Magical finish from Kitson allows Blades to maintain unbeaten run

Certainly, as even the briefest of glimpses through football’s history books would confirm, the biggest name they had encountered this term.

Preston North End, like the visitors from South Yorkshire, might possess a famous sporting name

But, unfortunately for both United and their Lancastrian hosts, they do not inhabit the division to match.

The outcome of Saturday’s League One encounter would only go someway towards rectifying that situation. But the final result, given that both Preston and United are both expected to challenge for promotion, could be interpreted as a statement of intent.

It was a task which, during the opening exchanges at least, they seemed to approach with equal vigour. United created several promising opportunities before the break. Preston threatened to seize control midway through the half before Danny Wilson’s charges wrestled back the advantage.

All in all, though, the first period was pretty ‘slow-burn’ stuff. That is until Dave Kitson pounced three minutes before the interval.

A long ball over the top was perfectly angled, allowing him to run beyond two Preston defenders and chip delightfully over the stranded goalkeeper.

It proved to be Kitson’s final contribution of the contest as he was taken off at half-time.

Preston pushed in the second half for an equaliser and it was left for young George Long to pull off a superb reaction save to claw away Paul Huntington’s effort.

Preston North End: Stuckmann, Keane, Robertson, Wright (Huntington 58), Laird, Wroe (Sodje 72), King, Welsh, Monakana, Beardsley (Amoo 64), Beavon. Unused substitutes: Simonsen, Cummins, Byrom, Procter.

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Maguire, Hill, Williams, Doyle, Flynn, McDonald, McAllister (Collins 77), Kitson (Porter 46), Blackman (Miller 84). Unused substitutes: Willis, Westlake, Cresswell, Cofie..

Referee: C Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Blades man-of-the-match: G Long.