Preston NE 1 Leeds Utd 2: Kilkenny and Paynter strike to ensure Leeds leapfrog Forest

Preston had started well at Deepdale as they looked to record a first league win in 14 games, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Kilkenny’s fine strike.

Paynter then doubled the advantage and Iain Hume’s goal was not enough to help Preston secure a point. The win moves Leeds above Nottingham Forest and they lie just three points short of an automatic promotion place.

Preston, however, are now 13 points adrift of safety.

The home side were boosted by the availability of goalkeeper Andy Lonergan and defender Craig Morgan.

They were also able to include on-loan Bolton man Ricardo Gardner while Leeds had their own loan signing, Aston Villa’s Barry Bannan, on the bench.

Despite their precarious position Preston almost made a dream start as Keith Treacy’s ferocious strike from the edge of the Leeds box cannoned back off the crossbar with Kasper Schmeichel well beaten. Hume then fired over from distance.

Striker Chris Brown also went close but Schmeichel was able to gather his header.

Leeds captain Jonny Howson blazed over the bar on a rare foray forward for the play-off hopefuls before Schmeichel made an athletic save to deny Eddie Johnson’s low drive before Gradel forced Lonergan to do likewise for Phil Brown’s men.

Preston were stunned when the visitors took the lead against the run of play. The ball fell to Kilkenny 20 yards out and he hammered the ball beyond Lonergan into the top right-hand corner in the 29th minute.

Paynter’s shot was well blocked by Sean St Ledger as Leeds pressed for a second before Brown missed a glorious chance to level eight minutes before the break.

Hume’s cross found the striker six yards out, but he somehow failed to hit the target.

Treacy again went close from distance upon the resumption but Schmeichel was again equal to the task.

Simon Grayson’s men now looked far more assured and the lively Gradel was twice narrowly off target from the edge of the box, but Paynter’s effort a few minutes later was on target and saw Leeds double their advantage in the 57th minute.

But Preston showed great spirit to respond just six minutes later.

Treacy picked out Hume and the former Barnsley man smashed the ball into the top corner to give the home side hope of salvaging something from the game.

Paynter could only hit the bar from close range from Gradel’s cross, before the winger himself wasted a good chance by heading straight at Lonergan.

Bannan made his debut as a substitute and Preston pushed forward late on in search of a leveller but Leeds held out for the three points.

Preston North End: Lonergan, Morgan, St Ledger, Jones, Gardner (Parry 86), Johnson, Ashbee (Coutts 68), Carter, Treacy, Hume, Chris Brown (Ellington 62). Unused substitutes: Arestidou, Barton, Clarke, Wright.

Leeds United: Schmeichel, Lichaj, O’Brien, Bromby, McCartney, Gradel, Kilkenny (Bannan 83), Snodgrass (Naylor 87), Howson, Johnson, Paynter (Becchio 75). Unused substitutes: Higgs, Bruce, Watt, Somma. Booked: Johnson, Bromby.

Referee: R Shoebridge (Derbyshire).