Sheffield United marked their return to the Championship with a convincing 2-0 victory over Preston North End. Oli Arblaster opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the 12th minute, followed by Gustavo Hamer's lob from 25 yards that sealed the win in the second half. This victory not only ended Sheffield's winless streak since February but also provided them with their first clean sheet of 2024. Preston, who struggled last season with a record five consecutive defeats, failed to capitalize on Sheffield's defensive weaknesses. The match highlighted the impressive debut performances of several new signings for Sheffield, including Arblaster, while Preston continued to grapple with their scoring woes. Sheffield United holds a strong historical advantage over Preston, having won 49 out of 110 previous league encounters.