Sheffield Wednesday vs Preston North End. Sky Bet Championship.
HillsboroughAttendance25,138.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End at Hillsborough as Liam Lindsay scored early in the second half to earn a narrow win.
Saturday 19 August 2023 18:57, UK
Preston continued their strong start to the season as they claimed a narrow 1-0 Championship victory over lowly Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
Liam Lindsay's header early in the second half was enough to give the Lilywhites their second win of the campaign, with Wednesday tasting defeat in all three of their league games so far.
Wednesday boss Xisco Munoz made four changes to the team that lost 4-2 at Hull, with Liam Palmer, George Byers, Momo Diaby and Anthony Musaba joining the starting XI.
Preston manager Ryan Lowe made just the one switch from the 2-1 win at home to Sunderland, with Duane Holmes coming in for Ali McCann.
The away side had the first chance of the game within 10 minutes when Brad Potts met Kian Best's pinpoint cross with a controlled volley and Devis Vasquez did well to get down to his right to tip the ball round the post.
Wednesday's first sight at goal was after Musaba's run from the right but Juan Delgado could not quite make a telling touch. Lee Gregory then fired his shot from the edge of the box straight at goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Will Keane nearly found himself on the scoresheet once more for Preston but his close-range effort went wide of goal in the last chance of the half.
It was the perfect start to the second period for North End as they took the lead after 49 minutes.
Best whipped in a brilliant free-kick from the left and there was nothing Vasquez could do about Lindsay's bullet diving header.
The Lilywhites remained the better of the two sides after the opener as skipper Alan Browne saw his free-kick deflected just wide of goal.
Arguably Wednesday's best chance of the second half came as Delgado's header was saved comfortably, following Akin Famewo's cross from the left.
The home side brought on forwards Michael Smith, Callum Paterson and Ashley Fletcher in an attempt to bolster their attacking threat.
Djeidi Gassama also came on to make his Owls debut after being signed from Paris St Germain earlier in the week.
However, Preston were completely untroubled by Wednesday in the remaining minutes and saw the game out comfortably to claim all three points.
The victory sees North End rise to fifth but the result sees Wednesday sit at the bottom of the table as the only club in the Championship yet to pick up a point this season.
Sheffield Wednesday's Xisco Munoz:
"I'm disappointed with the result. We need to improve in the final third; this is the difference in the Championship.
"I'm disappointed to concede from the free-kick, we opened the door and we have to close it, we have to improve in these situations.
"When you lose, nobody is behind you. I believe in the team and the players, I know what our situation is. We lost the game today from one set-piece.
"We worked very hard to improve situations and we kept the ball better in midfield. We're in a moment when the opponent had something for five minutes and we conceded.
"I know we didn't create many chances in the second half. It's difficult and we need time for the process to work, I am not a magic man.
"We need more power, more intensity. We finished the game with two strikers. This is what the Championship demands. We need more crosses, shots outside the box, winning duels.
"When you switch off for two minutes you get punished. This is the time to stay strong and think how we can improve.
"We are working every day on the training ground to change the situation. I know right now nobody can understand the process and we want to reduce this."
Preston's Ryan Lowe:
"We were fantastic today. It's great to see the lads putting their bodies on the line and playing the right way.
"Liam (Lindsay) is a big power house. He actually head-butted the crossbar in training practicing set-plays this week. It was an unbelievable delivery and he did well to get on the end of it.
"Set-pieces are basic and the lads understand them. We've been working on them and when you have a left foot like Kian (Best) has, it can be really dangerous for us.
"Kian has been different class and long may it continue. If he keeps learning, he can be a massive player for us.
"Sheffield Wednesday are a good team. They've got some brilliant players and I'm sure they'll get their house in order very soon.
"It's only early doors and I don't want to get carried away. All we can do is look at any team we play and try to put together a game plan.
"We've got five or six players missing. We've got young lads on the bench who deserve to be there but we've got the bare minimum. We can only play with what we've got but the lads are doing brilliant.
"I want the lads to enjoy defending and enjoy being good at what they do. We are going to continue to try and do things the right way and have the right mindset - that's the only way forward."
