Lilywhites' win over Blades 'a joy to watch'

Daniel Jebbison's winner was his second since moving on-loan from Bournemouth in the summer.

Preston North End's 3-2 win over Sheffield United was a wonderful advert for the madness, chaos and brilliance that is the Championship.

This really was a joy to watch - and it was a result that North End needed after defeats at West Brom and at home to Birmingham.

Apart from a 29-minute spell, where they very nearly let the game run away from them, they were terrific.

This is a new North End, one that has undergone significant and much-needed change.

On matchday 12 last season, they squandered a three-goal lead to only take a point at Plymouth. Fast forward a year, and only Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes and Ben Whiteman started this one. Exactly half of the matchday squad from Home Park are no longer with the club.

In their place are a mix of permanent and loan signings who have hit the ground running and given the whole place the refresh it had been craving.

Some might say that Harrison Armstrong, Alfie Devine, Lewis Dobbin and Daniel Jebbison are only on loan. Others (including me) would argue, who cares?

All four are impacting the starting XI. They won't all start every game, but right now with injuries mounting up, they'll be in more often than not.

Armstrong looks a gem.

As soon as he joined North End, the former Everton academy manager David Unsworth told me that he could go right to the top. That sort of recommendation shows just how highly his parent club rates him.

The permanent summer arrivals are doing a fabulous job too. The return of Daniel Iversen in goal is a masterstroke. Odeluga Offiah is highly likely to be money well spent once he beds in completely.

The wide areas have been given an uplift with Thierry Small, Pol Valentin and Andrija Vukcevic all looking the part so far, and Michael Smith offers the Ched-Evans type, Plan B from last season.

The one area of concern has to be the absentee list.

Ali McCann watched from the stand with a broken arm, but he wasn't alone.

Valentin is getting closer to a return, but there's no time frame on returns for Brad Potts, Will Keane, Robbie Brady and Jordan Thompson, who haven't kicked a ball this season.

Muscle injuries to Lewis Gibson and Vukcevic will mean an assessment for them ahead of a trip to Southampton next weekend.

Paul Heckingbottom named eight subs instead of nine for this one; we'll have to see who makes the roll call to the south coast.

But, what a night. The Championship, once again, serving up a treat!