Match Pack - Wednesday v Preston

18 August 2023

Wednesday v Preston
Saturday 19 August
3:00pm
Championship
Hillsborough

THE MATCH

Wednesday go in search of our first points of the season after a tough start to life back in the Championship.

Xisco’s men went down 2-1 on the opening day against a strong Southampton side and, after a midweek Carabao Cup win over Stockport on penalties, the Owls fell to a 4-2 loss at Hull.

It’s early days for the manager and his new-look squad, who will be keen to get points on the board.

Preston, meanwhile, have had a solid start kicking off 2023/24 with a draw away at Bristol City (1-1) before picking up three points at home to Sunderland last Saturday (2-1).

The Lilywhites are managed by former Owls striker Ryan Lowe, who scored nine goals in 30 appearances for us during our 2011/12 League One promotion campaign.

TEAM NEWS

Wednesday: Djeidi Gassama completed his switch to Hillsborough in the week from French giants PSG and could feature against Preston.

Fellow new recruit Momo Diaby is also in contention to play his first minutes for the club.

There were positive updates on Barry Bannan, George Byers and Liam Palmer from Xisco in his pre-match press conference.

Bannan was substituted at half time against Hull but has trained this week and could feature.

Byers and Palmer are making excellent headway on their return to fitness and Xisco said they are available for selection.

Mallik Wilks, yet to feature this season, could also be involved on Saturday.

Preston: Lowe will be able to select from a similar squad that triumphed over Sunderland last week.

Liverpool loanee Calvin Ramsay will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after suffering an injury setback, while Robbie Brady (calf) is expected to miss out.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Watch the gaffer’s press conference as streamed live on our official YouTube channel on Thursday afternoon.

TICKETS

Tickets for this Category E fixture start from £28 for adult Owls Members and £5 for under 11 Members on the Kop.

Purchases can be made online HERE until kick-off or from the Ticket Office.

As always, we advise supporters to arrive at the stadium as early as possible to avoid unnecessary queues.

Please note there are no cash turnstiles in operation from this season.

As a reminder to supporters, when presenting your Season Card at the turnstiles, please ensure the barcode in the bottom right hand corner is scanned and not the QR codes at the top.

FAN ZONE

The Fan Zone is open from midday until 2:45pm.

OFFICIALS

Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Assistants: Richard Wild, Jonathan Hunt
Fourth official: Simon Mather

iFOLLOW

Passes for live audio commentary are available HERE as Rob O’Neill and John Pearson call the action from Hillsborough!

Wednesday v Preston has been selected for overseas broadcast and as such, live streaming via iFollow will now be limited to the following countries: Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.

MATCH PROGRAMME

Pick up your copy of 'Wednesday' from in and around the ground this weekend, priced £3!

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for the match is #SHWPNE

Our X/Twitter account @swfc will provide real time updates, with team news at 2:00pm.

Follow us on Instagram for matchday content and subscribe and turn on notifications for our YouTube channel, where you can view extended match highlights.

LOVE FOOTBALL, PROTECT THE GAME

The EFL, Premier League, FA, FSA, PGMOL, LMA and PFA have come together to announce a series of measures to address behaviour across the game.

This includes new policies, procedures, and regulations that came into force from the start of the 2023/24 season to address unacceptable conduct on the pitch, on the sidelines and in the stands.

The new measures build on the work launched last season to combat dangerous and illegal fan behaviour, supported by the ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ football-wide campaign.

CLICK HERE for full details.

We are also reinforcing the importance of all supporters staying within EFL Ground Regulations, which can be found HERE.

Match Reports

Report | Wednesday 0-1 Preston

19 August 2023

An early second half goal from Liam Lindsay was the difference between Wednesday and Preston at Hillsborough.

The defender decided an otherwise even encounter in which the Owls turned in an encouraging performance.

But for all the possession, there was no breakthrough and the wait continues for our first Championship point.

Brad Potts went close with the first chance of the game 10 minutes in and it took a fine save from Devis Vasquez low to his right to keep the volley out.

Wednesday grew into the contest and gradually took a foothold for periods, showing neat passing movements through the thirds.

New recruits Momo Diaby and Anthony Musaba were causing concerns, while Juan Delgado saw plenty of the ball out on the right.

But it was Preston that threatened again as ex-Owl Will Keane was inches off target from a Kian Best cross before Wednesday countered.

Lee Gregory took Barry Bannan’s clever ball from the sky and foxed his marker only for Freddie Woodman to beat out his shot.

The first half ended as it began with Potts at the centre of the action and this time at the other end of the field.

The ball appeared to bounce onto the elbow of the midfielder in the box from Liam Palmer’s deep cross but the penalty appeals were waved away.

From a position of potentially going 1-0 down, Preston promptly went 1-0 up three minutes into the second half.

A delicious set piece delivery from Best out left was seized upon by Lindsay, who planted a firm diving header past Vasquez.

It got no better for the Owls as Momo Diaby limped off just past the hour after Alan Browne went close with a free kick from range.

Wednesday committed numbers forward in search of a leveller, with Michael Smith, Callum Paterson, debutant Djeidi Gassama and Ashley Fletcher all on from the bench.

And although it was one-way traffic in the closing stages, Preston’s rearguard action paid dividends and the visitors headed back over the Pennines with the win.

Wednesday: Vasquez, Palmer, B Diaby, Iorfa, Famewo, Byers, Bannan, M Diaby (Smith 65), Delgado (Paterson 71), Musaba (Gassama 71), Gregory (Fletcher 77)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket news: Owls v Preston

1 August 2023

Owls v Preston
Saturday 19 August 2023 – (3:00pm)
Championship

The Owls host Preston on Saturday 19 August and tickets for this Category E fixture start from £28 for Adult Owls Members and £5 for Under 11 Members on the Kop.

Tickets are now on sale to Season Ticket holders, Owls Members and Owls Foundation members.

Tickets go to general sale on Monday 7 August at 10:00am.

To purchase your tickets, visit our Ticket Office at Hillsborough, call 03700 201867 (option 1) or head online HERE. *

*A £1 booking fee per ticket is applicable for all orders online or by telephone.

PRICES

Kop	Members	Non Members
Adult	£28	£33
Senior/Under 21	£18	£23
Student & Armed Forces	£23	£33
Junior U17	£10	£15
Junior U11	£5	£10
Junior U5 (advance sales)	£5	£5

North/Grandstand	Members	Non Members
Adult	£34	£39
Senior/Under 21	£24	£29
Student & Armed Forces	£24	£39
Junior U17	£10	£15
Junior U11	£5	£10
Junior U5 (advance sales)	£5	£5

South	Members	Non Members
Adult	£38	£43
Senior/Under 21	£28	£33
Student & Armed Forces	£28	£43
Junior U17	£10	£15
Junior U11	£5	£10
Junior U5 (advance sales)	£5	£5

Supporters who attend this game and purchase their tickets in advance under their own ID number will receive 10 Ticket Priority Points.

Supporters are advised to ensure when purchasing tickets that each individual uses their own personal ID number to receive priority points. There will be games where sales dates are dictated by Ticket Priority Point totals.