By Ian Baird 1-0
March 29 2007

With time running out for the Yorkshire club to earn enough points to avoid relegation, Leeds United have a difficult home tie with Lancashire rivals, Preston. Kick off is 7.45pm with the match screened live on Sky television. Currently:
They say a year is a long time in Football, well not when you support Leeds United. I am sure it will not be lost on the Football masses that about 11 months ago Preston rolled into Elland Road for a televised Friday night game to vie for the right to go to Cardiff for the Play-off Final and fight it out for a place in the Premier League. This Friday the North End roll into West Yorkshire again for a Friday televised game, but the comparisons end there - how different things are now.
It is difficult to assess Leeds United's recent form. The positive members of our support state unbeaten in three games including two away games and only two goals conceded. Others will state that these three include two other members of the bottom three of the Division, Southend and Luton, who are arguably even worse than Leeds this season. Four points out of nine, when this is considered, actually looks poor form. Either way, United must go into the game positively and believe - just as the belief was high on 5th May 2006 in the play-off semi-final. Leeds drew that game at Elland Road and there followed the now legendary "job done!" comments from then Preston boss Billy Davies, who is now master-minding Derby's surge up to the top flight. The return leg on the following Monday saw one of the few inspirational Leeds performances under Kevin Blackwell, and probably the last result that had us believing the dark days were past. Leeds won an epic game 2-0 at Deepdale with goals from Hulse and Richardson. United are back!
What has happened since then would be unbelievable to most fans - but not Leeds. Hard to stomach - yes - but the freefall seems to continue amidst rumours of the club going into administration and our young players attracting interest elsewhere. Whatever, this is the start of seven cup finals' for the mighty Whites.
Preson will go into the game as favourites and have enjoyed a good season under Davies' replacement Paul Simpson. In David Nugent, the latest member of the England striker club, they have one of the star turns of the Coca-Cola Championship and a player Leeds know only too well. If Leeds are to win they will need to keep Nugent quiet. It is a big ask for our battered defenders.

Last game:
Preston 4, Leeds 1 - Dennis Wise's second game in charge on Halloween Day saw the ex-Wimbledon man screaming come back down to earth with a loud thud in a horror show at Deepdale. Having won his first at home to lowly Southend hopes were high that the tide had turned and Leeds were going to enjoy the anticipated early good run under the new boss. It all went horribly wrong! First half goals from Dichio and Pugh saw the home team go into the break 2-0 up and an early second half goal from Nugent made the game safe for Preston. David Healy restored some hope ten minutes from time but Neal finished the scoring giving North End a very comfortable win to leave the new Leeds boss plenty to think about.

Remember, remember:
Preston 2 (Cresswell 2), Leeds 4 (Deane, Healy 2, Walton) - Leeds travelled over the Pennines for the first league game against Preston at Deepdale since March 1964 with new boy David Healy facing his old club for the first time since arriving at Elland Road. A returning former hero facing chants of 'Judas' and 'Scum' were not unique at Leeds games - but how nice that it was the opposition supporters feeling aggrieved instead of Leeds fans for once. And in customary fashion Healy did not fail his new admirers by scoring against his old team. Leeds got off to a flyer with Deane opening the scoring on 13 minutes and only two minutes later Healy had made it 2-0 to the away team. On 44 minutes Healy struck again and Leeds were able to go into the break 3-0 up to leave Preston's baying crowd wondering what had happened. The impressive Richard Cresswell then scored on 54 minutes as Preston got back into the game, but Simon Walton's easy tap in put Leeds 4-1 up and game was safe. Cresswell's late goal added a little respectability to the score.
A cracking day out for Leeds fans, many visiting Preston and the National Football Museum for the first time. Any type of win will do this Friday.

Did you know?:
Jack Charlton played 14 times for Leeds against Preston - more than any other Leeds player against the Lilywhites (yes, I know I'm scraping the barrel! There really isn't anything interesting to write!)

Us & them - they played for both clubs:
Not many up until recently. In Leeds ranks David Healy, Richard Cresswell and Eddie Lewis all came to Elland Road immediately via Deepdale and will all probably feature on Friday evening. Jemal Johnson also played at Preston on loan and could feature. For North End Danny Pugh went from Elland Road last summer and the legend Michael Ricketts and Brett Ormerod have also worn the Lilywhites kit this season. In recent seasons Sean Gregan played over 250 games for Preston and Eddie Gray's nephew Andy played on loan there from Leeds in 1998. Clyde Wynhard and Neil McNab make up the players in recent memory who played for both.
In the dark past George Speak, Tom Duxbury and Bob Batey are three of about another half-dozen players to play both in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Legend for both:
Frank Worthington - there are any facets to a legend. One is very definitely their playing ability (obvious!). Another is a thing called presence! Frank Worthington had both. Better players have played for Leeds United than Frank and others are fondly remembered because they played when things were tickety boo! Frank played for Leeds in a dark period for the club but temporarily gave Leeds a lift and beleaguered fans some hope. Born in West Yorkshire in Halifax, Frank started at Huddersfield Town in 1966 before moves to Leicester, Bolton and Birmingham made him a big name in 1970's Football. When Allan Clarke signed Worthington in 1982, a signing that raised many eyebrows, with Leeds facing relegation as 'Sniffer' believed that Frank's experience could help his younger strikers like Connor and Butterworth. It looked inspirational for a while as Frank scored freely as Leeds battled the drop but the fight was ill fated as Leeds went down. In all Worthington scored 15 goals in 35 games but it was his reputation off the field as a lades man that made Frank so famous. He talked openly about his conquests and his autobiography was called 'One hump or two!' to further this reputation.
After spells at Sunderland, Southampton, Brighton and Tranmere, Frank ended up at Deepdale and helped them gain promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1987, and I saw the game where promotion was sealed at Exeter City when Preston won 2-1 with a certain Sam Allardyce, looking very fit and athletic, playing centre-back. Frank finished his career at Stockport in 1988.
Better players have worn our shirt, but many will remember Frank Worthington as a genuine legend of the game.

Bairdy's Prediction:
As always it is how we defend. Nugent will be a thorn - no doubt - so we have to keep him quiet from the off. Let's hope our Preston old boys will offer the attacking flair to catch them off guard. Northern Ireland hat-trick hero David Healy could yet be the key, but how many can we say this before we get bored.
For me it has 1-0 to Leeds with a late Healy goal written all over it! I'll take that anyway!