Preston lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham on Tuesday
United were 3-1 winners at Blackburn this week
Recommended bet: Sheffield United to win
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom twice failed to topple his former club last season but will be hoping it is third time lucky when Sheffield United visit Deepdale on Friday.
The ex-Blades boss could do with a pick-me-up after presiding over a pair of defeats within the last week and he is well aware that his old employers are on a roll under Chris Wilder.
Team news
Brad Potts has suffered a setback so remains on the North End treatment table alongside Will Keane and Robbie Brady.
Harrison Burrows has given United boss Wilder food for thought after coming off the bench and starring in the 3-1 win at Blackburn.
The Blades are still without star forward Gus Hamer, though two wins out of two in his absence suggests others are stepping up.
The stats
Preston have won only two of their last nine in all competitions.
After losing nine matches in their first 10, the Blades have now won two in a row.
North End lost both fixtures against Sheffield United last season and have not beaten the Blades in any of their last eight encounters, dating back to April 2018.
Chris Wilder's Blades win an average of 7.2 corners per game — more than any other side in the Championship.
The latest Preston vs Sheffield United odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Sheffield United have finally edged out of the bottom three of the Championship after a woeful start to the 2025/26 season and they can continue their upward trajectory by winning at Preston.
It is now three wins in five under Wilder, including two in the last few days, first a 1-0 win over Watford followed by a 3-1 success at Blackburn on Tuesday.
Now they head across the Pennines once again, this time to Preston, and having proved this week they can pick up wins minus star man Hamer, take them to do so again.
There is a long way to go before United can resemble promotion challengers but last term's beaten play-off finalists are at last buzzing again and that has to be a worry for North End.
Preston, managed by ex-Blades' chief Heckingbottom, had started the season solidly enough but have lost their way with just two wins in nine in all competitions.
Heckingbottom was fuming at the manner of Tuesday night's 1-0 home loss to Birmingham where very little went their way.
But the reality is it was a second straight loss having lost 2-1 at West Brom on Saturday.
If they do not score early — five of their 12 goals have come inside the first 22 minutes — they struggle to breach defences, so if United can hold firm for half an hour they can go on and nick another priceless three points.
Back Sheffield United to win at 13/10 with LiveScoreBet
The latest Preston vs Sheffield United odds are available on LiveScore Bet
