Daily Mail 29/9/10
Leeds 4 Preston 6: Jon Parkin scores glorious hat-trick as Preston produce amazing comeback to stun Elland Road
By Neil Barraclough
Even in the madness that was Leeds United 10 years ago, Elland Road has surely never witnessed a match as bizarre as this.
Leeds were outstanding during an opening 40 minutes in which they made Preston look ragged and well-beaten.
But their almost comic implosion from a 4-1 lead had visiting fans laughing in the stands and Darren Ferguson celebrating a win that had looked as unlikely as the final score.
Ferguson said: 'I've never been involved in anything like that. It was an amazing game and my players deserve all the credit.
'I don't think anyone has ever come to Elland Road and done that from 4-1 down. It can get very nervy here at Leeds.
The second and third goals were the important ones for us. After that, we could smell a bit of blood.'
Jon Parkin's hat-trick was the highlight for Preston, but Leeds will still be struggling to figure out how they contrived to concede six goals against a side that had previously only scored seven times in eight league fixtures this term.
'Parkin was unplayable,' said Ferguson. 'Iain Hume was also outstanding. They were just too much for their centre-halves.' And yet Leeds had been breathtakingly dominant during the early stages.
Yes, they were sloppy in conceding Parkin's fifth-minute effort.
But they piled forward, flooded Preston's box with a sea of white shirts and banged in four goals of their own in response.
Luciano Becchio levelled with a fine header from George McCartney's cross and Leeds began to fly, cruising to their three-goal advantage within 25 minutes of that opening effort.
Davide Somma was twice denied from close range before Alex Bruce's looping header put the hosts ahead.
Then Somma eventually got his reward, finishing Lloyd Sam's break down the right before grabbing his second with a clinical drive after cutting in from the left. Then it all came crashing down.
Parkin's second, just before half time, gave Preston a glimmer of hope. Within 12 minutes of the restart, Keith Treacy scored direct from a corner then Callum Davidson smashed in a penalty after Paul Coutts was brought down.
After that, there was only ever one side who looked capable of carving out a result Parkin showed sublime skill and a thunderous finish for Preston's fifth after 64 minutes, before Hume rounded things off with a superb header on 79 minutes.
Leeds boss Simon Grayson said: 'I'm drained and hugely disappointed. You work hard to do things but sometimes football kicks you where it hurts.
'We made far too many mistakes again. We had too many players playing their own game, and you don't expect those things to be happening.Hopefully it doesn't come along again, because otherwise it could be a long season. It's unbelievable and embarrassing.'
Leeds 4 Preston 6: Jon Parkin scores glorious hat-trick as Preston produce amazing comeback to stun Elland Road
By Neil Barraclough
Even in the madness that was Leeds United 10 years ago, Elland Road has surely never witnessed a match as bizarre as this.
Leeds were outstanding during an opening 40 minutes in which they made Preston look ragged and well-beaten.
But their almost comic implosion from a 4-1 lead had visiting fans laughing in the stands and Darren Ferguson celebrating a win that had looked as unlikely as the final score.
Ferguson said: 'I've never been involved in anything like that. It was an amazing game and my players deserve all the credit.
'I don't think anyone has ever come to Elland Road and done that from 4-1 down. It can get very nervy here at Leeds.
The second and third goals were the important ones for us. After that, we could smell a bit of blood.'
Jon Parkin's hat-trick was the highlight for Preston, but Leeds will still be struggling to figure out how they contrived to concede six goals against a side that had previously only scored seven times in eight league fixtures this term.
'Parkin was unplayable,' said Ferguson. 'Iain Hume was also outstanding. They were just too much for their centre-halves.' And yet Leeds had been breathtakingly dominant during the early stages.
Yes, they were sloppy in conceding Parkin's fifth-minute effort.
But they piled forward, flooded Preston's box with a sea of white shirts and banged in four goals of their own in response.
Luciano Becchio levelled with a fine header from George McCartney's cross and Leeds began to fly, cruising to their three-goal advantage within 25 minutes of that opening effort.
Davide Somma was twice denied from close range before Alex Bruce's looping header put the hosts ahead.
Then Somma eventually got his reward, finishing Lloyd Sam's break down the right before grabbing his second with a clinical drive after cutting in from the left. Then it all came crashing down.
Parkin's second, just before half time, gave Preston a glimmer of hope. Within 12 minutes of the restart, Keith Treacy scored direct from a corner then Callum Davidson smashed in a penalty after Paul Coutts was brought down.
After that, there was only ever one side who looked capable of carving out a result Parkin showed sublime skill and a thunderous finish for Preston's fifth after 64 minutes, before Hume rounded things off with a superb header on 79 minutes.
Leeds boss Simon Grayson said: 'I'm drained and hugely disappointed. You work hard to do things but sometimes football kicks you where it hurts.
'We made far too many mistakes again. We had too many players playing their own game, and you don't expect those things to be happening.Hopefully it doesn't come along again, because otherwise it could be a long season. It's unbelievable and embarrassing.'