Match report

Southampton Defeats Preston 3-1 in Championship Clash

Preston
Preston
1–3
FT
Southampton
Southampton
May 2, 2026

Southampton overcame Preston with a convincing 3-1 victory in their Championship match. The game saw early yellow cards for Preston's Jordan Storey and A. Moran, but the visitors took the lead through T. Harwood-Bellis and R. Stewart. Preston's L. Dobbin pulled one back, but C. Larin's late goal sealed the win for Southampton.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Preston 1–3 Southampton
  • • Goals: T. Harwood-Bellis (12'), R. Stewart (47'), C. Larin (90'), L. Dobbin (60')
  • • Yellow Cards: Jordan Storey (10'), A. Moran (34'), F. Azaz (81'), A. Vukcevic (90+4')
  • • Assists: Welington, C. Archer, David Cornell, S. Edozie

Lineups

Preston

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 1 D. Iversen (G)
  • 14 J. Storey (D)
  • 6 L. Lindsay (D)
  • 16 A. Hughes (D)
  • 3 A. Vukcevic (D)
  • 44 B. Potts (M)
  • 4 B. Whiteman (M)
  • 21 A. Devine (M)
  • 23 A. Moran (M)
  • 17 L. Dobbin (F)
  • 9 D. Jebbison (F)

Substitutes

  • 13 D. Cornell
  • 11 R. Brady
  • 15 J. Thompson
  • 42 O. Offiah
  • 24 M. Smith
  • 2 P. Valentin
  • 28 M. Osmajic
  • 8 A. McCann
  • 26 T. Small

Southampton

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 41 D. Peretz (G)
  • 24 S. Charles (D)
  • 6 T. Harwood-Bellis (D)
  • 15 N. Wood (D)
  • 34 Welington (D)
  • 48 C. Bragg (M)
  • 20 C. Jander (M)
  • 18 T. Fellows (M)
  • 19 C. Archer (M)
  • 13 L. Scienza (M)
  • 11 R. Stewart (F)

Substitutes

  • 25 G. Long
  • 28 O. Romeu
  • 3 R. Manning
  • 9 C. Larin
  • 10 F. Azaz
  • 49 N. Oyekunle
  • 14 J. Bree
  • 23 S. Edozie
  • 17 J. Quarshie

Timeline

  1. Preston
    10' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    Jordan Storey

    Foul

  2. Southampton
    12' Southampton Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Harwood-Bellis · Assist: Welington
  3. Preston
    34' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    A. Moran

    Foul

  4. Preston
    46' Preston subst · Substitution 1
    Off: D. Iversen · On: David Cornell
  5. Preston
    46' Preston subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Jordan Storey · On: O. Offiah
  6. Southampton
    47' Southampton Goal · Normal Goal
    R. Stewart · Assist: C. Archer
  7. Preston
    58' Preston subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Devine · On: J. Thompson
  8. Preston
    58' Preston subst · Substitution 4
    Off: D. Jebbison · On: M. Osmajic
  9. Preston
    60' Preston Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Dobbin · Assist: David Cornell
  10. Southampton
    68' Southampton subst · Substitution 1
    Off: R. Stewart · On: C. Larin
  11. Southampton
    68' Southampton subst · Substitution 2
    Off: C. Bragg · On: J. Bree
  12. Southampton
    69' Southampton subst · Substitution 3
    Off: C. Archer · On: F. Azaz
  13. Preston
    75' Preston subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Moran · On: R. Brady
  14. Southampton
    77' Southampton subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Welington · On: R. Manning
  15. Southampton
    81' Southampton Card · Yellow Card
    F. Azaz

    Time wasting

  16. Southampton
    84' Southampton subst · Substitution 5
    Off: T. Fellows · On: S. Edozie
  17. Preston
    90'+4 Preston Card · Yellow Card
    A. Vukcevic

    Foul

  18. Southampton
    90' Southampton Goal · Normal Goal
    C. Larin · Assist: S. Edozie

Match Stats

Stat Preston Southampton
Fouls 11 6
Pass Accuracy 82% 85%
Offsides 0 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 16 18
Corners 10 5
Total Passes 377 478
Yellow Cards 3 1
Blocked Shots 5 7
Shots on Target 5 5
xG 1.91 2.41
Shots off Target 6 6
Possession 46% 54%
Goals Prevented 0.63 0.63
Accurate Passes 310 407
Shots Inside Box 11 13
Saves 2 4
Shots Outside Box 5 5

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Southampton's early goal by T. Harwood-Bellis at 12' set the tone for the match and put pressure on Preston.
  • ▸ The second goal by R. Stewart at 47' solidified Southampton's lead and demoralized Preston, despite L. Dobbin's response at 60'.
  • ▸ C. Larin's final goal at 90' sealed Southampton's victory, ensuring they maintained control over the match despite Preston's late surge.