IT may not have been at Bramall Lane, but the location for Sydie Peck's maiden hat-trick as a Sheffield United player arguably ranked as the next best place in the circumstances.

Just over 12 months earlier at Preston North End's Deepdale home, the Blades midfielder was part of a visiting line-up on the receiving end of an excruciating 3-2 defeat - which saw him and his teammates let an early two-goal advantage slip back in October 2025.

Peck was also booked on that painful autumnal night.

Preston did the double over United last term - winning both games by the odd goal in five. In this latest meeting, the South Yorkshire outfit were afforded a spot of revenge and an identical scoreline in their favour on Tuesday evening.

Sydie Peck netted a first-half hat-trick for Sheffield United at Deepdale. Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

placeholder image — Sydie Peck netted a first-half hat-trick for Sheffield United at Deepdale. Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

Peck, whose first-half treble in under 20 minutes saw Chris Wilder's side lead 3-1 at the interval, acknowledged: "Yes, it was talked about. I didn't forget that and it gave me that little bit of 'ammo' and the boys, really.

"There were a few words said at half-time, reminding everyone of that situation and not to let that happen again.

"They scored the second (after the break). We held on to the end and showed good character and came away with the three points, which is the main thing."

Peck's hat-trick - consisting of a wickedly delivered cross-shot, breath-taking curled finish and a tap-in - took his season's tally up to four.

Prior to Sydie Peck's treble at Preston, Billy Sharp was the last player to score a hat-trick for Sheffield United - in February 2019.

His only other previous goal this term arrived just down the road from Preston at Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park home in another away success in Red Rose country.

The Londoner is now just one goal shy of his best-ever tally in a campaign - he managed five in 2025-26.

Given the quality he has exhibited over the past couple of years at Championship level, there is a strong argument to suggest that he should now be nudging double figures each season.

He could also easily have scored a few more on the night at Preston, having spurned a couple of good second-half opportunities.

It was not lost upon Chris Wilder amid his praise for the 22-year-old after the game.

Still, Peck's treble was the first scored by a Blades player since United legend Billy Sharp struck three times at Villa Park in February 2019 - a 3-3 draw in the club's 2018-19 promotion campaign.

He continued: "I'm trying to up my conversion rate. I've been getting in positions and taking a few shots and now it's just about scoring the chances. It's huge for the team as well.

"It's something that I've been working on in training and then trying to relay that on the pitch.

"I know that I can score goals, it's always been in me. It's just about showing that and I've got more to my game that probably no-one's seen yet and the best of me is still yet to come.

"And like the gaffer said, I should have had four or five. It's a good habit to get into."