Ugo Ehiogu scored his first goal for 19 months to hand Sheffield United a 1-0 win against Preston.
Veteran defender settles Bramall Lane contest
Ugo Ehiogu scored his first goal for 19 months to hand Sheffield United a hard-fought 1-0 win against Preston.
The veteran centre-half grabbed the only goal of the game in the 50th minute after the visitors failed to deal with a Brian Howard free-kick.
The solitary strike represented Ehiogu's first for the club and his first since a infamous bicycle kick for Rangers in an Old Firm derby with Celtic on 11th March 2007.
Ehiogu, despite his advancing years, is now proving to be a key figure in United's bid to return to the top flight and did not put a foot wrong all afternoon.
Preston dominated the first half but Kevin Blackwell's men stepped up a gear after the restart and never looked back once Ehiogu fired them in front.
What little quality there was in the first half came from the visitors, and Ross Wallace produced a piece of genuine skill which had United's defence under severe pressure.
The winger twice outfoxed promising young Blades right-back Kyle Naughton with some delightful footwork and drove a dangerous cross into the heart of the home penalty area.
The imposing Ehiogu cleared his lines with a fine header and was then required to make another vital block when Jon Parkin threatened to turn him 14 yards from goal.
Preston midfielder Barry Nicholson was booked for cynically chopping down Stephen Quinn in the 16th minute but the visitors looked more purposeful going forward.
Quality
Two minutes after Nicholson's indiscretion, they fashioned a move of quality which saw Chris Sedgwick reach the right-hand by-line and deliver a teasing cross which Stephen Elliott failed to connect properly with at the near post.
Parkin then used his considerable frame to good effect in the 22nd minute when he collected possession 20 yards from goal and turned his marker before rifling in a vicious low shot.
Paddy Kenny could not hold the ball but Elliott was not quick enough to tuck away the rebound and United survived.
Danny Webber should have done better in the 39th minute when he overran the ball after Anthony Stokes' pass had put him clear.
United were a side transformed after the break and Ehiogu's strike put them in control.
Howard swung in a free-kick from the right flank and, after both Webber and Ehiogu had failed to connect with the loose ball, Ehiogu finally managed to rifle home left-footed via the underside of the bar.
The goal poured confidence into Blackwell's players and Quinn shot just wide of Andy Lonergan's far post and Webber's dangerous cross-shot required the goalkeeper to palm the ball clear.
Preston brought on Sheffield-born Neil Mellor for the ineffective Elliott on the hour mark but it was United who looked more likely to find the net - although Ehiogu's effort proved enough.
