Match Preview: Swansea City (H)

31 October 2022

PNE will look for back-to-back home victories for the first time this season when Swansea City come to Deepdale on Tuesday night.

Match Information
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Tuesday 1^st November, 7.45pm kick-off
Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 19/46)
Kit: Home kit – available in-store and online!

Supporter Information

The Kop is open to PNE supporters for this fixture and season card holders can change their seat for this game, either in person from the ticket office or over the phone on 0344 856 1966.

Non-season card holders are also able to buy tickets in the Kop from the ticket office, as well as online from www.mypne.com.

The fan zone will once again be open to home supporters from 5.30pm until 7.30pm, and it will then reopen after the game until 10.30pm.

This match will also be our dedicated Rainbow Laces matchday, as we celebrate the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community across all areas of sport.

How To Follow The Game

Supporters worldwide, including the UK and Ireland, are able to watch this game live on iFollow PNE with a £10 match pass.

You can also listen to commentary of the fixture with a £2.50 audio match pass or £4.49 monthly pass, with commentary coming from Jonathan Breeze and Paul McKenna. Get your match pass here!

There will also be extensive coverage here on PNE.Com and across our social media channels.

In The Dressing Room

There should be no fresh injury concerns for manager Ryan Lowe to worry about, with all of his players seemingly coming through the weekend’s victory over Middlesbrough unscathed.

Andrew Hughes made his return from injury in that fixture, while Alan Browne was also in the starting XI to make his 350^th appearance for the club.

Long-term absentee Troy Parrott will miss out, while Patrick Bauer will also be unavailable as he continues to build his fitness following a return to training.

A Look At Our Visitors

After finishing 15^th last season during Russell Martin’s first year at the club, Swansea City are now looking to push for a place in the top six come the end of the campaign.

They’re well-placed as things stand going into Tuesday night, currently occupying that final Play-Off spot, and they’ve won seven times in their past ten league games.

It took some time for former MK Dons boss Martin to implement his possession-based style of football, but the Swans are now averaging over 60 per cent each game, and making good use of it too.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 67
PNE wins: 22
Draws: 18
Swansea City wins: 27
Last victory: PNE 3-1 Swansea City, 28^th August 2021

One To Watch

After missing the past three games through suspension, Swansea’s top scorer Joël Piroe will be back available to Russell Martin on Tuesday night.

The Dutch striker – who netted 22 league goals in his debut campaign in England last term – has four goals to his name so far this season, but has missed the chance to build on that tally in recent weeks following his red card against Burnley earlier in the month.

Republic of Ireland international Michael Obafemi has been used as the sole striker in Piroe’s absence, but the 23-year-old will be hoping he can slot straight back into the starting XI.

Match Officials

John Busby will referee his second PNE game of the season on Tuesday evening.

Busby took charge of North End’s 1-0 victory away to Coventry City earlier in the campaign, and it was only last season that he first refereed PNE in the Championship.

Busby has shown 47 yellow cards and two reds in 12 matches so far this season, and he will be assisted by Rob Smith and Geoffrey Liddle on Tuesday, with Geoff Eltringham the fourth official.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 2 Middlesbrough 1

29 October 2022

Jordan Storey’s header in stoppage time, after Emil Riis had equalised in the first half, saw Preston North End come out 2-1 winners at home to Middlesbrough.

The visitors had taken an early lead through Chuba Akpom, before Riis scored his fifth goal in as many games against Boro in the 35^th minute.

It looked as though the points were to be shared at Deepdale, but Storey came up with a stoppage-time winner for the hosts.

Ryan Lowe made two changes from last weekend, with Alan Browne and Robbie Brady coming into the side, and there was also a switch of formation as PNE started with a back four for the first time this season.

Boro took the lead just eight minutes in as Ryan Giles’ corner from the right went over Robbie Brady at the near post, before bouncing in the six-yard box and there was Akpom to head home at the far post.

There were huge shouts for a PNE penalty on 27 minutes when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Dael Fry in the area, but nothing was given. Ben Whiteman had slotted the ball through to Álvaro Fernández who in turn found Ben Woodburn, and it was his effort which was blocked.

North End found the leveller eight minutes later, though, as Liam Lindsay hooked the ball into an area for Browne to compete in the air, and as the ball fell to Riis he smashed a volley past Zack Steffen.

Middlesbrough could have retaken the lead soon after through goalscorer Akpom, but he missed the target on that occasion from close range, volleying wide on the end of a Ryan Giles cross.

Ben Woodburn then almost gave his side the advantage going into the break with a stunning effort from the left corner of the box, sending a piledriving strike no more than a few inches wide of the top corner.

The visitors had the first chance of the second period through Rodrigo Muniz, but Freddie Woodman was equal to his near-post effort, and the striker then headed Giles’ cross over a few minutes after the hour mark.

North End saw a goal ruled out in the 65^th minute as Storey headed back across goal and Riis – who was adjudged to be offside – swung at it but made no contact, and Browne tucked it in at the back post.

As Brady departed for Andrew Hughes, Fernández moved forward from full back to the left of midfield and he came close to opening his account for the club on 80 minutes, only to be denied from 20 yards by Steffen.

There was then late drama at Deepdale, as Ryan Ledson sent a free-kick towards Lindsay who sent the ball back across goal and Storey was there to head home his second of the season to earn all three points.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Potts, Storey, Lindsay, Fernández (Johnson, 86); Whiteman (Ledson, 56); Brady (Hughes, 76), Browne, McCann, Woodburn (Evans, 86); Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Maguire.

Middlesbrough line-up: Steffen; Smith, Dry, Lenihan, Giles; Jones, Howson, Hackney, McGree (Mowatt, 86); Muniz (Forss, 71), Akpom. Subs not used: Roberts, Hoppe, Dijksteel, McNair, Bola.

Attendance: 16,984 (2,839 away fans).

Referee: Mr G Ward.

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