Preston North End recorded a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers with goals from; Jonathan Parkin (37 minutes) and Sean St Ledger (74) with old boy Patrick Agyemang (57) on the score sheet for Rangers. Whilst at Hillsborough, Jermaine Johnson (71) netted as Sheffield Wednesday beat Cardiff City one-nil.
These results meant that both the Lillywhites and the Bluebirds finished on same amount of points and same goal difference, however over the course of the season Preston had scored 66 goals to City's 65 - one goal better which put them in the top six; that 6-0 victory over Cardiff City at Deepdale obviously made a difference to the final league table.
Our trip to Deepdale in late January the Blades drew 0-0 although felt they should have won the game when Stephen Quinn saw his goal disallowed for offside.
Manager Alan Irvine will be without Lee Williamson for both legs of this seasons Play-Off encounter; he scored a very late goal to win the game 2-1 at Birmingham City, in celebration he took his shirt off and was handed his second booking of the night - he now serves a suspension.
On the injury front the Deepdale club are without; Steve Elliott (hand), Richard Chaplow (groin), Callum Davidson (hamstring), Michael Hart (groin).
Meanwhile Lian Chilvers (achilles), Neal Trotman (hernia) and Wayne Henderson (back) have all returned to training but neither one will be ready for match action just yet!
Possible Lilywhites Line-Up (4-4-2): Andrew Lonergan, Billy Jones, Youl Mawene, Sean St Ledger, Edie Nolan, Chris Sedgewick, Paul Mckenna, Darren Carter, Simon Whaley, Jonathan Parkin, Neil Mellor.
Sheffield United could have secured automatic promotion last Sunday with a win at Crystal Palace; and with too few chances they drew 0-0, Birmingham City won 2-1 at Reading with the St Andrews club winning automatic promotion to the Premier League.
In our game at Bramall Lane with Preston North End last October the Blades won 1-0 - it looked like United weren't going to score despite numerous attacks on the North End goal; but when it came it came from an unlikely source - Ugo Ehiogu (51) stabbing the ball home from close range at the second attempt.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell heads into this fixture at Deepdale without defender Gary Naysmith (knee) for this crucial match in Lancashire, the Scottish international limped off early in the Blades 1-0 defeat at Burnley three games ago and will be out injured. He is likely to be once again replaced by Kyle Naughton at left-back whilst Kyle Walker (or Leigh Bromby) will take the right-back position.
Possible Blades Line-Up (4-4-2): Paddy Kenny, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Kyle Naughton, David Cotterill, Stephen Quinn, Nick Montgomery, Greg Halford, Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward.
:: Match Officials ::
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Assistants: Patrick Keane and Nick Kinseley
Fourth Official - Anthony Taylor
- 18.12.2004 - Blades 2-1 Cardiff City
- 01.04.2006 - Stoke City 1-1 Blades
- 16.09.2006 - Blades 1-2 Reading
- 03.02.2007 - Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Blades
- 18.08.2007 - Watford 1-0 Blades
- 13.12.2008 - Swansea City 1-1 Blades
- 14.02.2009 - Blades 1-1 Hull City (FAC)