Hang on – Chris Wilder is talking to Sky. “Just nice,” he says, “to win a game of football.” And here is Andy Hunter’s match report.

The Blackburn goals have just been shown on Sky and they’re a good bunch. “Their best moments,” says Paul Heckingbottom, “ come when they’re brave with their passes.” The same is true of a few teams. Down the road at Deepdale, Sheffield United had much the stronger midfield, with Callum O’Hare, Ollie Arblaster and Gustavo Hamer all showing their class. It will be a shock if they don’t make the top six – although you never know, especially in the Championship with its packed programme.

Time for me to say goodnight. Thanks for your company.

The other game finished 4-2 to Blackburn, so they are top of the Championship until at least tomorrow. Sheffield United are second, with one point, on account of that pesky deduction. Preston are bottom, just below Derby on goals scored.

90+3 min Nothing doing for Preston. Sheffield United, sniffing a third, piece together a flowing move that culminates in a blast from Arblaster.

90 min Back at Deepdale, we will have six added minutes, most of them caused by substitutions. The latest sub is Sydie Peck, replacing Callum O’Hare, who was one of the men of the match – so busy and inventive.

It’s raining goals in Blackburn. Derby get one back, through Kane Wilson, to make it 4-2.

And another goal at Ewood Park. Blackburn get their fourth through Yuki Ohashi. They will be top of the table tonight, with Sheffield United almost certain to be second – on one point, after having two deducted.

86 min Another Preston sub: Robbie Brady replaced by Kian Best, who is only 18.

84 min Frøkjaer-Jensen finds space on the right and sends a cross in – or rather out, as it loops over the bar. That rather sums up Preston’s night.

It’s all happening in the other game. Derby drew level through Curtis Nelson, whereupon Blackburn scored twice – Andreas Weimann and Sammie Szmodics, who can’t stop scoring even when he’s coming off the bench. So it’s Blackburn 3-1 Derby.

79 min Sheffield United win the ball in their own half and launch it forward to Moore, whose hold-up play is so strong that the man marking him, Liam Lindsay, can only pull him to the ground. That may be the first yellow card of the game.

78 min Ain’t nothing happening but the subs. The latest one is Rhian Brewster, replacing André Brooks, who was creative.

74 min And another sub for Preston. Stefan Thordarson, who also did well on debut, gives way to Mads Frøkjaer-Jensen.

73 min The first subs from Chris Wilder: Femi Seriki replaces Alfie Gilchrist, who made a bright debut, and Ben Slimane comes on for Gustavo Hamer, whose goal was the moment of the match so far.

70 min Kieffer Moore has a big chance after some good work from André Brooks on the right. He’s six yards out, in the middle. and I can’t work out why it’s not 3-0.

69 min Glimmers for Preston… First Kesler-Hayden, on loan from Villa, whips in a cross from the right. Then Potts draws a save with a powerful shot after being ushered in by Hamer.

66 min Ryan Lowe reacts to the second goal by taking off both his inside forwards, Will Keane and Sam Greenwood. On come Milutin Osmajic and Kaine Kesler-Hayden, and it looks as if Preston have gone to 4-4-2.

65 min A flurry of subs. Details in a minute!

62 min It’s been a game of one half, which has taken place twice. Just as they did after the first goal, Sheffield United grow in confidence before our eyes. Hamer has another chance but can’t find the same composure and ends up passing when he should have pulled the trigger.

52 min Chance for Sheffield United! Moore, slipped in by O’Hare, hits the side netting from the corner of the box. That’s the combination that looks most likely to bring a second goal.

49 min Chance for Preston! Whatmough seizes on a loose ball and thumps in a shot. This game is finally coming to the boil.

49 min Chance for Sheffield United! Gilchrist does well down the right, showing grit to win the ball and flair to cross it. He finds Kieffer Moore, whose snap shot is well over the bar.

47 min Chance for Preston! Their best one yet, as Sam Greenwood slips into the inside-right channel. He has time to pick his spot, but skews the shot wide.

Just the one goal at Ewood Park, too. Blackburn lead Derby 1-0 through a curled shot from Tyrhys Dolan.

45 min Sheffield United finally get forward. First Gustavo Hamer takes too long to carve out an opening, then Vinicius Souza does the opposite, rushing a shot that ends up wide enough for the home fans to laugh at him.

43 min The place is still buzzing, but the game has gone to sleep as Shefiield United’s back four pass the ball around in their own half.

41 min Andy Walker, who has dished out more blame than praise, makes an exception for Kieffer Moore. “Brilliant header there.” And it was a defensive one, from a Preston corner.

39 min Another chance for Preston: Thordarson does well, playing a perpendicular pass to Riis. He lays it off for Potts, whose shot from the right is well blocked.

36 min A half-chance for Sheffield United as Jack Robinson, their new captain, sends in a long throw. The ball falls invitingly at the feet of Gustavo Hamer, but his shot from the edge of the box is wide.

34 min Chance for Preston! As the ball bobbles about in the box, Riis does well to pull it down but less well with his shot, which is tame and straight at the keeper.

30 min As the half-hour mark approaches, a Preston midfielder sends a long ball forward that is nowhere near a team-mate. “No quality at all,” says Andy Walker.

28 min Thordarson has a go from distance. It;’s not a bad shot, combining ferocity and finesse, but it goes wide. The Sky commentator reminds us that Thordarson has a Wembley winner on his CV – for Iceland against England, just before the Euros.

27 min Brad Potts, under pressure as Sheffield United break, goes down and puts his hand on the ball. Luckily the ref agrees with him and gives a foul.

23 min There’s also been a goal in the other Championship game, just up the road, but it’s from the home side: Blackburn 1-0 Derby (Dolan 18). A curler, apparently.

22 min Preston didn’t score in their last five games of 2023-24, and they badly need a goal now. Their passing looks fine, with some neat triangles, especially on the left. But there hasn’t been much sign of that elusive end product.

19 min Callum O’Hare, signed on a free from Coventry, dances into the middle of the Preston box, but he takes too long to make a decision and a good tackle comes in.

16 min The goal hasn’t silenced the home crowd, but it has given Sheffield United a boost. They’re now knocking the ball around with a bit of a swagger.

13 min It’s Ollie Arblaster’s first goal for Sheffield United, to go with two for Port Vale. He looks half chuffed and half abashed.

9 min The first corner goes to Sheffield United, rather questionably. Justice is done as Will Keane heads it away smoothly at the near post.

8 min The atmosphere at Deepdale is rocking. It’s almost as if everybody spent the last three months missing club football.

6 min A shot for Emil Riis as Preston begin to see a lot of the ball. Sheffield United look as if they may not mind that.

2 min Preston get into the box – a long free kick from the keeper, a header, but no danger. Sheffield United storm up the other end and get the ball in the net! It’s Kieffer Moore, finishing crisply from the left, but the flag had gone up.

The teams are out there, Preston in white with navy shorts, Sheffield United in black shirts and green shorts. And it’ll be Vinicius Souza to get the season under way.