Preston v Swansea

K

keith margam

Vital Football Legend
Preston v Swansea Wed 5 Nov 19:45

Coming up is the second match in a block of three matches in a week before the International break and it’s the Lilywhites of Preston at Deepdale.

The corresponding fixture last season was a 0-0 draw in March. Our home fixture was the opening match of the season, a 3-0 win in Aug 24.

Their manager is Paul Heckingbottom since Aug 24. He led Sheff Utd to PL promotion in 22/23 season

Preston signed 12 new players and moved 10 players on last summer. Among those incoming were goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, midfielder Jordan Thompson, from Stoke, midfielder Pol Valentin (Sheff Wed), and loanee left-winger from Aston Villa Lewis Dobbin.

Players leaving the club on free transfers included forward Emil Riis to Bristol City, goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to Liverpool, and midfielder Ryan Ledson to Huddersfield.



Preston Record: Pos6 P13 W6 D4 L3 F17 A12 Pts22

Preston Home Record: P7 W4 D2 L1 F10 A6

Their only home defeat this season was to Birmingham 0-1.

Their 4 home wins were against Leicester 2-1, Ipswich 1-0, Charlton 2-0, Sheff Utd 3-2.

On Saturday they beat Southampton 0-2 away to go sixth in the table.

So already this season they’ve beaten the three PL relegated teams and will be a stern test for the Swans.



Swans Record: Pos 16 P13 W4 D5 L4 F13 A13 Pts17

Swans Away Record: P6 W2 D2 L2 F5 A4

Goals against 4, the best away defence in the Championship so far, together with Stoke.

Their 2 away wins were Sheff Wed 0-2, Blackburn 1-2.

Their 2 away defeats were Middlesbrough 1-0, Birmingham 1-0.
 
Another tough away trip this one. Sheehan has got to stop holding us back so much in games. I wonder if he's permanently switching to a back 3?
 
VitalSwansea said:
Another tough away trip this one. Sheehan has got to stop holding us back so much in games. I wonder if he's permanently switching to a back 3?
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I think we can make the 3 at the back system work as long as we play Inoussa and Widell. Very odd that at least one of them didn’t start against Charlton. I think the system suits Key and Tymon better too, Tymon just has to be closer to the goal and we’ll benefit from his ridiculously good crossing.

Not sure if the owners will pull the trigger this quick but there will be a lot of pressure on Sheehan if we lose both games this week.

I will say he gets my respect for switching things around and trying to find solutions. My fear is that we waste a season in what looks a pretty low quality year in the Championship. If we can at least try to compete near the playoffs it’ll give this project a sense of momentum, we have to do better than we currently are.
 
He's got to start playing more attacking players and have more belief in the squad. I don't understand leaving Inoussa on the bench. He's a big money signing that needs to be starting regularly. Sheehan has to put some belief in his attacking players.
 
VitalSwansea said:
He's got to start playing more attacking players and have more belief in the squad. I don't understand leaving Inoussa on the bench. He's a big money signing that needs to be starting regularly. Sheehan has to put some belief in his attacking players.
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Definitely, what do you think about the summer business? I don’t agree with some of our fans who say that the players aren’t great. I think the fact that we have some of the worst attacking numbers in the league and are still in 16th is testament to the fact that these players are decent.
 
sit_down_jack said:
Definitely, what do you think about the summer business? I don’t agree with some of our fans who say that the players aren’t great. I think the fact that we have some of the worst attacking numbers in the league and are still in 16th is testament to the fact that these players are decent.
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If you go through every position, we've got some quality almost in every one I would say.

Vipotnik in fantastic form up front, Idah - jury is still out yet but got to hope he looks like a £6m player soon - but it's been a while since we've had 2 options like these 2 up top.

In midfield, plenty of options. Pick 2 and they'd get in most teams in this division.

On the flanks, other than Inoussa we're struggling a bit. Yet our best winger is in and out of the team. Widdel deserved more opportunities.

We're lacking some attacking creativity in there but not sure what the recruitment team can do if Sheehan didn't want a 10.

Left back - 2 superb options.

Defence has a mix of leadership (Cabango) and experience (Burgess) and a good, promising youngster (Casey).

One of the best goalkeepers in the league who saves our bacon far too often.

Our right side is our biggest weakness.

Given the above, I just want to see Sheehan believe in his attacking players more and give them license to go out and do just that - attack. If we play a back surely we've got the cover and the double pivot there to play Widdel and Inoussa either side of the frontman.
 
VitalSwansea said:
If you go through every position, we've got some quality almost in every one I would say.

Vipotnik in fantastic form up front, Idah - jury is still out yet but got to hope he looks like a £6m player soon - but it's been a while since we've had 2 options like these 2 up top.

In midfield, plenty of options. Pick 2 and they'd get in most teams in this division.

On the flanks, other than Inoussa we're struggling a bit. Yet our best winger is in and out of the team. Widdel deserved more opportunities.

We're lacking some attacking creativity in there but not sure what the recruitment team can do if Sheehan didn't want a 10.

Left back - 2 superb options.

Defence has a mix of leadership (Cabango) and experience (Burgess) and a good, promising youngster (Casey).

One of the best goalkeepers in the league who saves our bacon far too often.

Our right side is our biggest weakness.

Given the above, I just want to see Sheehan believe in his attacking players more and give them license to go out and do just that - attack. If we play a back surely we've got the cover and the double pivot there to play Widdel and Inoussa either side of the frontman.
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When you look at it, we have a fantastic goalkeeper, reliable defenders, an excellent attacking left back, good midfield depth, Vipotnik is on fire. There are deficiencies but the spine is good enough to be competing in the top 10 in my opinion. I think play offs may be a step too far but we certainly don’t belong in 16th, serving up some of the bluntest performances in the league.

Some may call it entitlement but to me we are underperforming massively. It baffles me that some can look at our attacking performances and the underpinning stats and be okay with that. If we were still under Kaplan and Levien with a continually weakening squad I’d get it but that’s not the case anymore. All the signs at the Swans point to ambition and we really need that to translate onto the pitch soon.
 
First start for Widdel, Cullen comes in on the other flank. Eom and Ronald drop to the bench. Vipotnik fit enough to make the bench.
 
It took just eight minutes to breach our defence

1-0
Small 8’, Casey heads the ball out and down straight to Small - left footed shot outside the area, what a shot, to the top right hand corner of the net
 
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23’ This is poor from Swansea, they are passing back, sideways, back and losing it. Preston bullying them off the ball.
25’ Idah breaks away but hit the cross at the goalkeeper, corner came to nothing.
27’ another corner, Key’s shot blocked and the ball rolls to the goalkeeper.
 
Better from Swansea.
34’ Idah shoots wide, pass from Galbraith, similar position to where he scored on Saturday
36’ Cullen shot straight at the goalkeeper
38’ Idah in a good position, back-heels it to - nobody
43’ Our moves continually break down when we’re near their goal area, plenty of half-chances but execution poor
45’ beautiful through ball to Franco unmarked, he can’t control it

HT: 1-0 Preston’s only effort on target, unbelievable

Swans 65% possession
Preston 2 shots, 1 on target,18 clearances
Swans 6 shots, 2 on target, 8 clearances

How we’re losing this I don’t know.
Preston goalkeeper Iversen on form, got to every ball.
 
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46’ Galbraith breaks away into their half, then stops until their defenders are all back then passes it!

2-0
48’ a speculative long clearance, just Osmajic and Key to battle for the ball Osmajic wins of course, and fires home

49’ Burgess shot saved
58’ Key off, Ronald on. Widell off, Vipotnik on
62’ Tymon corner overhit, misses everybody
68’ Casey off, Samuels-Smith on
68’ corner, Idah far post heads over
70’ Ronald ground shot saved
73’ Corner, blocked, corner again, cleared
75’ Franco, Cullen off, Benson, Eom on
77’ Tymon poor tonight, dispossessed again, danger cleared luckily

2-1
79’ Eom comes in from the left and a great right-footed shot to the far right corner of the net.

86’ corner by Eom, Burgess heads a million miles over
87’ Preston corner comes to nothing
89’ Ronald pulled to ground in penalty area, play on said the ref
92’ Eom skips over the ball and leaves it to the player behind - their player
93’ break away, Cabango loses the ball to Osmajic, one on one Vigouroux saves,

Goodbye Swans

FT 2-1
 
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Preston 4 shots, 3 on target, 2 corners, 2 goals, goalkeeper had 4 saves
Swans 18 shots, 5 on target, 8 corners, 1 goal, goalkeeper had 1 save

Preston up to fourth, Swans stay at 17th after defeat number 5

The table doesn’t lie, we are just not good enough.

Preston were more organised, outmuscled us and blocked every effort on goal. We were the better team, Preston defended better.

With a decent striker we could and should have won this.
Overwhelming possession, we had the chances, but we can’t just keep on saying that each time we draw or lose.

Just two wins in the last ten games.
 
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Actually thought we were the better side tonight and if Sheehan is going to make something of himself here, it will be with this 5 at the back, it seems to suit some players a lot more.

Having said that, it was still far from scintillating and we once again struggled to create anything that clear cut.

Small signs of improvement but is it too late already?
 
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