Source: PA
Leeds punish Preston
Promotion hopefuls Leeds climbed to fifth in the npower Championship table as goals from Neil Kilkenny and Billy Paynter saw them push Preston a step closer to relegation with a 2-1 win at Deepdale.
Preston had started well at Deepdale as they looked to record a first league win in 14 games, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Kilkenny's fine strike.
Paynter then doubled the advantage and Iain Hume's goal was not enough to help Preston secure a point.
Preston may have looked the more likely to grab an opener but they were stunned when the visitors took the lead against the run of play, the ball falling to Kilkenny 20 yards out who hammered beyond Lonergan into the top right-hand corner in the 29th minute.
Simon Grayson's men now looked far more assured and the lively Max Gradel was twice narrowly off target from the edge of the box, but Paynter's effort a few minutes later was on target and saw Leeds double their advantage in the 57th minute.
But Preston showed great spirit to respond just six minutes later, Keith Treacy picking out Hume and the former Barnsley man smashed the ball into the top corner to give the home side hope of salvaging something from the game, but Leeds held out for the three points.
