Leeds United’s excruciating wait for a first away victory since Boxing Day continues after Paul Heckingbottom’s side succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of play-off aspirants Preston North End at Deepdale...
Kemar Roofe, having earned a recall to the starting lineup, was on target for Leeds United, handed the Whites the lead in this match at Deepdale with a good finish at the back post following excellent work by Kalvin Phillips on the right, but Alex Neil’s play-off chasing Preston eventually emerged from it as 3-1 victors.
Paul Gallagher restored parity shortly after the break from the penalty spot after an impetuous foul, one that radically altered the complexion of the match, by Vurnon Anita, before Sean Maguire headed home from a Gallagher corner and Alan Browne converted a cross by substitute Callum Robinson to seal the points for the Lilywhites.
The defeat sees Leeds, whose next match is away to Aston Villa on Friday night, fall to 14th place in the Championship table with Norwich City superseding them after Daniel Farke’s charges secured a 1-1 draw away to Sunderland.
It was a disappointing defeat for United, who had enjoyed the better of the first half, but the goalscoring return of Roofe and the impressive performance of fledging defender Paudie O’Connor offer at least a modicum of encouragement ahead of the trip to Villa Park on Friday.
Preston (4-2-3-1): Rudd; Clarke, Huntington, Davies, Cunningham; Pearson, Gallagher (Harrop 67’); Bodin (Horgan 85’), Browne, Barkhuizen (Robinson 76’); Maguire.
Unused Subs: Maxwell, Woods, Earl, Moult.
Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Peacock-Farrell; Dallas, Jansson (Diaz 57’), O’Connor, Anita; Vieira, Phillips; Grot (Alioski 68’), Roofe (Saiz 68’), Hernandez; Ekuban.
Unused Subs: Lonergan, Pearce, Nicell, Lasogga.
Match Statistics (Preston / Leeds)
Shots: 17 / 9
On target: 7 / 5
Possession: 50% / 50%
Corners: 9 / 9
Fouls: 14 / 10
Match Details
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshere).
Booked: Clarke, Davies, Browne (Preston), O’Connor, Ekuban (Leeds).
Attendance: 14,188.
Man of the Match: Alan Browne (Preston).