Greg Halford's towering second-half header booked Sheffield United a date at Wembley for their fourth play-off final in 12 years following a 1-0 win over Preston.

The tall midfielder, on a season-long loan from Sunderland, rose to steer David Cotterill's cross into the top corner on the hour-mark to settle a typically nerve-jangling Coca-Cola Championship semi-final second leg at Bramall Lane.

Halford's winner was deserved and Kevin Blackwell's side now stand just one game away from a return to the Barclays Premier League, two years after they were controversially relegated.

The fact that United have lost each of their previous play-off finals - in 1997, 1998 and 2003 - was lost on most in a crowd of 26,354 that ensured another raucous night to remember for the red and white half of Sheffield.

Preston, outplayed for large chunks of a helter-skelter play-off tie, refused to surrender and threatened to take the game to extra-time with a fighting finale.

But the Lilywhites, who have reached the play-offs four times since promotion to the Championship in 2000, will have to wait another season at least after spending 48 years out of the top flight.