Leeds United 4 Preston North End 6: Lamentable Leeds hit for six

The phrase, uttered moments after Manchester United's dramatic Champions League final triumph in 1999, must have come to the mind of the Scot's son Darren last night after the most amazing 90 minutes of this or maybe any season.

After his Preston North End side had taken an early lead through Jon Parkin, Ferguson jnr could only sit and watch as Leeds United ran riot to net four goals in 24 first-half minutes.

As the home fans in the 22,727 crowd taunted him with a chant of, 'You're getting sacked in the morning', the North End manager cut a forlorn figure in the directors' box.

Then, however, something truly spectacular began to stir when Jon Parkin reduced the arrears with his second goal of the night just before the break.

By the hour mark, Preston were level courtesy of an own goal from Davide Somma and Callum Davidson's penalty.

Then, as the home side crumbled, the visitors capped an amazing fightback as Parkin completed his hat-trick and Iain Hume netted from close range to ensure Leeds conceded six goals in a league game at Elland Road for the first time.

It may not have quite been 'Barcelona 1999' and the Treble but the feeling of satisfaction for Sir Alex's boy must have been just the same.

For Leeds, however, it was an altogether different tale as their defence imploded for the second time in a fortnight.

Just how, at 4-1 ahead and seeming capable of scoring with every attack, they contrived to lose will take some explaining.

It was, quite frankly, a humiliation for which every single player on the field last night is culpable.

The United defence has been far from convincing all season, not least at Barnsley two weeks ago when they shipped five goals.

But this spineless capitulation was in a totally different league.

Just how Simon Grayson repairs the damage by Saturday's trip to Ipswich Town is anyone's guess, though surely starting to employ a defensive midfielder – something United have not done all season – would be a start.

The night started, just as it ended, for Leeds – badly – as poor defending by Andrew Hughes provided Keith Treacy with enough space to bring a block from Shane Higgs and Parkin tapped in from two yards out.

It was a miserable start for the home side, though one they had seemingly overcome in impressive fashion by the 39th minute to open up a three-goal lead.

Luciano Becchio netted the equaliser after being expertly picked out by George McCartney before Alex Bruce capitalised on a mix-up involving Callum Davidson and Sean St Ledger to deftly head past Andy Lonergan.

Somma then made it 3-1 with a shot that took a deflection off

St Ledger before adding a fourth with a stunning finish six minutes before the break.

All was going well at the stage only for United's evening to begin to unravel when Parkin shot past Higgs five minutes before the break.

Amazingly, Preston could have been level by the interval as Higgs had to keep out Treacy's shot before Andy Hughes came to the rescue with a hacked clearance as Craig Morgan looked to pounce in the six-yard box.

Clearly buoyed to have regained a foothold in the game, Preston poured forward after the break and cut the deficit even further on 54 minutes when Somma headed into his own net after Higgs had inexplicably failed to deal with Treacy's corner.

Three minutes later, Preston were level after a rash challenge by McCartney on Paul Coutts saw referee Nigel Miller point to the spot and Davidson did the rest.

As Grayson responded by bringing Neil Kilkenny on to try to bring a semblance of passing order to the midfield, the visitors went in front courtesy of a stunning strike from Parkin.

The misery was not over yet for Leeds, however, as Hume added a fourth goal on 79 minutes as more woeful defending allowed the on-loan Barnsley striker to head past Higgs.

It meant a happy end to the evening for Darren Ferguson, while his father will also surely have raised a smile on hearing the news in Valencia that the side who knocked his United out of the FA Cup had been routed on home turf.

[email protected]

Leeds United: Higgs; Hughes, Collins, Bruce, McCartney; Sam (Kilkenny 60), Howson (Clayton 73), Johnson, Gradel; Becchio (Watt 73), Somma. Unused substitutes: Brown, Naylor, Faye, Nunez.

Preston North End: Lonergan; Jones, Morgan, St Ledger, Davidson; Barton, Russell, Coutts, Treacy (Gray 88); Hume; Parkin (Hayes 88). Unused substitutes: Mayor, Parry, Aresyidou, McLaughlin, Wright.

Referee: N Miller (Durham).