Sheffield United 2-3 Preston: Liam Lindsay scores twice in North End win

The two sides began the day side-by-side in the table after taking contrasting routes through the campaign.

North End were fourth in mid-January but three wins in their past 18 had seen the season fizzle out, while the Blades’ shocking start with 11 defeats in their first 14 matches was too big a handicap to overcome.

Lindsay’s previous Championship goal was in April 2025 but he ended that drought when he headed home from Jordan Thompson’s corner.

And he only needed to wait for a quarter of an hour for his next one as he glanced in Alfie Devine’s corner from the opposite side.

The Blades were booed off at half-time but they had a lifeline when Hamer converted after Femi Seriki was tripped by Andrija Vukcevic.

Dobbin finished off a good counter-attack at the other end shortly before Bamford completed the scoring with an impressive 13th goal in 27 appearances since joining the Blades in November, a bright spot in a bad season.

The home side pushed for an equaliser, but it did not come, and Heckingbottom was able to complete a league double against his old club.