Preston North End 3 Sheffield United 3

Last updated : 09 May 2004 By Footymad Previewer

The final game of the season ended in an entertaining draw with chances at both ends, with Sheffield United hitting the woodwork twice as the game could have gone either way in the closing stages.

The Blades opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Phil Jagielka's header from Robert Kozluk's cross flew into the net.

Preston equalised three minutes later when a clearance by United captain Robert Page fell to Graham Alexander and he hit a 25-yard right-foot shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Andy Gray made it 2-1 to the Blades after 38 minutes when he hit a left-foot volley which looped over the Preston keeper into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Player of the year David Healy scored his 15th goal of the season for Craig Brown's side after 54 minutes after Ricardo Fuller had been fouled by Rob Kozluk on the edge of the box.

Healy's 20-yard free-kick curled into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Gray then hit the bar for Neil Warnock's side with a 56th minute shot before Alan Wright's 20-yard free-kick came back off the post four minutes later.

Gray scored his second goal of the afternoon to make it 3-2 to the visitors with a close-range strike after a cross from the right by Alan Wright.

However, Preston equalised for a third time in the 79th minute when Fuller scored a close-range header after Eddie Lewis' cross had been knocked back by Healy.