Scrappy it may have been at times but both sides put in maximum effort in this encounter beneath the lights in Preston. It won’t be remembered as the finest game of football, but you really do get the feeling this was a game the Swans would have lost before Luke Williams departure.
The game came to life on four minutes when first Liam Cullen seemed to be brought down in the Preston penalty area. The Swans player had knocked the ball on but was most certainly scythed down when the ball left his possession. Immediately after that a Preston breakaway saw a suspicious handball from Harry Darling on the referee’s blind side which went unpunished. The Swans though were letting themselves down with their passing on several occasions. Every mistake seized upon by the home side. However, there was a resilience to the Swans that we haven’t seen away from home this year, even at Bristol City.
Ronald and Josh Key were trying to manufacture things on the Swans right but come the ten minute mark little had been achieved. A fair cluster of Swans fans were in attendance in what was a very quiet Preston crowd. Referee Steve Martin missed a poor tackle on Myles Peart-Harris by Brad Potts as the Swans now started to play their football in the home sides half. On thirteen minutes a move down the Swans left saw a good ball into Vipotnik but his header was mistimed. There was little between these sides.
In fact there was little to call entertainment so far.
If the Swans were looking the more slightly dangerous of the two teams they were also the more wasteful in their passing, especially Liam Cullen. Good positions were being worked out but the final ball was lacking. Lewis O’Brien had a shot on twenty minutes, a low strike which Preston keeper Woodman spilled. But sadly there was no reaction by any Swansea players close-by. The battling was sound, the commitment as well, but the ability was pretty poor from the Swans. Preston really did look like they were there for the taking, the Swans just not capable of steadying themselves to do so.
Referee Martin again dismissed a foul on Josh Tymon on twenty four minutes, there was no response from the official and an attack from the home side resulted in a blocked shot. The referee was most certainly having an up and down game. Leading up to thirty minutes the Swans were regaining possession well but looked jittery when in a key position. Balls starting to go backwards wasn’t the order of the evening.
On thirty three minutes Osmajić had a wonderful chance to score in front of the Swans goal, his shot was blocked by Key and the first corner of the game was given. It was a golden chance to go one up. Swansea picked up pace slightly after that but just seemed too slow in midfield to release players in space. When they did Ronald (above) was brought down by Robbie Brady, who looked in some discomfort. Then Myles Peart-Harris (below) went down and there was definitely something wrong with him. It was quite obvious he wasn’t going to continue to play. Eom replaced him.
On forty one minutes another glorious chance for Preston wasn't taken - a cross ball into the feet of Keane was perfect but Vigouroux got back and saved his poor effort. This led to more pressure from the home side. A set piece squirmed away in the Swans area, now Swansea City had to defend as we hit the forty five minute mark. Three minutes greeted us for the injuries to Peart-Harris and Ronald. Nothing more happened and in conclusion this was a pretty poor half of football, Swansea will be the more happier for sure. However, the Swans really do need to be better second half, more concise and more pace, and this game could be won.
Immediately upon the restart that man Osmajić was clear through on the Swansea goal, his finishing was very poor and he completely missed the target. That was most certainly a warning for Sheehan’s side. Another injury this time to Josh Key as he hobbled away from a hard challenge on forty nine minutes. Then a real opportunity for the Swans, a lovely outside of the foot pass by Eom to Tymon, his soft cross was misjudged by Woodman and the ball could have gone anywhere. It went out for the Swans first corner of the game. There was now more intensity but the game continued to be scrappy.
In amongst the poor play some fierce challenges were going in. Unfortunately for Cullen none of his passes were finding his man and he was having little effect on the game. A corner for Preston on fifty six minutes on the Swansea left was taken by Brady, it was cleared but the Swans were slow in breaking out. Preston looked to have more gumption in this second half, more space and desire which led to another corner this time out onnthe Swans right. Pinball shooting led to that corner with Cabango eventually clearing. The Swans were now very much on the back foot with little outlet.
On fifty nine minutes a shot from a set piece nearly put the Lillywhites ahead. The Swans scrambling the ball away. Swansea did get out of their own half on sixty minutes and Lewis O’Brien earned a free kick in a very dangerous area. Eom took it and he was inches away with a low right footed shot, it was so so close.
That shot from Eom seemed to spur on the Swans with Ronald looking more lively. A nice bit of footwork between O’Brien and Tymon saw him fire a wild shot at goal, but the intent was coming back. The away side couldn’t capitalise on their brief few minutes and the Lillywhites took command of the game. Three shots over two minutes, one on target which Harry Darling deflected for a corner. Another scramble which Vigouroux managed to get ahold of. It wasn’t looking good for the visitors. We saw some subs on seventy five minutes with Liam Cullen off for Jay Fulton and Vipotnik making way for Florian Bianchini.
A sign of the Swans weakness in attack became evident when Franco who was having a quiet game put Eom clear, his first touch was fine but he was easily nudged off the ball. Eom was busy but we saw him jump out of challenges, one when in his own half when O’Brien was badly fouled seconds before. Everything now the Swans were doing was not smooth at all, their flow was missing and it was affecting their overall game. However, the pressure continued from Swansea when they had opportunity. The issues again were obvious with Bianchini easily knocked off the ball and fouling unnecessarily.
The game was now open, Fulton though gave the ball away, foolishly passing backwards into danger and Vigouroux made a splendid save. This had been the problem all night. Composure was lacking and heart in the mouth errors in dangerous positions. Despite his running Ronald was getting no joy at all on the right of the Swans attack. Every effort was being thwarted. Swansea though were quick now to get back and defend, Captain Cabango at the heart of matters.
We were now in the last five minutes.
Some nice work from Eom led to the ball reaching Franco with minutes to go but his shot was well blocked. It was one hundred percent now. The Swans sensed something and a rather late sub of Ollie Cooper on for O’Brien. That should have happened a good five minutes before then. This game wasn’t petering out though, more fouls and both sides wanted the win. As already stated the Swans were poor in their distribution. Along with Ronald, Key was being easily marshalled on the right. Three minutes were signalled when Darling made an error and Preston again gained momentum. A long throw into the Swans box was well cleared.
We had a minute.
Preston pushed on. Another long throw, this time well collected by the Swans keeper. Time was up as Vigouroux put the ball high into the Lancashire night and the game was over. It has to be said neither side deserved to win this game. It was full of errors, the Swans won that hands down. Preston the better in the second half, Swansea City nudging the first. This was a display from two teams who aren’t anywhere near play off material. They may tickle the relegation places but won’t go down. The Swans now needing just nine points for some form of safety. If I was to give this game a rating it would be 5/10 with solid commitment.
An average mid table slog on a cold night in the north west, no awards will be given and this game will be quickly forgotten. Preston haven’t lost at home for ten games, and that was not going to be threatened by the Swans but the bonus is that’s two games, two clean sheets and four points from six for Alan Sheehan.
⚽️ Preston North End: Freddie Woodman, Liam Lindsay, Will Keane (Emil Riis 60), Ali McCann (captain) (Andrew Hughes 69), Robbie Brady (Jayden Meghoma 60), Ryan Ledson (Ryan Porteous 60), Lewis Gibson, Sam Greenwood, Milutin Osmajic, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Brad Potts.
Unused Substitutes: Dai Cornell, Ched Evans, Stefan Thordarson, Patrick Bauer, Theo Carroll.
⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 8 Josh Key, Ben Cabango (captain), 7 Harry Darling, 6 Josh Tymon 6 Lewis O’Brien 7 (Ollie Cooper 88), Gonçalo Franco 6 Ronald 6 Liam Cullen 5 (Jay Fulton 76) 5 Myles Peart-Harris ** (Jisung Eom 40) 6 Žan Vipotnik 6 (Florian Bianchini 76) 5
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Joe Allen, Cyrus Christie, Kyle Naughton, Hannes Delcroix.
**injured
⚽️ Referee: Stephen Martin : 6/10, made a few odd decisions but the game flowed as much as it could with these two sides on the pitch.
Attendance: 13,361
⚽️ Highlights.
⚽️ Alan Sheehan post match.