after Tony McMahon had hit the visitors on the break with a Liverpool style 'long pass.' They crossed swords again on the final day of the season (27 April), the game resulted in a bore goalless draw with interim manager Chris Morgan fielding a less experienced side as they prepared to do battle in the Play-Offs a week later against Yeovil Town.

21 September 2013 - Sheffield United 0 Preston North End 1

Stuart Beavon's second-half goal fired Preston to a fourth straight win and piled the pressure on Sheffield United manager David Weir. Simon Grayson's side spent much of the afternoon on the back foot but returned home celebrating their first victory at Bramall Lane since 1978 following the striker's clinical 69th minute finish. The result, which was greeted with a chorus of boos by the home crowd, leaves United languishing in the League One relegation zone and Weir, a former Scotland international, potentially battling to save his job.

United, handing full debuts to new signings Marlon King and Ryan Hall, created the better chances of the first-half. Jose Baxter forced Declan Rudd to make a flying save at the near post after unleashing an angled drive while the Preston goalkeeper was called into action again soon when Tony McMahon went close from a set-piece. Febian Brandy and Matt Hill both tried their luck from long-range as United continued to press but the latter was responsible for the slip which allowed the visitors to take the lead against the run of play.

Kevin Davies, profiting from the defender's stumble, found Beavon lurking inside the area and he cut inside to beat George Long from close-range. It was tough luck on United, who had earlier seen a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when Brandy's shot appeared to be handled by Bailey Wright.

17 March 2014 - Preston North End 0 Sheffield United 0 (By Yorkshire Post)

All good things must come to an end? Not if you are the Sheffield United defence, they do not. Not yet, at least. The Blades were unable last night to maintain a winning run that, before the trip to Preston North End, stood at 10 games. But in keeping out Simon Grayson's play-off chasing side, United set a new club record for consecutive clean sheets in the league. Not since Byron Moore netted in stoppage time for Crewe on February 1 has Mark Howard been beaten in League One combat, a colossal 12 playing hours ago. It is an incredible record stretching back 45 days and eight matches. It is also a record that has surely never come closer to being smashed than last night at Deepdale.

In a contest that fourth-placed Preston dominated throughout, the home side did everything but score. Josh Brownhill went the closest to breaking the deadlock with a shot that crashed against a post, and Joel Garner twice missed when it seemed easier to score. Bailey Wright also had a shot that was kept out by Michael Doyle with the aid of his arm. On St Patrick's Day, it was perhaps not a surprise that the Irishman should enjoy a bit of good fortune. United probably deserved that slice of luck, too, with Nigel Clough's men putting in an almighty shift against a team now unbeaten in nine and who seem nailed on for a play-off place.

No one personified this gutsy approach better than defensive pairing Neill Collins and Harry Maguire. The pair were not given a moment's rest by a forward line that boasts both pace and physical power. But both Collins and Maguire stood up marvellously to everything North End could throw at them as United smashed a club record set in 1971 and equalled last week against Carlisle United Considering United had not played for five days since then - a rare luxury for a team that has already had five midweek assignments since the start of February - Clough's men looked unusually leggy in the opening exchanges.

Just 12 seconds had elapsed when Howard was called into action to deny Craig Davies from close range. It set the tone for much of what followed, with Paul Gallagher curling a free-kick just over and Joel Garner heading wide. The second of those misses was a real let-off for United, whose problems had started when Collins had been dispossessed by Davies on the edge of the area. He then rolled a pass back to Chris Humphrey, who sent over a cross that deserved a lot better than being headed wide by the unmarked Garner.

As Preston continued to dominate in central midfield, the chances kept coming for the home side and it took a brave block from Bob Harris to keep out a pile-driver from Davies. Doyle showed a mixture of guts and cunning to get in the way of a fierce effort from Wright, with Preston appealing furiously for a penalty. Gallagher also went close from the rebound before United finally started to ask questions of North End's defence as the first half drew to a close. Conor Coady did get the ball in the net only for his goal' to be ruled out for offside.

However, there was no doubting which of the two teams was the most relieved to return to the dressing room at the interval on level terms with Howard's final act being to save Brownhill's effort. Preston continued to dominate after the restart, with Brownhill striking a post with a fierce effort that had Howard beaten. Garner then volleyed inches wide after being picked out by a searching right-wing cross from Humphrey before Davies snatched at a shot from 20 yards and the ball flew well wide of the target. Howard showed safe hands to deny substitute Stuart Beavon before United fashioned their best opening of the night.

Ben Davies was the creator with a left -wing cross that Chris Porter met sweetly only for the ball to fly narrowly over Declan Rudd's crossbar. With that 87th-minute miss went any hopes of an 11th straight win for United Clough's battlers did, though, have the satisfaction of knowing at the final whistle that an eighth straight clean sheet in the league was theirs.

Preston North End: Rudd; Wiseman, Clarke, Wright, Buchanan; Humphrey (Holmes 77), Kilkenny, Brownhill (K Davies 85), Gallagher; C Davies (Beavon 77), Garner. Unused substitutes: Stuckmann, Keane, K Davies, Welsh, King.

Sheffield United: Howard; Freeman, Maguire, Collins, Harris (Hill 41, Davies 46); Flynn, Coady, Doyle, Murphy; Scougall; Baxter (Porter 74). Unused substitutes: Miller, McGinn, Paynter, Long.

Referee: G Eltringham (County Durham).


Results

20 Nov 1893 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 1-1 League Division One
07 Apr 1894 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-0 League Division One
08 Sep 1894 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-1 League Division One
13 Oct 1894 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 0-1 League Division One
30 Sep 1895 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Division One
30 Nov 1895 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 4-3 League Division One
24 Oct 1896 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 1-0 League Division One
13 Mar 1897 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 0-2 League Division One
04 Sep 1897 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 1-3 League Division One
23 Oct 1897 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Division One
22 Oct 1898 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 1-1 League Division One
11 Feb 1899 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 2-2 FA Cup
16 Feb 1899 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 FA Cup
18 Feb 1899 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 1-0 League Division One
18 Nov 1899 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 0-1 League Division One
24 Mar 1900 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Division One
10 Nov 1900 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Division One
16 Mar 1901 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-1 League Division One
22 Oct 1904 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Division One
21 Apr 1905 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 4-0 League Division One
25 Nov 1905 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Division One
31 Mar 1906 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 0-0 League Division One
01 Dec 1906 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-1 League Division One
02 Feb 1907 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-1 League Division One
07 Dec 1907 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-0 League Division One
04 Apr 1908 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 0-0 League Division One
28 Nov 1908 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Division One
03 Apr 1909 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Division One
04 Dec 1909 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 5-1 League Division One
16 Apr 1910 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Division One
26 Nov 1910 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 5-0 League Division One
01 Apr 1911 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Division One
28 Dec 1911 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 4-2 League Division One
05 Apr 1912 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-0 League Division One
06 Dec 1913 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-0 League Division One
11 Apr 1914 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 2-4 League Division One
01 Jan 1920 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Division One
02 Apr 1920 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-0 League Division One
05 Feb 1921 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Division One
07 Feb 1921 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-0 League Division One
19 Nov 1921 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-0 League Division One
26 Nov 1921 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-0 League Division One
16 Dec 1922 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 2-2 League Division One
23 Dec 1922 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 2-3 League Division One
06 Oct 1923 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Division One
13 Oct 1923 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 4-0 League Division One
25 Oct 1924 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-0 League Division One
28 Feb 1925 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 0-1 League Division One
25 Jan 1936 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 0-0 FA Cup
30 Jan 1936 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-0 FA Cup
04 Sep 1946 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 1-2 League Division One
24 May 1947 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 2-3 League Division One
20 Sep 1947 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-1 League Division One
07 Apr 1948 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 3-3 League Division One
06 Nov 1948 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-2 League Division One
02 Apr 1949 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 4-1 League Division One
26 Dec 1949 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 4-1 League Division Two
27 Dec 1949 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Division Two
28 Oct 1950 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Division Two
17 Mar 1951 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 2-3 League Division Two
21 Nov 1953 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-1 League Division One
10 Apr 1954 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 1-1 League Division One
25 Sep 1954 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 0-5 League Division One
12 Feb 1955 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 1-2 League Division One
24 Sep 1955 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 0-2 League Division One
04 Feb 1956 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-1 League Division One
23 Nov 1968 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 4-0 League Division Two
17 Mar 1969 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 2-2 League Division Two
27 Sep 1969 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-1 League Division Two
17 Jan 1970 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-0 League Division Two
26 Aug 1978 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 2-2 League Division Two
18 Nov 1978 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 0-1 League Division Two
04 Sep 1982 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Division Three
12 Apr 1983 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 1-0 League Division Three
10 Sep 1983 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 1-1 League Division Three
31 Jan 1984 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 2-2 League Division Three
31 Dec 1988 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-0 League Division Three
08 Apr 1989 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-1 League Division Three
14 Sep 1999 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-0 Worthington Cup
21 Sep 1999 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-0 Worthington Cup
19 Aug 2000 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-0 League Division 1
30 Dec 2000 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 3-2 League Division 1
23 Oct 2001 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-0 League Division 1
01 Dec 2001 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 2-2 League Division 1
26 Jan 2002 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-1 FA Cup
21 Dec 2002 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Division 1
19 Apr 2003 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-0 League Division 1
29 Nov 2003 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-0 League Division 1
09 May 2004 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 3-3 League Division 1
20 Aug 2004 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 0-1 League Championship
15 Mar 2005 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 1-1 League Championship
20 Aug 2005 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League Championship
16 Dec 2005 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 0-0 League Championship
20 Oct 2007 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 1-1 League Championship
29 Mar 2008 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-1 League Championship
25 Oct 2008 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Championship
31 Jan 2009 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 0-0 League Championship
08 May 2009 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 1-1 League Championship Play-Offs
11 May 2009 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Championship Play-Offs
28 Dec 2009 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Championship
09 Feb 2010 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 2-1 League Championship
28 Aug 2010 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 1-0 League Championship
16 Apr 2011 Preston North End v Sheffield United L 3-1 League Championship
19 Oct 2011 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 2-4 League One
18 Feb 2012 Sheffield United v Preston North End W 2-1 League One
20 Oct 2012 Preston North End v Sheffield United W 0-1 League One
27 Apr 2013 Sheffield United v Preston North End D 0-0 League One
21 Sep 2013 Sheffield United v Preston North End L 0-1 League One
17 Mar 2014 Preston North End v Sheffield United D 0-0 League One