Sheffield United vs Preston North End

UTB 41
promotion back to the top flight at the end
of the 1970-71 season.
This game saw the Blades achieve an
impressive 2-1 win. Alan Woodward, with
his 100th league goal for the club, had
given the Blades the lead in the 36th
minute. It was a lead they held until the
66th minute when Chivers equalised.
However, Blades’ Scottish international
striker Jim Bone notched an 86th
minute winner.
In spite of this fine win, the Blades’
results generally remained inconsistent,
and the board had let it be known that
they were hoping to appoint a younger
track-suited manager to take charge of
team affairs with Harris being offered an
alternative role with the club.
In the event, Harris’s last game as
manager was in a 3-1 defeat at Coventry
City on 24th November 1973. His
successor was former Watford and
Blackburn Rovers boss Ken Furphy whose
first game in charge was a 0-0 draw at
Queens Park Rangers on 8th December.
One of the challenges faced by Furphy
was the need to strengthen the depth
of the squad which still relied heavily on
those who had won promotion back in
1971. The Blades ended this season of
major off the field change in 13th place
with Spurs finishing in 11th place.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs PRESTON NORTH END