Preston North End fell to a 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane after a late Jamie Ward goal in controversial circumstances sealed the points for the home side.

The goal came in the 86th minute, when a free kick was awarded for a foul on Jordan Stewart, after what looked like a fair challenge from Chris Sedgwick..Jamie Ward then then took the kick, which evaded everyone as it flew into the net.

The Blades had the better of a first half with few chances, but a much improved second half from North End deserved at least a point from the match.

The Lilywhites defended resolutely throughout the match and will be disappointed to have lost at a point on the game when it looked like they would be the ones to win it.

Kevin Blackwell named a starting line up that included ex PNE striker Richard Cresswell up front with the dangerous Henri Camara. The Blades fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Leicester on Boxing Day, and captain Chris Morgan was looking for a repeat of the 1-0 play-off semi final victory over Preston last season.

North End welcomed Sean St Ledger back to the team following the end of his loan spell at Middlesborough. The defender replaced Liam Chilvers in the Lilywhites defence. Ross Wallace missed the match through suspension, meaning the Gaffer named a four man midfield which included Parry, Sedgwick, Chaplow, and ex-Blade Michael Tonge. Stephen Elliott and Jon Parkin started together up front as Preston returned to 4-4-2.

It was the Lilywhites that got the game underway at Bramall Lane, but the home side threatened first. Jordan Stewart fired in a trademark near-post cross with his left foot in the second minute, which was well cleared by Neil Collins.

The rest of the opening ten minutes didn't offer much in terms of chances, but the travelling North End support were on their feet a few times to applaud the silky defensive skills of Sean St Ledger.

A great chance finally came in the 12th minute, for Sheffield United. Camara nodded a ball to the far post back accross goal towards Stephen Quinn, whose powerful shot was brilliantly blocked by Neil Collins about 12 yards out.

The home side began to increase the pressure as the half went on, although North End's defence was coping well with everything the Blades could throw at them. In the 18th minute Jamie Ward was played in down the right by Camara, his right footed cross was cut off emphatically by Richard Chaplow, who went on the get the vital touch on the following corner ahead of Chris Morgan.

Ex-Premiership hitman Camara was at the heart of it again five minutes later. Jordan Stewart picked him out in the box, and the striker turned brilliantly before wasting the chance to put his side ahead when he put it miles wide of Lonergan's left hand post.

Sheffield United were almost made to pay in the 25th minute, after a Preston break. Paul Parry had broken down the left before having a shot blocked by the frantic United defence, who somehow managed to clear before a yellow shirt could get a foot on the ball.

In the meantime Jon Parkin had picked up a booking for a foul on Derek Geary, and the referee, Mr. T. M. Kettle had to be replaced due to injury. After a short delay Mr. N. Murphy was introduced to the ironic applause of the crowd.

As the time passed the half hour mark there were few chances, just a couple of tight offside decisions against Parkin and Chaplow for Preston, whilst an uncoordinated free kick routine was all the home side could muster. In truth Sheffield United were on top up to this point, but they weren't really causing the Preston back line anything they couldn't handle.

After defending for much of the half, the Preston players seemed to sense that the Blades were growing a little frustrated. In the 37th minute Stephen Elliott showed a great turn of pace to lose him man a put in a dangerous cross, which was put out for a corner by Montgomery right just as Parkin looked to pounce from 20 yards out. A Paul Parry corner followed, and although nothing came of it, it was obvious that United's defence was having trouble dealing with "the Beast" Jon Parkin.

In the 41st minute Preston were almost behind. Unlike the rest of the first half it wasn't Neil Collins' defending that thwarted the home side, it was Henri Camara's finishing this time. Jamie Ward had knocked a long ball over the top, and Camara's pace proved too much for North End, as the striker ran through on goal. With Lonergan looking as imposing as ever, Camara ballooned his shot high into the stand from the right hand side of the box.

The fourh official turned referee played six minutes of stoppage time as the half finished goalless and both sides going all out for the opener. The defences of both sides were yet again on top though, and despite the Blades enjoying the best of it, they couldn't break Preston down.

Alan Irvine saw fit to make the first substitution of the game at half time, with Jon Parkin coming off for Chris Brown, who partnered Stephen Elliott up front.

Despite the change it was the home side that had the first meaningful attack of the half again. After some good defending from Parry and Tonge down in the corner, the ball broke to Jamie Ward in the box, who cut it back accross the six yard box, but anything put into that area, Andy Lonergan is favourite to win, and the keeper again collected at the feet of the Blades' strikers.

Preston's turn to attack came in the 51st minute, after several neat touches from sub Chris Brown on the left. The big man was able to release Elliott down the wing, who curled a ball into the box for Chaplow, but he couldnt quite reach it as Preston pushed for the opener.

Some positive attacking play from Preston ensued, with Chris Brown injecting a little more life into the side. Preston had more of a footing in the opposition half, without creating many chances, but it was much better from Preston.

In the 58th minute Alan Irvine introduced Veliche Shumulikoski to the fray at the expense of Paul Parry. This meant Michael Tonge moved wide left as the Lilywhites tried to take the lead.

Michael Tonge almost turned villain on the hour mark after a great North End move. Chris Brown managed to knock a long ball down into Tonge's path, something the home crowd are all too familiar with, but the midfield man's hadn't quite found his shooting boots and Mark Bunn gratefully gathered the shot.

The Lilywhites were now enjoying their best spell of the match, playing with more confidence and purpose. This was epitomised in the 63rd minute when Chaplow made a lung-busting run down the left, forcing Chris Morgan to step in and concede a corner.

Preston never really left the Sheffield United half in the next five minutes, Chris Brown got up well to get his header on target, but it didn't have enough pace to beat the keeper.

Kevin Blackwell clearly sensed the frustration in the air, and introduced ex-PNE player Lee Williamson for Stephen Quinn in the 71st minute.

The Boxing Day defeat to Leicester seemed to be taking it's toll on the Blades, as gaps began to appear in defence and the strike partnership of Brown and Elliott were causing major problems.

Just as North End looked to be in control, it was so nearly taken away from them. A 73rd minute United free kick from the right was swung into the far post were Ched Evans headed it back to Richard Cresswell, only for the former PNE man to be denied spectacularly by Andy Lonergan.

Just a minute later Henri Camara, who had been hit and miss all afternoon was replaced by Glen Little.

The winger couldn't do anything to stop Callum Davidson swinging in an exquisite ball into the box in the 77th minute though. The captain's ball found Stephen Elliott with his back to goal, and the striker flicked his header towards goal, but with Bunn scrambling to get back, it looped just over the bar.

Although frustrated, the Sheffield United players were still pushing for what would probably be the winner themselves. They had a great chance in the 81st minute when sub Glen Little found Jamie Ward on the right on Lonergan's penalty area, fortunately for PNE he pulled his shot a few yards wide.

North End hearts were broken in the 86th minute, via a controversial Jamie Ward goal. The referee blew for a foul by Sedgwick on Jordan Stewart out on the left, when it looked as though Sedgwick hads won the ball and put it out for a throw. Jamie Ward then took the free kick and it was one of those that evaded everybody and somehow ended up in the far corner. It was impossible to see who, if anyone got the final touch, but Lonergan and a couple of Blades players were down injured for a while after a clash with the post.

Neil Collins was booked for his protests to the referee after the goal, and Irvine brought on Mellor for Davidson with his last substitution and last throw of the dice.

The Lilywhites, although now a goal down, weren't out of it by any means. Chris Brown had perhaps the best late chance of an equaliser in the 90th minute, volleying it hard at Mark Bunn, who didn't really know much about it. Unfortunately the rebound didn't fall to a yellow shirt, but with five minutes stoppage time, North End were still fighting tooth and nail for every ball.

United's defence were then doing what Preston had done in the first half, frustrating the opposition, and in the end it just wasn't to be. Despite a second half where they could have taken the game, a controversial late goal won it for a relieved Sheffield United side.

Sheffield United: Mark Bunn, Nick Montgomery, Chris Morgan (c), Matt Kilgallon, Ched Evans, Richard Cresswell, Jamie Ward, Jordan Stewart, Derek Geary, Stephen Quinn, Henri Camara
Subs: Ryan France, Gary Naysmith, Kyel Reid, Lee Williamson, Ian Bennett, Andy Taylor, Glen Little

PNE: Andy Lonergan, Callum Davidson (c), Richard Chaplow, Neil Collins, Chris Sedgwick, Sean St Ledger, Paul Parry, Michael Tonge, Billy Jones, Jon Parkin, Stephen Elliott
Subs: Veliche Shumulikoski, Chris Brown, Darren Carter, Liam Chilvers, Wayne Henderson, Eddie Nolan, Neil Mellor