Talking Tactics | Swansea City vs Preston North End
Swansea City host eighth-placed Preston North End at the Swansea.com Stadium on Friday evening.
As we look ahead to the clash, WhoScored.com preview the contest, looking at what to expect from the visitors, a key battle and key stat.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PRESTON
Preston arrive in south Wales having lost four of their last six Championship matches, but their strong early-season form ensures they remain in eighth place.
Ryan Lowe’s side may have been on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline last time out, at home to Watford, but their last two trips on the road have been more fruitful, with four points taken.
The Lilywhites have opted for an array of tactical set-ups so far this term, but it would appear manager Lowe has settled on a 3-4-2-1 formation.
After 22 matches, just two players remain ever-present for the visitors: defender Liam Lindsay and former Swansea City goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who signed for Preston permanently in the summer of 2022.
Preston’s statistically calculated style of play, according to WhoScored.com, involves focusing attacks down the right-hand side, playing with width and often attempting long balls and crosses.
The visitors’ more direct approach might suit Swansea, as the WhoScored.com match forecast suggests the hosts will dominate possession.
KEY BATTLE
With two contrasting playing styles set to meet on Friday night, the contest could come down to the midfield battle.
Swansea’s average possession percentage of 53.9% is bettered by only seven teams in the Championship this term, while Preston’s 42.7% average is the fifth-lowest in the division.
Perhaps key to success for the home side on Friday, then, is captain Matt Grimes, who boasts the best pass success rate (88.7%) of any Swans player this season.
Grimes’ statistically-developed WhoScored.com characteristics include passing and playing through balls, indicating that his on-the-ball ability could be crucial with the hosts looking set to have the majority of possession.
As for the visitors, Grimes’ direct opponent should be midfielder Ben Whiteman. The 27-year-old, like Grimes, boasts the best pass accuracy (84.6%) of any player in his squad, but also excels when it comes to winning possession. Whiteman’s total of 24 interceptions can be bettered by only three of his teammates.
Preston, meanwhile, lead the Championship for interceptions made collectively, with 272 - at least 12 more than any other team.
Swansea’s ability to pick passes between the lines and avoid a high volume of turnovers could be pivotal, particularly against a Preston side who have proved to be extremely effective in winning back possession.
KEY STAT
Only Rotherham United have kept fewer clean sheets (Two) than Preston (Three) in the Championship this season, while, Rotherham (44) are also the only team to have conceded more goals than Friday’s visitors (38).
As such, Swansea will be keen to add to their tally of 30 goals scored so far this term.
At present, Swansea’s average of 11.6 shots per game ranks 16th in the division, but they have only failed to score in three games out of a possible 24 in all competitions so far this term.