Preston North End Match v Sheffield Wednesday Preview

22 August 2019

Sheffield Wednesday went top of the Championship with their win over Luton Town on Tuesday night and whilst results on Wednesday evening knocked them off, they are certain an in-form side.

Ticket News

Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday Ticket News

22 August 2019

Therefore, the Lilywhites know if their 100 per cent start to the season at Deepdale is to continue, they will have to be at the top of their game when Lee Bullen brings the Owls to PR1.

It will be the 51st league encounter between the two sides at Deepdale, with plenty of entertaining games down the years, no more so than the 3-3 draw at the end of last season, when Steve Bruce’s side came from behind to take a point.

Bruce left to join home town team Newcastle United in the summer and Bullen has been in caretaker charge since then and done an excellent job. He was also in caretaker charge – his first of that spell – against North End at Hillsborough last season and has a very good record at a club he was a very well-respected player.

For North End though, they will be concentrating on themselves again, with one less day to recover, manager Alex Neil could well choose to make changes once again as they look to add another three points.

For Your Information
Match Details: PNE v Sheffield Wednesday, Deepdale, Saturday 24th August 2019, kick-off 3pm
Competition: EFL Championship (5/46)
PNE colours: Home kit, goalkeeper in black
Click here to buy a ticket

Here’s all the coverage accessible on PNE.Com in preview of the game…

Ticket Information: With our second of three home games in the space of seven days, we welcome Lee Bullen’s early pace-setters Sheffield Wednesday to Deepdale at the weekend. Click here for more information.

Match Officials: The match official for Saturday’s clash with Lee Bullen’s Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale is Robert Jones. Click here for details of the officials.

We’ve Met Before: Our last clash with the Owls at Deepdale - the six-goal thriller in April – was the 100th league game between the two sides and of course the 50th at Deepdale. Click here for more details of past battles.

How To Follow The Game: If you can’t make it to Deepdale for this weekend’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday, don’t worry, we will have full coverage on PNE.Com and iFollow PNE. Click here for details of how you can follow the match.

The One And Only Issue Three: This Saturday’s match programme has Paul Gallagher on the cover and the North End midfielder gives an extended interview to The One And Only. Click here for details.

Team News: Preston North End Manager Alex Neil is hoping to welcome back Sean Maguire to the squad for Saturday’s clash with the Owls. Click here for details of the options.

Alex Neil Ready To Go Horses For Courses: Preston North End manager Alex Neil admits that despite another positive performance and result on Wednesday night, he will look to utilise his whole squad over coming games. Click here for the manager’s full interview.

Ben Davies Says PNE More Fearless: Preston North End defender Ben Davies says that with another year’s experience under their belts, he and his Lilywhites team-mates are more fearless than previous seasons. Click here for more from Ben.

Match Reports

Preston North End 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1

24 August 2019

A brace of penalties from Daniel Johnson made it three consecutive home wins for Preston North End as they withstood a late barrage to beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Deepdale.

Moses Odubajo was twice punished for brining down Sean Maguire in the penalty area and on both occasions the PNE No.11 put the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Keiren Westwood’s goal.

The Owls right back was caught the wrong side of North End’s Irish international forward just after the half hour mark, with match official Robert Jones able to make an easy decision and point to the spot, Johnson converting and then on 65 minutes Maguire collected from Alan Browne’s lay off before the full back slashed his legs from under him and again the spot kick was converted.

Substitute Adam Reach crossed for Steven Fletcher to head home with 12 minutes to go to set up a tense finale, but an excellent rear guard display saw the home side hold on and take another big three points to move them up to sixth in the table.

Alex Neil had made four changes to the side that defeated Stoke City less than 72 hours before, Tom Clarke missing out through injury, replaced by Darnell Fisher, and Jayden Stockley, Browne – who skippered the side – and Maguire also coming in for Harrop, Gallagher and Barkhuizen.

The first half an hour was cagey, with North End dominating possession, without testing Westwood and it was actually Declan Rudd who was needed first, coming out to smother at the feet of Scottish forward Fletcher after Kadeem Harris’ pacey run down the left-hand side.

But the deadlock was broken by PNE. A long ball from Rudd – aimed at Stockley – evaded everyone and Maguire got in behind Odubajo in the left side of the penalty area. The former Brentford man had two goes at the heels of the North End No.24 and the second one sent the forward to the grass and referee Jones had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot.

Johnson eventually was able to step up and although Irish international Westwood went the right way, his late hand to the ball was only able to direct it inside the right-hand side netting giving the Lilywhites a deserved lead.

Almost the same combinations almost brought a second four minutes before the interval. Another long ball was this time flicked on nicely by Stockley and Maguire collected it and stood up a left-wing cross to the back post where centre half Julian Bӧrner slid in and put the ball against the outside of the right-hand post for a corner.

Whilst they would later get a second penalty, there could have been another in the final minute of the first half. A cross from the left by Billy Bodin struck Barry Bannan on the arm and, in the age of VAR, if the game had been played in the Premier League, there is no doubt a penalty would have been given, however, the match officials could not be called into question here, as it could have been impossible to see from their angles and nothing was forthcoming.

Tom Barkhuizen came on for Bodin just before the hour mark and almost had an immediate impact. He was sent through on goal by Fisher and did superbly to race into space on the right, before getting into the penalty area and firing goalwards, but the Wednesday No.1 did superbly, spreading his body, and making a fine save to concede a corner.

But Westwood was unable to do anything to prevent the second – and matchwinning – goal. A Joe Rafferty throw in down the left found Browne on the left side of the penalty area and the skipper held the ball and laid it off perfectly for Maguire to race into the box, only for a rash challenge from Odubajo to take his legs from under him, once again making Jones’ decision a very easy one.

This time at the Alan Kelly Town End, but it didn’t change DJ’s approach, as he fired left-footed into the same corner as his first penalty, this time the ’keeper going the wrong way, converting for his fourth goal of the season, to take him to the top of the Championship goalscoring lists.

And the No.11 was inches away from a hat-trick on 70 minutes. Browne was brought down 25 yards out – to the right of the penalty area – by Sam Hutchinson and the midfielder stepped up and curled a shot over the wall, but it just didn’t come down enough, hitting the corner of post and bar and going over.

The Lilywhites lost Patrick Bauer to injury just after the hour mark and the visitors looked to capitalise on it by going with three out and out strikers. Fernando Forestieri had come on at half-time and former PNE loanee Reach – who played down the left – were joined by powerful striker Atdhe Nuhiu and they grabbed a goal back with 12 minutes to go.

Reach got some pace to drive down the left and delivered a pinpoint cross to the penalty area, to wear Fletcher had timed his run perfectly, heading downwards, and into the net, despite Rudd getting a foot too it.

The closing stages were tension filled, with the Owls throwing everything at PNE and the North End boss having to put Stockley into the middle of a back three to help out. But despite five minutes of stoppage time and plenty of long balls, free kicks and throw ins, the kitchen sink could not break down the home side’s barricades and the game finished 2-1.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Rafferty, Pearson, Bauer (Storey, 62), Davies, Bodin (Barkhuizen, 58), Browne (c), Stockley, Johnson (Gallagher, 85), Maguire. Subs not used: Ripley, Harrop, Green, Potts.

Sheffield Wednesday line-up: Westwood, Fox, Lee (Nuhiu, 72), Harris, Fletcher, Bannan, Borner, Murphy (Forestieri, 46), Lees (c), Odubajo (Reach, 66), Hutchinson. Subs not used: Dawson, Rhodes, Luongo, Iorfa.

Attendance: 15,715 (4,536 Sheffield Wednesday fans)

Referee: Mr R Jones

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Sheffield Wednesday

22 August 2019

With our second of three home games in the space of seven days, we welcome Lee Bullen’s early pace-setters Sheffield Wednesday to Deepdale at the weekend.

First Team News

Match Officials: Sheffield Wednesday Home

22 August 2019

Normal matchday prices apply for this game and you can click here for a full run down of the prices and concession categories on offer for league games at Deepdale.

Tickets are now on general sale from the ticket office at Deepdale, either to be loaded to your member card or via a paper ticket. For more information on member cards and their usage, click here.

This season we are also offering print at home tickets, so you can buy online and print our your ticket without needing to collect on the day.

First Team News

How To Follow The Game: Sheffield Wednesday

22 August 2019

For those still turning up and buying on the day, purchases can be made in person at both the Sir Tom Finney ticket office and also use the Invincibles Pavilion ticket office, which can be used to buy tickets for any part of the ground, not just the Pavilion. The Sir Tom Finney ticket office is open from 9am on a matchday and the Invincibles Pavilion ticket office is open from 1pm.

Tickets can be purchased at Deepdale from 9am until 5pm on Thursday, 9am until 6pm on Friday night, from 9am until kick-off on the day of the game, both in person and over the ticket hotline – 0344 856 1966.

Paper and print at home tickets can be purchased online at MyPNE.Com 24/7 right up until two hours before kick-off, with collections available from the Sir Tom Finney Stand collections windows, to the left of the ticket office.

The online service is now fully responsive on both mobile and tablet. Or, if you have a member card, you can buy right up until kick-off on MyPNE.Com and load your ticket straight to your card!

First Team News

We’ve Met Before: Sheffield Wednesday Home

22 August 2019

For Wednesday fans, a decision will be made about sales, with just over 4,500 tickets currently sold. If sales are available, there will be no increases for matchday purchases and tickets are available for visiting supporters from the away ticket office next to the Bill Shankly Kop on Lowthorpe Road, with cash and card payments accepted, which will open from 1.30pm.

For home fans travelling to the game, the Leyland shuttle bus will be in operation, pick up points and times are as follows: 1.20pm, Leyland Tesco; 1.30pm, Railway Pub Leyland; 1.40pm, Beam and Brycg Pub Bamber Bridge; arrive Deepdale, 2.10pm. Tickets are £3 for a single or £4 return.

Standings

Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday Ticket News

Match Officials: Sheffield Wednesday Home

How To Follow The Game: Sheffield Wednesday

We’ve Met Before: Sheffield Wednesday Home

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