PRESTON'S dismal run of away form continued at Elland Road as Leeds snatched victory with their only real chance of the game.

Danny Pugh hit his sixth goal of the season with 12 minutes of the game left to play, after being set-up in a close-range position by Brett Ormerod, the Accrington-born Southampton loanee.

Preston's chances were almost as few and far between, with David Healy going wide in the 60th minute with the sort of effort that on any other day he'd probably have put away.

North End manager Billy Davies refused to be drawn on whether the pressure of playing against a club rumoured to be interested in signing him had affected Healy, but heaped praise on his players.

He said: "Leeds is a massive club and Elland Road is a very

intimidating place to play football.

"But I thought we played exceptionally well. We just didn't get what we deserved and the players are gutted in the dressing room.

"David did have a very good chance and he worked his socks off throughout the match. It has been a difficult week for him."

His assistant David Kelly was sent to the stands for remonstrating too much with the fourth official after Richard Cresswell was pole-axed in an off-the ball incident.

Davies said: "We were just asking the assistant to do his job but we have to live with the fact that didn't happen."

Club chairman Derek Shaw, meanwhile, has quashed rumours that Leeds have come back in with another bid for 25-year-old Healy.

The cash-strapped Yorkshire club offered £100,000 for the player - who cost £1.5million from Manchester United - on Thursday.

Shaw described that as 'laughable' but denied Leeds' assistant boss Sam Ellis' claim that they had gone in with another bid for Healy, who played his 150th game for North End on Saturday.

Shaw said: "There has been no new bid. The last one was flatly rejected because it was way below our valuation of the player."

Danny Pugh's sixth goal of the season earned Leeds a vital victory.

Pugh scored from close range with 12 minutes left, although he was then booked by referee Graham Laws for removing his shirt.

The goal settled a game that was almost devoid of chances, although the second half was livelier than a dismal opening period when there was little action.

Preston came close to an equaliser in the dying moments, but Neil Sullivan clutched Eddie Lewis' header.

Leeds assistant manager Sam Ellis:

"Danny Pugh is a revelation. He has six now and let's hope he can keep it going because he's only a young player and in terms of experience he can develop.

Leeds make third Healy bid

"There is no doubt Healy is a good player. It was difficult for him in the circumstances, with us having a bid in, but he is still a Preston player and it's really not for us to comment on."

Preston boss Billy Davies:

"Leeds is a massive club and Elland Road is a very intimidating place to play football.

"But I thought we played exceptionally well. We just didn't get what we deserved and the players are gutted in the dressing room."