Late arrivals at Deepdale will have to rely on video evidence to witness the two early goals as Preston performed a demolition job on a powerful United side.

As a contest it was all over in six minutes as Preston produced some quite brilliant football to hit the Yorkshire side with a two goals salvo.

With people still taking up their positions inside the stadium, North End went in front after just sixty four seconds.

Rob Edwards played a neat ball up towards the edge of the box looking for Steve Basham. The Preston striker showed a fine first time touch to play the ball into the path of Michael Appleton and he controlled the ball perfectly, took it on a few yards and then, from the edge of the box he hit in a stunning low shot that the keeper had no chance of stopping and Deepdale erupted in ecstatic applause.

The celebrations were still going on when the ball was played high into the area to Jon Macken but he looked hemmed in by several defenders. He battled for the ball, shrugged off two challenges and then crashed the ball beyond Simon Tracey and once again Deepdale was a wonderful arena of supporters who just couldn't believe the breathtaking start to the season at Deepdale.

Sheffield United were shell-shocked, but they hit back with two good efforts from David Kelly and Wayne Quinn rattled the upright with Tepi Moilaanen well beaten. North End held on to the two-goal lead until the interval and then, in the opening minutes of the second half Michael Appleton and Colin Murdock both had chances to increase the lead.

United had to throw caution to the wind and attack to try to get back into the match but the Preston rearguard and midfield were playing very well and the Bramall Lane side just couldn't get shots in on goal.

It came as no real surprise when Preston added a third after determined play by Steve Basham. He battled for the ball in midfield and won it, and it was then transferred up to Macken in the box.

As with his first goal, he looked completely covered by two defenders, but he won possession, and then with his back to goal lifted the ball over the keeper into the net despite frantic acrobatic attempts by Georges Santas to keep it out.

Any hopes that Sheffield United had of getting back into the match disappeared in the glorious sunshine as Paul Devlin was sent off for a foul on Paul McKenna and the manager Neil Warnock was dismissed from the bench for words delivered to the lineman subsequent to the sending off.

Macken was denied a hat-trick when his angled shot smashed against the inside of the post and flew across goal and as Preston applied the pressure Iain Anderson shot just across the crossbar.

Preston boss David Moyes said "I was very pleased with the win and it's a strange thing to say after we scored two goals in the first half, but I think we played much better in the second half and controlled the match."

Man of the match Colin Murdock said "They are a good side and it's so great to get the points."

The Preston defender added " We got off to a great start with two early goals and that lifted us. It was nice to keep a clean sheet."