United's five-match winning run came to an end over the pennines, despite a battling display against Preston.

In an action-packed encounter at Deepdale, James Beattie scored a late penalty and Chris Morgan was dismissed for a second yellow card offence in injury-time.

Preston's Neil Mellor was certainly involved in the action. He scored twice and was involved in the incidents which saw Morgan sent off and the home side win a first half penalty.

At Deepdale, where the fourth stand, behind the dugouts, is currently under construction, boss Blackwell made just one, enforced, change. On loan defender Halls was handed a full debut with Geary struggling with a hamstring problem.

Both sides won two corners each in the first five minutes, including one for the Blades in the first 60 seconds. From a Carter inswinger, on three minutes, Kenny lost the flight and Brown headed over at the back post.

The first nervous moment for home goalkeeper Lonergan came from one of his own players. Tonge's pass was intended for Cotterill but Whaley's sliced clearance from 20 yards almost found the top corner.

The driving wind and rain was causing problems for both teams and there was no real advantage. On six minutes, in an entertaining opening, Carter drilled a left-footer over the angle of post and crossbar after United could only half-clear a corner. Moments later, Brown won a header and turned Morgan but shot at Kenny.

On 13 minutes the Blades were handed a good opportunity after McKenna surrendered possession. Tonge's pass found Carney in the clear on the left but he opted to cross rather than shoot and Mawene cleared ahead of Sharp.

Cotterill was seeing a lot of the ball early on and after cutting inside Davidson he drilled over the crossbar. The conditions were still causing problems and the wind had a hand in Preston taking the lead just before the half hour.

A hopeful forward ball held up in the wind, Mellor sneaked in ahead of Kilgallon and seconds later the striker hit the deck in the penalty area. The linesman closest to the action immediately signalled a spot-kick and referee Oliver agreed. DAVIDSON stepped up and drilled home from 12 yards, sending Kenny the wrong way.

The action slowed after the penalty, although Mellor and Kilgallon almost clashed again. Carney attempted to find a gap to play in Hulse and Cotterill delivered an enticing cross which failed to find a red and white shirt.

Just before the interval Morgan was forced to head over his own crossbar as Mellor delivered a cross from the right and at the break the rain ceased and the wind speed slowed.

Early in the second period Whaley and Brown were both wasteful with possession from the Preston left, whilst United offered a token effort when Halls hit a first-time effort well wide.

Preston made a bright start to the second half and Mellor twice found a sight of goal. Firstly, he attempted a chip which found Kenny and then curled a right-footer wide.

Just before the hour there were signs of a Blades revival. St Ledger was penalised for a foul on Hulse and Carney drilled a 30-yard free-kick which Lonergan parried away. It was the Australian's last action as he was replaced by Quinn, who looked to make an immediate impression.

Quinn had only been on the field a matter of seconds when he slotted Speed's lay-off from Hulse's cross into the net but the linesman who awarded the first half penalty again raised his flag, this time indicating offside.

A second Preston goal, however, put United on the back foot. Cotterill was brushed off the ball and MELLOR found himself in space in the box before firing in at Kenny's near post.

Following the goal Blackwell opted to throw caution to the wind and brought on a striker in place of a defender, whilst Preston went close again with a powerful Carter shot, which Kenny clung on to at the second attempt.

On 71 minutes Beattie just failed to get on the end of a Hulse centre and Cotterill's subsequent return into the box was too high for everyone. Sharp then delivered from the right but the ball struck Beattie's knee and flew wide of the post in front of the travelling fans.

United were committing men forward and Whaley almost took advantage but Kenny made a fine save, low to his left, whilst, on 85 minutes, Speed was incensed by the officials when he looked to be held by Jones in the penalty area from Tonge's cross.

The referee did, however, even the penalty count up seconds later when Mawene held off Morgan from a hopeful ball into the area. BEATTIE took responsibility for the spot-kick and went through his usual routine before firing high into the roof of the net.

The goal forced a few nervous moments for the home fans. Just before the 90-minute mark Mawene's poor pass allowed Quinn to cross but Hulse's shot on the turn was a yard over the crossbar.

Notification that six added minutes would be played buoyed United further but there was disappointment three minutes in to injury-time when Morgan was dismissed following a foul on Mellor, who again went to ground easily. Both of the skipper's yellow cards could be considered as harsh.

A Speed shot was blocked and United were particularly stretched at the back with Kilgallon and Halls as the only recognised defenders on the pitch.

Preston, predictably, ran down the clock and took advantage of the space to add a third. MELLOR raced forward and fired over Kenny just as an overworked Halls put in a last-gasp tackle.

Preston: Lonergan, Davidson (Hill 45), Mawene, Sedgwick, Brown, Carter, St Ledger, Whaley (Chaplow 84), McKenna, Jones, Mellor.
Unused: L. Neal, Priskin, C. Neal.

Blades: Kenny, Naysmith (Beattie 67), Morgan, Hulse, Cotterill (Gillespie 84), Carney (Quinn 58), Speed, Kilgallon, Tonge, Halls, Sharp.
Unused: Stead, Ehiogu.