Liam Lindsay scored twice for the first time in his career to inspire Preston North End to a dramatic 3-2 victory at Sheffield United, the Lilywhites captain heading in two corners inside the opening 20 minutes at Bramall Lane to leapfrog the Blades and climb back into the top half of the Championship.
A Gustavo Hamer penalty briefly revived the hosts in the second half, but Lewis Dobbin restored Preston's two-goal cushion and, although Patrick Bamford pulled one back late on, Sheffield United could not complete the comeback. The result completed a league double for Paul Heckingbottom over his former club and capped a miserable few days for Chris Wilder's side.
An unlikely hero rises twice
The two sides began the day side by side in the table after contrasting campaigns: Preston were fourth in mid-January before three wins in their past 18 saw the season fizzle out, while Sheffield United's shocking start of 11 defeats in their first 14 matches proved too big a handicap to overcome.