IT WASN’T quite written into the recent contract he signed to seal his trans-Pennine switch to Elland Road, but it did not take Nostradamus to foresee that David Healy would find the back of the net.

What was less predictable was the relative ease with which Leeds United halted their four-game losing streak, against a Preston North End side that looked even more bereft of confidence than the visiting team.

Healy scored twice, taking only 16 minutes to silence the taunting morons, firing home from 12 yards after Preston failed to deal with Danny Pugh’s lofted free kick to register his first goal since the £600,000 move that caused such consternation.

Two minutes before the interval, Healy swept home his second and Leeds’ third, outpacing Claude Davis to Jermaine Wright’s exquisite 40-yard through-ball.

Despite close-range consolation goals by Preston’s top scorer, Richard Cresswell, at either end of the second half, Leeds will register few easier doubles this season.

Brian Deane set the tone with a trademark header in the 13th minute and teenager Simon Walton scored in between Cresswell’s contributions, 18 minutes from time, with a simple finish.

STAR MAN: David Healy (Leeds United)

Player ratings: Preston North End: Ward 4, Mawene 6 (O’Neil, h-t 6), Lucketti 6, Davis 4, Curtis 5, Alexander 5, McKenna 5, Etuhu 5, Lewis 5, Cresswell 7, Smith 4 (Daley, h-t 6)

Leeds United: Sullivan 5, Kelly 6, Carlisle 7, Butler 6, Pugh 6, Oster 7 (Richardson, 83min 6), Gregan 7, Wright 8, Walton 6, Healy 8, Deane 7

Scorers: Preston: Cresswell 54, 83

Leeds: Deane 13, Healy 15, 44, Walton 72

Referee: C Penton

Attendance: 18,531

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