Preston North End 0-2 Sheffield United: Blades go three points clear at top of Championship

Iliman Ndiaye has scored five goals for Sheffield United this season

Sheffield United extended their lead at the top of the Championship to three points with a routine win at Preston.

Iliman Ndiaye gave the Blades the lead shortly before the break with an excellent finish after doing well to stay on his feet.

Oli McBurnie scored his fourth goal in five games from close range to wrap up the win after Preston were caught out at the back.

The Lilywhites, who have scored just three goals in 10 games, had some promising moments but struggled to force visiting goalkeeper Wes Foderingham into a save of note.

Paul Heckingbottom's men have now won four successive matches and go into the international break five points clear of third-placed Reading.

An even first half was turned in the away team's favour when Senegal international Ndiaye showed class to sweep home a fine strike after beating two defenders.

With the home side's struggles in front of goal continuing a second goal was always likely to be enough and it arrived when Sander Berge latched on to a defensive error and teed up McBurnie to continue his fine run in front of goal.

The Blades host Birmingham City on Saturday, 1 October, while Ryan Lowe's men travel to in-form Sunderland on the same day.

Preston boss Ryan Lowe:

"The result was tough to take, but I thought we played some fantastic stuff.

"We got done from a long ball at the top end of the pitch. We don't clear our lines and we leave it to a goalscorer, who finds a way to get it into the back of our net.

"We're disappointed because we played a lot of good stuff against the leaders. Once again, we couldn't find that ruthless edge.

"It's a bit of a recurring theme when it comes to chances created."

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom:

"We wanted to be better in the second half than we were in the first. I think our goal woke us up, to be honest.

"We were lethargic in the first half and weren't aggressive as we normally are. We were second to things and that's what we needed to improve.

"All of them will be disappointed with the first half, but they were better in the second half.

"We know we needed to be better in the second half and we were. We were strong in the end, it was a strong away performance."