Daniel Jebbison completed a dramatic Preston comeback by scoring the winning goal against his former club Sheffield United in an enthralling Championship contest.

The on-loan Bournemouth striker headed powerfully past goalkeeper Michael Cooper to move the Lilywhites back into the top six, and end the Blades’ two-match winning streak.

Things had looked very different in the first half as goals from Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare put Chris Wilder’s side 2-0 up and seemingly in charge.

That changed in first half stoppage time when Lewis Dobbin pulled one back, and shortly after the restart Japhet Tanganga put through his own net, before Jebbison completed the turnaround.

Preston had been cursing their luck, and the officials, after losing twice in a week to West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, but they only had their own defence to blame after a bright start dissolved in the Lancashire rain.

In the Blades’ first real attack, Tyrese Campbell turned and sent Brooks clear and he finished calmly past Daniel Iversen for his first goal of the season.

Six minutes later the visiting fans were crowing about “the gap” to neighbours Sheffield Wednesday, docked 12 points earlier in the day for going into administration, as O’Hare showed great feet to latch on to another Campbell pass, go round Harrison Armstrong and find the bottom corner for 2-0.

There looked to be no way back as Preston struggled to find any rhythm, and they lost Lewis Gibson to a muscle injury.

That changed deep in first-half added time as Armstrong and Jebbison linked on the edge of the Blades box, the latter laying the ball off for Dobbin, who switched it onto his right foot and curled it into the corner beyond Cooper.

Within 54 seconds of the restart it was all level as a free-kick was swung from deep into the box. Jordan Storey’s header was straight to Tanganga but the United skipper, in trying to take it on his thigh, kneed it over the flailing Cooper.

Deepdale was suddenly in uproar, Preston were buzzing and Wilder’s team, fresh from wins over Watford and Blackburn Rovers, were stunned.

Jebbison fired one good chance over the bar but when Andrija Vukcevic sprinted past Tanganga, hit the byeline and crossed it perfectly, Jebbison’s header had too much pace for Cooper’s hand to keep out.

It was a sweet moment, both for Jebbison, who made just 35 appearances over four seasons for the Blades, and for his manager Paul Heckingbottom, who was sacked to make way for Wilder’s second spell in charge after taking them to the Premier League three seasons ago.

Alfie Devine twice went close to making the result safe, but the away team rallied and in a frantic finish Djibril Soumare and Harrison Burrows both missed golden chances for a leveller, while former Wednesday man Michael Smith missed a sitter at the other end.