Swansea City slipped to another defeat on the road after a display which had they had their shooting boots on would have seen a more positive result. Despite an all out effort in the second half interdispersed with the usual passing issues and faulty finishing they really should have come away from this game with at least a point.
It was Preston who made the primary moves within the first seven minutes of this game. In fact despite being encamped in the Swans half there looked little threat. That was until Thierry Small síezed upon a poor clearance by Melker Widdel - some thirty yards out and struck an absolute peach of a shot at an angle that flew into the back of Vigouroux’s net. It was so well struck the Chile goalkeeper had absolutely no chance. After that the Swans were able to break up play but over played every time they had an opportunity to breach the Preston lines.
It wasn’t until the thirteenth minute that the Swans found some space in and around the Preston area, but poor passing from Franco spoiled that move. Again we were seeing a very hard working Adam Idah across the front line. The first real effort by the Swans was a weak header by Liam Cullen that didnt get anywhere near the home goal. Sheehan had gone for a more 442 for the want of argument squeezing the pitch, but still had Josh Key and Josh Tymon as outlets. For the first third of this half it wasn’t working and we saw the Swans slowly sleeping into give away passes increasing the pressure on their goal.
The Swans were facing well executed cross field passes to the likes of Jordan Storey who was more than able to oblige with knock downs. On nineteen minutes Cullen had a great opportunity in on goal, it looked offside but there was no flag. Cullen stood on the ball and fell over. Shocking really. We were now though seeing more Swansea penetration from their left hand side. As we have seen often this season the Swans are always a split second late in their challenges, tonight this allowed. Preston to get the ball to a team mate with little trouble.
On twenty six minutes Idah burst forwards with the ball and into the Preston area but seemed in two minds as he drove the ball towards Widdel. It was cut out for a corner. Two throw ins from Key followed. That spell of pressure ended with a penalty claim as Cullen seemed to be brought down when shooting at goal. The Swans were also appealing for a handball. Referee Anthony Backhouse seemed to either not see the infringement or saw nothing in the challenge with Cullen clearly being obstructed. As he prepared to shoot he was clearly brought down. Once again the stars were not aligning for the away team.
Pressure continued as Tymon made a lovely run into the area, fed by Ethan Galbraith he shot but Daniel Iverson in the Preston goal blocked it on his line. The resultant corner fell to Galbraith who fizzed a shot just wide. It was more promising. Then on thirty four minutes a lovely ball to Idah again from Galbraith saw him shoot just wide.The chances were coming but no execution. The next chance also fell to the Swans when after a wonderful move Cullen found space but again his shot was well saved by the North End keeper. This was now a case of the home side staying in the game as the Swans had the monopoly on play and chances.
A key pass into Idah with seven minutes of the half to go reached Idah but his back flick went nowhere. The Swans play was good to watch but their final ball was lacking at times. Cameron Burgess and Ben Cabango were getting further forwards and causing danger. The Swans really needed to take these chances and monopolise on this last fifteen minutes of control. They were the better footballing sode and clearly had the temperament to win this game.
Despite all this as we reached the forty fifth minute mark the Swans were still 1-0 down. Two minutes play would follow. The Preston keeper had pulled off three excellent saves from good Swansea opportunities and that had kept his side a goal ahead. The referee blew for half time.
The Swans would look to Ethan Galbraith, Adam Idah and Melker Widell as key playmakers in that half. Josh Key and Tymon were not out of place. (Below)
As per the first half Preston took their first chance of the second period when Milutin Osmaji out muscled Josh Key after a high ball forwards. Really Key should have been more alert but his side were now 2-0 down. The Swans have gone from conceding at the end of halves to at the start of second halves. The Swans though immediately responded with a rocket shot from Burgess which the Preston keeper saved well. Two corners followed but they amounted to nothing. The Swans just cannot take their chances no matter the circumstances.
Swansea pressed with an inviting cross from Tymon on the left but nobody was goal side of a Preston defender. On fifty three minutes the home sode made a double substitution. The belief being that Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom was preserving his squad for Saturday. A Preston corner on the Swans right bounced out for a throw in after a Galbraith header. The danger was still their even though we knew the Swans would create more chances to get something from this game.
Preston were set up for a defensive end to this game as on came Ronald for Key and Vipotnik for Widell. The Swans now had two up front with Cullen more impressive behind them. On sixty two minutes a Swans corner on their right sailed out of play for a goal kick. With three at the back Swansea were leaving their momentum to the front men. However, they just couldnt make clean and decent passes. This was forcing pressure on the visitors. Now crosses were being blocked as the Swans upped the tempo. Burgess was next to give away possession, it wasn’t working with twenty five minutes to play.
On sixty seven minutes Ronald earned another free kick in a dangerous position as Preston made another double change. Kaelan Casey then went off for Samuels-Smith. The free kick was met by Idah but his header went wide. On seventy minutes a weak shot by Ronald was easily fielded by the Lillywhites keeper. A betting person wouldn’t have much money on the Swans now getting anything from this game. A break from Vipotnik after a good move ended in a corner after another Ronald shot. That was cleared for another set piece.
The Swans were now all out for a goal, Cabango now on the wing. Then we saw Manuel Benson on for Cullen and Franco off for Eom. Every cross in by the Swans was now being cleared. Very reminiscent of Charlton away on Saturday. The Swans were now the masters of their own destiny. Giving the ball away too often but the pressure continued. More balls to the attackers fell to the North End keeper.
That changed when Samuels -Smith linked well with Eom who cut inside and scored from outside the area. It was a lovely effort and very deserving. He curled his shot from the left hand side of the area beyond Iverson. The Swans had ten minutes plus extra added time to get a second. Preston were now defending for their lives. Then a corner on eighty six minutes, everything was now taking Preston twice as long as Burgess headed well over. Time was ticking away as Preston forced a corner with three to go. It was still a corner with two minutes to go.
That ended up with a Vigouroux goal kick.
On eighty nine minutes Roanld had his arm pulled back in the area, again no penalty. Even Preston fans had their heads in their hands. The fourth official said four minutes to go. Then referee Backhouse deemed a fair challenge by Samuels- Smith a yellow card. We had two minutes. But it was Preston pressing. Then a Cabango mistake allowed Preston another golden opportunity, it was well cleared by Vigouroux saving Cabango’s blushes. With eighteen shots on the Preston goal and five on target the Swans threw away the chance of getting something from this game. A Key mistake and a superb strike from Small earned the points. Again we saw a Swansea side dominate, create chances but could only bag the one goal.
It really wasn’t good enough for the better side to again lose the game.
⚽️ North End: Daniel Iversen, Ben Whiteman (C), Harrison Armstrong (Stefan Thordarson 54), Liam Lindsay, Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes, Lewis Dobbin (Mads Frokjaer 54), Alfie Devine (Michael Smith 68), Thierry Small (Jamal Lewis 69), Milutin Osmajic, Odel Offiah.
Unused Substitutes: Jack Walton, Jordan Thompson, Noah Mawene, Ed Nolan, Max Wilson.
⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 6 Ben Cabango 6, (C) Kaelan Casey 6 (Ishe Samuels-Smith 69) 6 Cameron Burgess 7 Josh Key 5 (Ronald 60) 5 Gonçalo Franco 6 (Jisung Eom 76) 7 Ethan Galbraith 8 Josh Tymon 7 Melker Widell 7 (Zan Vipotnik 60) 5 Liam Cullen 6 (Manuel Benson 76) 5 Adam Idah 7
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jay Fulton, Malick Yalcouye, Ricardo Santos.
⚽️ Referee: 2/10 Anthony Backhouse always the issue when the Swans are officiated by him. Missed a foul on Ronald for a clear penalty that even Preston fans saw (below)
Att : 15,911
Away 243
⚽️ Fun note : Odel Offiah is the nephew of rugby great Martin Offiah.
⚽️ PNE fans
Our reports seem to be having some issues with a bug that is affecting any changes we make regards the spelling. Apologies.