Paul Heckingbottom proud of two-goal Liam Lindsay as Preston edge out Sheff Utd

Paul Heckingbottom hailed captain Liam Lindsay after his unexpected double set up Preston’s thrilling 3-2 win over Sheffield United.

The centre-half had only previously netted six league goals in five years with the club, but bagged two in just 15 minutes, both headers from corners, to give the hosts an early 2-0 lead and set up a hard-earned victory.

It was also the first brace of Lindsay’s career and it proved instrumental as his side held off the Blades’ second-half fightback.

Heckingbotton, enjoying his return to Bramall Lane where he twice managed the Blades, said: “I challenged him to get a hat-trick at half-time – and he just laughed at me, so I don’t think he was expecting to get another one.

“But he was due a goal. And they were both great headers.

“I don’t think we’ve been good enough at set-plays all season and we’ve just seen the value of them. We were also a big threat on the counter.

“The fact they get the next goal out of nothing changes the game. We went again, gave them another goal and then we had another chance to put it to bed.

“We kept going and we kept responding to them. But we made it harder than it needed to be. They are a good side, though.”

Gus Hamer hammered home a 71st-minute penalty for United, only for Lewis Dobbin to hit back again for Preston five minutes later, brilliantly rounding the keeper after Alfie Devine’s exquisite pass.

Patrick Balmford’s reply eight minutes from time set up a nervy finish but Preston clung on.

Heckingbottom said: “I was proud of the players.

“We were without three centre-backs and, right up until the last minute, were not sure who would play. But the boys who had to go again were excellent and those who had to come in were very good.

“We had to block everything at the end but it’s a big win.”

The Lilywhites leapfrogged United, rising from 16th up to 12th in the Championship table, and Blades boss Chris Wilder said: “We knew what the game was going to be about.

“The three goals sum us up: dealing with direct play, dealing with second balls, stopping crosses, defending inside your goal… it’s all basic Championship football you need to be good at. They were good at it and we weren’t.

“On the other side of it, we’ve created chances but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb yet again with the two goals we conceded from set-plays.

“There was a softness about us and then the shirt’s heavy. It’s been too heavy for some players. Both boxes have been our Achilles heel this season, even late on.

“I’m not saying Preston didn’t have chances, but 2-0 down, if you gamble and create the chances, you have to stick them away.

“There was a couple we had and we had to put them away.”