Liam Lindsay was Preston’s unlikely goalscoring hero as they dramatically secured a 3-2 victory over Sheffield United.
The former Stoke centre-half had only previously netted six league goals in five years with the club, but Preston’s inspirational captain bagged two in just 15 minutes – the first double of his career – to strike a dagger blow into the Blades.
Lindsay rose high to meet Jordan Thompson’s in-swinging left-footed corner and head past helpless keeper Adam Davies in the fifth minute.
And he escaped his markers once more, sprinting to the near post to bullet home Alfie Devine’s corner from the other side in the 20th minute to hand the visitors a 2-0 lead which laid the platform for success.
Preston’s Liam Lindsay (grounded) is mobbed by team-mates after scoring his side’s second goal
They were the 30 year-old’s first league goals of the season in the penultimate game as the Lilywhites leapfrogged United, rising from 16th up to 12th in the Championship table.
Blades midfielder Gus Hamer hammered home a 71st-minute penalty after Femi Seriki was tripped by Andrija Vukcevic.
But Lewis Dobbin responded five minutes later after latching on to Devine’s superb defence-splitting pass, racing from halfway to round the beaten Davies.
Former Leeds striker Patrick Bamford reduced the deficit again with his 12th goal of the season in the 82nd minute to set up a frantic finish.
In the reverse fixture in October, United had gone 2-0 ahead inside the opening 20 minutes before capitulating in a 3-2 loss.
It looked like Preston could suffer a similar collapse here but their desperate opponents could not find the equaliser.
Bamford was agonisingly wide with an effort from close range late on before Ki-Jana Hoever somehow put a header over from almost under the bar in the 95th minute.
Hamer, then, saw another shot narrowly miss with the final kick of a thrilling contest.
Instead, former Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom celebrated as he completed a league double over his old employers.
After back-to-back wins over Hull and Watford, Blades hopes of finishing with a flourish were hurt by Wednesday’s 3-1 home loss to Blackburn.
Manager Chris Wilder demanded they sign off the season at Bramall Lane with an improved performance but his side were booed off at half-time before raising their game.
They had a fine chance to halve the deficit at the start of the second period, but an unmarked Tahith Chong, one of their more impressive performers, bizarrely played across the six-yard box to no one when easier to strike for goal.
United were then thankful to Davies for a brilliant save to deny Dobbon after Daniel Jebbison had wriggled free in the box.
Things got heated with the coaching staff exchanging words after United midfielder Oliver Arblaster – making his first start since a 13-month injury lay-off – was caught late by Thompson in the 13th minute.
However, in the end, it was Preston who had the last word.
The managers
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:
“We knew what the game was going to be about.
“The three goals sum us up: dealing with direct play, dealing with second balls, stopping crosses, defending inside your goal… it’s all basic Championship football you need to be good at. They were good at it and we weren’t.
“On the other side of it, we’ve created chances but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb yet again with the two goals we conceded from set-plays.
“There was a softness about us and then the shirt’s heavy. It’s been too heavy for some players. Both boxes have been our Achilles heel this season, even late on.
“I’m not saying Preston didn’t have chances, but 2-0 down, if you gamble and create the chances, you have to stick them away.
“There was a couple we had and we had to put them away.”
Preston’s Paul Heckingbottom:
“I challenged him [Lindsay] to get a hat-trick at half-time – and he just laughed at me, so I don’t think he was expecting to get another one.
“But he was due a goal. And they were both great headers.
“I don’t think we’ve been good enough at set-plays all season and we’ve just seen the value of them. We were also a big threat on the counter.
“The fact they get the next goal out of nothing changes the game. We went again, gave them another goal and then we had another chance to put it to bed.
“We kept going and we kept responding to them. But we made it harder than it needed to be. They are a good side, though.
“I was proud of the players.
“We were without three centre-backs and, right up until the last minute, were not sure who would play. But the boys who had to go again were excellent and those who had to come in were very good.
“We had to block everything at the end but it’s a big win.”
