Home keeper Marco Silvestri was in magnificent form, completing crucial saves from Paul Gallagher, Will Keane, Joe Garner, substitute Neil Kilkenny (twice) and Marnick Vermijl to pile on the frustration for Preston’s former Leeds manager Simon Grayson on his return to Elland Road. Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Bamba, Mowatt. Subs not used: Wright, Woods, Brownhill, Hugill.
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The Italian stopped was called into action again as some lovely one-touch football involving Gallagher, and John Welsh ended with Browne sending Will Keane racing unopposed into the Leeds box.
Luke Murphy’s 25-yard low shot fizzed wide of Hudson’s right post and Gallagher was booked for a foul on Cook in the 62nd minute as North End weathered a storm of United attacks.
They still contain plenty of quality and have other unsafe strikers like Adam Le Fondre as well as one of the best wingers in the league in James Henry, but Evans will see it as another chance for three points that would see Leeds leapfrog their hosts in the table as they are just two points behind them. It was always going to be tough because Preston don’t concede many goals. This time it was Pickford’s turn to stand tall and he slapped away the effort of the big Kiwi.
Liam Cooper’s long punt left Preston at sixes and sevens and a race on between Wood and onrushing keeper Jordan Pickford who hurtled out of his area. The keeper got to the ball first and it appeared to hit his shoulder but after deliberating with his linesman referee Gavin Ward under pressure from the home faithful showed Pickford a straight red. Pickford’s early departure meant an unexpected debut for Preston’s fourth-choice keeper Matt Hudson who was beaten by a headed own goal from Alan Browne just after the break.
Bellusci failed to test the teenager with the resulting free kick and after some nervy moments he saw out the rest of the half with few alarms.
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Leeds were dominating possession but unable to fashion any clear cut chances so Steve Evans brought on Souleymane Doukara as a second striker in an effort to finish the match off.
