LAST UPDATE | 26 Dec 2023
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL ALAN Browne was on target as Preston turned the form book on its head to beat 10-man Leeds 2-1 at Deepdale.
Liam Millar was Preston’s ultimate hero, firing home brilliantly into the top corner to win a dramatic game in the 89th minute.
Leeds blew their chance to close the gap on the Championship’s top two after keeper Illan Meslier inexplicably earned himself a straight red card early in the second half.
Given Preston boss Ryan Lowe’s much-publicised backing from the club hierarchy during the week, there was certainly no hint of pressure early on as the stuttering hosts – and their fans – were giving it everything. Canadian winger Millar whipped in a terrific cross, but skipper Browne missed it by inches.
Millar then fluffed a great chance when, after being found in acres of space by Brad Potts, he blazed woefully over the top from 18 yards. Millar went much closer in the 34th minute, with a brilliant curling effort from an angle forcing Meslier to produce a super save to keep the scores level.
Leeds’ cause was seriously hindered just eight minutes after the restart when a total loss of discipline cost Meslier dearly.
After initially clashing with Whiteman following a comfortably-taken cross from the right, the Leeds keeper then pushed striker Milutin Osmajic in the face after he had intervened and left referee Josh Smith reaching straight to his top pocket for the red card.
Just two minutes later, and with sub keeper Karl Darlow now having replaced Piroe, Leeds fell behind. Browne found space in the box as he headed home Millar’s pinpoint cross.
Preston, clearly buoyed and now with a goal and a man advantage, fluffed a decent chance to make it two at the three-quarter point of the game when Browne this time smashed wastefully over the top from the edge of the box.
Georginio Rutter went close for the 10 men, before parity was restored, somewhat against the run of play, in the 83rd minute.
Dan James jinked into the box before being tripped by McCann, leaving skipper Pascal Struijk to slot home from the spot to make it 1-1.
However, that was not enough to earn Leeds a point as Millar darted into the visitors’ box before curling home sweetly to seal the deal just before the game headed into added time.
Southampton made the most of Leeds’ defeat, leaping above them and into third spot thanks to a 5-0 hammering of Swansea at St Mary’s. The result means Gavin Bazunu has kept a third consecutive clean sheet for the Saints, with the goals coming from Joe Aribo, Sam Edozie, Ryan Fraser (twice) and Che Adams.
Bazunu has not conceded a goal for Saints in 310 minutes, and the club haven’t lost any of their last 16 games, equalling a club record that has stood for 102 years.
West Brom are fifth, beating Norwich 1-0 at the Hawthorns, a game the Canaries played mostly with 10 men after Borja Sainz picked up two bookings in the 30th and 33rd minutes. Sunderland trail them by three points in sixth place, as Michael Beale earned his first win in charge away to Hull, Jack Clarke settling the game eight minutes from the end of normal time.
Jude Bellingham, sporting a Sunderland scarf in support of his brother Jobe, was watching from the stands.
The result leaves Hull a place behind Sunderland and ahead of Bristol City on goal difference, who hammered Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road. Irish international Mark Sykes scored Bristol’s third goal.
Bottom side Rotherham earned a surprise 1-0 win at home to Middlesbrough, and they are now level on points with second-bottom Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 2-0 away to Coventry.
Irish U17 international Calum Kavanagh – son of former senior Irish international Graham – made his senior league debut for Middlesbrough as a 90th-minute substitute.
QPR are in the relegation zone too, beaten 2-0 away to Millwall in what was the Lions first home win in three months.
Finally in the Championship, Andy Moran was withdrawn at half-time on a difficult afternoon for Blackburn, who lost 3-0 away to Huddersfield.
In League One, leaders Portsmouth were beaten 2-1 away to Bristol Rovers, but Peterborough didn’t cut the lead as they might have, drawing 2-2 at home to Reading. Third-placed Bolton did win, 1-0 away to Lincoln, for whom Danny Mandriou was sent off.
In League Two, James McClean scored the only goal for Wrexham in their 1-0 win away to Swindon.
Championship results
- Preston 2-1 Leeds
- Millwall 2-0 QPR
- Cardiff 2-2 Plymouth
- Coventry 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Huddersfield 3-0 Blackburn
- Hull 0-1 Sunderland
- Rotherham 1-0 Middlesbrough
- Southampton 5-0 Swansea
- Watford 1-4 Bristol City
- West Brom 1-0 Norwich
Updated at 17.10 with results of 15.00 kick offs
