We start our second half of the season with a trip to face second-placed Leeds United at Elland Road on Boxing Day.
We start our second half of the season with a trip to face second-placed Leeds United at Elland Road on Boxing Day.
It will be our 27th trip to the West Yorkshire stadium in the league, with North End leading the head-to-head with 23 wins to 19.
Our last win was the now famous 6-4 success in September 2010, when Jon Parkin was the hero with a hat-trick. We had waited 49 years for a win at the Peacocks, having last won in September 1961, a 2-1 success the season after Sir Tom Finney retired.
Our first trip to United was in September 1924, losing the game 4-0, our first win coming in February 1928 when PNE beat the hosts 4-2.
The two biggest margins of victory were 3-0 successes in 1946 and 1951, both inspired Finney, but biggest number of goals was of course in 2010.
That now unforgettable night saw Darren Ferguson’s Lilywhites fight back from 4-1 down to beat United in an extraordinary match.
Parkin gave PNE the lead from close range, before headers by Luciano Becchio and Alex Bruce and a double from Davide Somma put Leeds in control. Parkin then buried his second into the bottom left before Keith Treacy pulled it back to 4-3 with a powerful finish.
North End equalised when Callum Davidson converted from the spot before Parkin slotted in his hat-trick and Iain Hume made sure of the win with a header.
The visitors arrived at Elland Road fresh after only their second win of the season the previous weekend, but few would have expected the turn of events in this ten -goal thriller.
It was PNE who begun in stunning fashion as Treacy tricked his way down the left before his cross fell for Parkin to tap in the opener, but the Peacocks stormed back as Becchio nodded in George McCartney's cross to equalise and they were soon in front as Bruce took full advantage of Sean St. Ledger's poor header.
Somma's deflected effort stretched the lead and the South African made it four six minutes before the break after a fierce drive followed a clever run from the left, but within a minute North End gave themselves a half-time boost when Parkin burst through the defence to slot home.
The comeback had officially started and when Treacy pulled another back direct from a corner, the Leeds defence looked increasingly rattled. Parity swiftly followed as a result of Bruce hauling down Hume, and skipper Davidson made no mistake to slot home his spot-kick.
Just after the hour, the unthinkable happened as the Lilywhites regained the lead when Davidson's long throw fell to Parkin who controlled the ball before blasting in a half-volley to complete his hat-trick.
Leeds were shell-shocked and there was still time for Hume to add a sixth after nodding in from Billy Jones' fine diagonal pass.
After the game, then Leeds United manager Simon Grayson said: “I still had a go at the players at half-time, because we had given them far too many opportunities. When we were 4-1 up, we needed to be more professional, but we gave them a chance to get back into the game.
“There were far too many errors - both individually and collectively. We made stupid mistakes and it cost us. To lose 6-4 at home is unbelievable really, and embarrassing.”
Whilst PNE manager Darren Ferguson added: “I have never been involved in such an amazing game. But all credit to my players for their sensational comeback.
“It's brilliant to get six goals, it would have been nice if we had not conceded four. But all credit goes to my players. The spirit and character was remarkable, the boys were magnificent and I am incredibly proud of the team.”