It wasn’t exactly a classic Leeds performance against Preston North End last night, but we eventually came out on top in a game that produced three excellent goals.

There was just one change to the starting line-up. Becchio was due for another of his occasional rests and Paynter took his place, while new signing Barry Bannan was on the bench. The game was also blessed with the presence of celebrity lineswoman Sian Massey, she of the Gray/Keys sexism row, and I must say her hairdo was looking absolutely lovely.

Deepdale was looking quite splendid, with the fourth new stand having been built since our last visit, so all they need now is a crowd to fill it. The attendance was quite sparse in the home stands, apart from the boys pen to our left, who were more concerned with waving their arms at us than they were with watching the game. And there was also a bizzare solo pitch invasion ten minutes before kick-off, by a Preston fan who was carted off before the teams had even come out.

We might have expected an easy ride against the bottom club, but any such thoughts were banished in the third minute, when Treacy cut inside and crashed a shot past Schmeichel which hit the bar and then bounced out without crossing the line. Schmeichel then pulled off a fine save from Johnson, and was also called into action to keep out another shot from Treacy.

Yet again we were looking dodgy at the back, and Mc.Cartney in particular, as Preston’s right winger seemed to be going past him almost at will. And going forward we weren’t much better, with several moves breaking down through misplaced passes, Johnson being the guilty party on more than one occasion. So it was a bit of a surprise when we took the lead on the half-hour mark.

Snodgrass made a great run down the right and sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal, and the clearance fell nicely for Kilkenny just outside the area. The Australian’s shot hit the near post, and this time the ball went in off the woodwork, bouncing across to far corner of the net. We grew in confidence after the goal, and Paynter twice went close to scoring his first for the mighty whites, with the Leeds end willing him on each time he got close to goal.

At half time we were treated to spectacle of Preston’s unfunny mascot trying to imitate some teenage dancers, who were desperately trying to keep warm in the drizzle. Preston probably thought they were unlucky to be trailing at this stage, and they had the ball in the net a few minutes into the second half, only to be denied by Sian Massey’s flag. Conclusive proof that women can indeed understand the offside rule, and for her efforts she was serenaded by the thankful Leeds contingent in the crowd.

At the other end Gradel was sent clear, but he seemed to get the ball caught up under his feet and ended up dragging his shot across the face of goal. But we didn’t have to wait long to go further in front, as in the 57^th minute a good through ball found Paynter in space in the box, and he sent a powerful shot across Lonergan into the far corner, as the Leeds end went wild.

Just as we were starting to look comfortable Preston reduced the arrears in the 63^rd minute as yet another miscued Leeds pass gave Hume the chance to shoot from outside the area, and he accepted the invitation to send a powerful curling shot past Schmeichel into the net. Then Paynter missed a great chance to re-establish the two goal lead, as a defender chested the ball right to his feet, but he could only hit the post from a couple of yards out.

Our new cult hero was substituted by Becchio with 15 minutes remaining, as Preston began to put us under pressure. Schmeichel produce one good save while doing a star jump, and had to be alert to tip another shot over the bar. The new man Bannan came on for Kilkenny and showed some nice touches, and the final substitution saw Naylor replacing Snodgrass as Grayson decided to see the game out with a 5-4-1 formation.

Preston forced a series of corners in the later stages, but even with four minutes injury time they didn’t create any more decent chances and we held on for another valuable win. And once again most the other results favoured us, with Cardiff and Forest dropping points, although Burnley won again and are becoming a serious threat to the current top six. But it’s Forest who now look likely to drop out of the play-offs as we moved above them into fifth, only three points from automatic promotion.

MOT!

Photo: Action Images

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