Competition - Sky Bet Championship
Venue - Deepdale
Date - 26 August 2023
Kick off - 3:00pm
Following their 1-1 home draw against last season’s losing Play-Off finalists, Coventry City, next up for Michael Duff’s Swansea squad is a tricky looking away trip to Preston.
Last Saturday, the Swans came from behind to draw with Coventry, a result that left Michael Duff still waiting for a first league win as the Swans’ head coach.
Coventry were the more menacing side in the first half and went ahead thanks to Matty Godden's precise finish.
However, the Swans responded inside two minutes as summer signing Jerry Yates' header looped inside the far post.
After a game of few clear-cut opportunities, Duff and opposite number Mark Robins could take some satisfaction having banked a point apiece.
But after draws in his first two home Championship fixtures, Duff will be keen to register a maiden Championship victory.
Whilst the Swans were drawing against the Sky Blues, Preston were edging out Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Hillsborough.
Liam Lindsay's bullet header early in the second half was enough to ensure the points in a game which saw goalscoring chances at a premium.
Ryan Lowe's North End side remain unbeaten after picking up seven points from their opening three games, two points adrift of early leaders Ipswich and Leicester.
The Swans have by played Preston on 69 previous occasions, winning 28, losing 23 and drawing 18.
In the corresponding fixture last season, a defensive howler by Harry Darling enabled Preston to run out 1-0 winners:
Josh Smith will be ‘the man in the middle’ this coming Saturday.
It is just the fifth time that Smith has taken charge of a Swans match. However, one of the previous fixtures overseen by the man from Peterborough was also against Preston. The Swans won 1-0 on that occasion with Ryan Manning on the scoresheet.
The most recent Swans match he oversaw was a trip to the Cardiff City Stadium in April 2022 with the Swans running out 4-0 winners with goals for Michael Obafemi (2), Ben Cabango, and Hannes Wolf. Six yellow cards were handed out that day, with four going to Swans players.
Smith, who is one of the youngest referees currently working in the EFL, made his Premier League debut at the end of last season when he took charge of a game between Fulham and Crystal Palace.
He will be assisted by Matthew Jones and Sam Lewis. The fourth official will be Anthony Backhouse.
Turning to this coming Saturday, whilst I think that the Swans are capable of returning to South Wales with at least a point, I have a feeling that Michael Duff will have to wait a little longer to pick up a point away from home, let alone savour his first win as Swans’ Head Coach: I’m going 2-0 to Preston.
Hope I’m wrong
Venue - Deepdale
Date - 26 August 2023
Kick off - 3:00pm
Following their 1-1 home draw against last season’s losing Play-Off finalists, Coventry City, next up for Michael Duff’s Swansea squad is a tricky looking away trip to Preston.
Last Saturday, the Swans came from behind to draw with Coventry, a result that left Michael Duff still waiting for a first league win as the Swans’ head coach.
Coventry were the more menacing side in the first half and went ahead thanks to Matty Godden's precise finish.
However, the Swans responded inside two minutes as summer signing Jerry Yates' header looped inside the far post.
After a game of few clear-cut opportunities, Duff and opposite number Mark Robins could take some satisfaction having banked a point apiece.
But after draws in his first two home Championship fixtures, Duff will be keen to register a maiden Championship victory.
Whilst the Swans were drawing against the Sky Blues, Preston were edging out Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Hillsborough.
Liam Lindsay's bullet header early in the second half was enough to ensure the points in a game which saw goalscoring chances at a premium.
Ryan Lowe's North End side remain unbeaten after picking up seven points from their opening three games, two points adrift of early leaders Ipswich and Leicester.
The Swans have by played Preston on 69 previous occasions, winning 28, losing 23 and drawing 18.
In the corresponding fixture last season, a defensive howler by Harry Darling enabled Preston to run out 1-0 winners:
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Josh Smith will be ‘the man in the middle’ this coming Saturday.
It is just the fifth time that Smith has taken charge of a Swans match. However, one of the previous fixtures overseen by the man from Peterborough was also against Preston. The Swans won 1-0 on that occasion with Ryan Manning on the scoresheet.
The most recent Swans match he oversaw was a trip to the Cardiff City Stadium in April 2022 with the Swans running out 4-0 winners with goals for Michael Obafemi (2), Ben Cabango, and Hannes Wolf. Six yellow cards were handed out that day, with four going to Swans players.
Smith, who is one of the youngest referees currently working in the EFL, made his Premier League debut at the end of last season when he took charge of a game between Fulham and Crystal Palace.
He will be assisted by Matthew Jones and Sam Lewis. The fourth official will be Anthony Backhouse.
Turning to this coming Saturday, whilst I think that the Swans are capable of returning to South Wales with at least a point, I have a feeling that Michael Duff will have to wait a little longer to pick up a point away from home, let alone savour his first win as Swans’ Head Coach: I’m going 2-0 to Preston.
Hope I’m wrong
