Preston North End faced off against Swansea City at Deepdale Stadium on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, for the 35th round of the EFL Championship. The match, which kicked off at 7:45 PM, ended without any goals, resulting in both teams sharing the points.
Both sides entered the match with hopes of improving their league positions, with Preston coming off a strong FA Cup victory against Burnley, and Swansea fresh from their own convincing win over Blackburn. Despite the favorable build-up, the game itself was characterized by missed opportunities and defensive solidity, leading to the stalemate.
Swansea City fielded their lineup, featuring goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, alongside defenders Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, and Josh Tymon. Midfield was anchored by Lewis O’Brien and Gonçalo Franco, with attackers Ronald, Liam Cullen, Myles Peart-Harris, and Žan Vipotnik completing the formation. The bench included notable players such as Joe Allen and Jay Fulton. Preston North End, on the other hand, started with Freddie Woodman as goalkeeper, supported defensively by Liam Lindsay, Will Keane, Ali McCann, and Robbie Brady. The midfield saw Ryan Ledson and Lewis Gibson, with forwards Sam Greenwood, Milutin Osmajic, and Kaine Kesler-Hayden providing the attacking threat.
The match began with both teams failing to make substantial chances, with Preston registering 14 shots on goal without finding the net, indicative of their struggle to convert good build-up play. The first half ended scoreless, with few notable events to speak of: Lewis O’Brien managed to test Woodman early on, but it was not enough to break the deadlock.
After the break, the game picked up slightly, but Preston received another blow when their captain McCann was forced off due to injury, substituted by Andrew Hughes. Opportunities came and went for both sides, highlighted by Milutin Osmajic’s inability to round Vigouroux after intercepting and capitalizing on a defensive error by Swansea. The home crowd, which numbered 12,838, found themselves frustrated as their team struggled to find the finishing touch.
Throughout the match, Swansea managed to maintain 52% possession, compared to Preston's 48%, demonstrating their ability to control the midfield and minimize the impact of their opponents’ offense. Despite generating decent moments, both teams were guilty of poor finishing, with Preston especially poor, failing to convert their numerous opportunities. Ryan Ledson’s efforts, along with attempts by Greenwood and Potts, were all thwarted by solid defending and the presence of Vigouroux.
Fans and pundits alike were left yearning for more as the match progressed. The defending of both teams proved to be key, as Preston, too, allowed only limited attempts on their goal, illustrating the tactical battle on display.
Frustration mounted when substitute Emil Riis, after coming on late, had his touch let him down, failing to capitalize on what appeared to be a clear chance to snatch victory. This encapsulated the night’s proceedings of near misses and what-ifs.
Despite the scoreless outcome, the contest still featured moments of intrigue and tension, including effective pressing from both teams at various stages. Stephen Martin, officiated this tightly contested affair, offering little room for the players to express themselves freely.
Post-match, Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom reflected on the need for improvement, stating, “We put ourselves in positions but lacked the cutting edge to convert. It’s something we need to address.”
The draw meant Preston North End remained mid-table, with 42 points from 9 wins, 15 draws, and 10 losses as of March 4. Swansea City now sits slightly closer to them, possessing 40 points, winning 11, drawing 7, and losing 16 games this season.
Looking back at their history, the meeting was the 73rd encounter between these clubs, with Preston having won 24 of the fixtures and Swansea 30, showing the competitive edge between them.
With this result, both teams will look to the next fixtures to turn their fortunes around. Preston will need to focus on finding the net (and converting their chances) to climb up the Championship standings, whereas Swansea will aim to capitalize on their momentum from recent performances.
Next up, Preston North End will be eager to return to form and secure their next league points as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Swansea, having recently secured their second win of the calendar year, could use this draw as motivation to push forward.
Both teams’ supporters left Deepdale on the evening of March 4 hopeful for future improvements as the season heads toward its climax, with matchday 36 on the horizon.