Leeds Utd Match Zone

Stubborn Preston Thwart Leeds

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Leeds United continued their unbeaten start to the season but a well-organised Preston North End side frustrated them.

Leeds struggled to get into their stride until Preston had Ben Pearson sent-off with 30 minutes remaining and they were then denied by Chris Maxwell in the Preston goal. The visitors almost snatched the three points deep into stoppage time when Josh Harrop saw his effort come back off the crossbar.

Head coach Thomas Christiansen reverted back to the side that won at Bolton Wanderers on the opening weekend with just Pontus Jansson and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson coming in for the injured Gaetano Berardi and Matthew Pennington.

Preston frustrated Leeds in the first half as they struggled to test Maxwell in the Preston goal.

Ezgjan Alioski looked Leeds biggest danger. Alioski dragging a shot wide after cutting through the Preston defence.

The second half started much the same with Leeds struggling to break through a stubborn Preston side who worked hard to deny Leeds time on the ball.

The visitors thought they had gone ahead when Greg Cunningham had the ball in the Leeds goal but the assistant had flagged for offside.

The game changed on the hour when Ben Pearson picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon after pulling Kalvin Phillips back.

Leeds instantly made a double substitution with midweek hero Samu Saiz and Ronaldo Vieira coming on and they quickly had Leeds on the front foot.

The best chance of the game fell to Chris Wood when Pablo Hernandez played him through but Maxwell spread himself well to deny the Leeds striker.

Maxwell then made a good double save to deny first Stuart Dallas and then Hernandez.

Saiz then had a chance to win the game for Leeds but his weak header was easy for Maxwell.

With Leeds looking to claim the three points, they were nearly made to pay in injury time when a swift counter-attack from Preston saw substitute Harrop get in behind the defence but his looping effort came back off the bar to the relief of Leeds.


Teams

Leeds United
Wiedwald, Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Borthwick-Jackson (Dallas 82), Phillips (Vieira 61), Hernandez, Roofe (Saiz 61), O`Kane, Wood, Alioski

Subs not used
Peacock-Farrell, Shaughnessy, Anita, Ekuban

Preston
Maxwell, Cunningham, Huntington, Spurr, Fisher, Pearson, Browne (Gallagher 90), Hugill, Johnson, Barkhuizen (Harrop 65), Robinson

Subs not used
Hudson, Vermijl, Horgan, Davies, Maguire

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