Match report

Preston Defeats Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 in Championship Clash

Preston
Preston
3–0
FT
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday
Jan 1, 2026

Preston put on an impressive performance to defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Deepdale Stadium. Alistair McCann and Miroslav Osmajic scored early goals, with Liam Dobbin sealing the win late in the game.

Key Facts

  • • Alistair McCann opened the scoring for Preston at 28 minutes.
  • • Miroslav Osmajic added a second goal for Preston in the 61st minute.
  • • Liam Dobbin scored the third and final goal of the match in the 85th minute.
  • • Preston made multiple substitutions to maintain their momentum, including M. Smith and T. Small entering the game.

Lineups

Preston

Formation: 3-1-4-2

Starting XI

  • 1 D. Iversen (G)
  • 42 O. Offiah (D)
  • 14 J. Storey (D)
  • 16 A. Hughes (D)
  • 4 B. Whiteman (M)
  • 2 P. Valentin (M)
  • 21 A. Devine (M)
  • 8 A. McCann (M)
  • 18 J. Lewis (M)
  • 24 M. Smith (F)
  • 28 M. Osmajic (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 J. Walton
  • 6 L. Lindsay
  • 7 W. Keane
  • 9 D. Jebbison
  • 10 M. Frokjaer-Jensen
  • 15 J. Thompson
  • 17 L. Dobbin
  • 26 T. Small
  • 44 B. Potts

Sheffield Wednesday

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 P. Charles (G)
  • 6 D. Iorfa (D)
  • 22 G. Otegbayo (D)
  • 16 L. Cooper (D)
  • 2 L. Palmer (M)
  • 37 J. Thornton (M)
  • 10 B. Bannan (M)
  • 12 H. Amass (M)
  • 17 C. McNeill (F)
  • 8 S. Ingelsson (F)
  • 18 B. Cadamarteri (F)

Substitutes

  • 24 E. Horvath
  • 32 J. Emery
  • 28 C. McGhee
  • 27 R. Johnson
  • 4 S. Fusire
  • 20 R. Shipston
  • 9 J. Lowe
  • 15 N. Redmond
  • 41 F. Onukwuli

Timeline

  1. Preston
    28' Preston Goal · Normal Goal
    Alistair McCann · Assist: J. Lewis
  2. Sheffield Wednesday
    40' Sheffield Wednesday subst · Substitution 1
    Off: L. Cooper · On: S. Fusire
  3. Preston
    55' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    Jordan Storey

    Foul

  4. Preston
    61' Preston Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Osmajic · Assist: B. Whiteman
  5. Preston
    62' Preston subst · Substitution 1
    Off: M. Smith · On: D. Jebbison
  6. Preston
    62' Preston subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. Lewis · On: T. Small
  7. Sheffield Wednesday
    66' Sheffield Wednesday subst · Substitution 2
    Off: C. McNeill · On: J. Lowe
  8. Sheffield Wednesday
    66' Sheffield Wednesday subst · Substitution 3
    Off: J. Thornton · On: N. Redmond
  9. Preston
    70' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    M. Osmajic

    Time wasting

  10. Preston
    77' Preston subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Devine · On: J. Thompson
  11. Preston
    77' Preston subst · Substitution 4
    Off: M. Osmajic · On: L. Dobbin
  12. Sheffield Wednesday
    83' Sheffield Wednesday subst · Substitution 4
    Off: L. Palmer · On: F. Onukwuli
  13. Preston
    84' Preston subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Andrew Hughes · On: L. Lindsay
  14. Preston
    85' Preston Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Dobbin · Assist: Alistair McCann

Match Stats

Stat Preston Sheffield Wednesday
Fouls 10 8
Pass Accuracy 76% 81%
Offsides 4 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 12 6
Corners 4 7
Total Passes 386 454
Yellow Cards 2 0
Blocked Shots 2 2
Shots on Target 7 1
xG 1.91 0.21
Shots off Target 3 3
Possession 47% 53%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 293 366
Shots Inside Box 8 1
Saves 1 4
Shots Outside Box 4 5

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Alistair McCann's early goal set the tone for Preston’s dominant performance against Sheffield Wednesday.
  • ▸ The addition of substitutes like Liam Dobbin helped maintain Preston's attacking pressure and secure their third goal late in the match.