Sheffield Wednesday 2-3 Preston North End: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Sheffield Wednesday 2-3 Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday, 29 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Sheffield Wednesday got off to a flying start at Hillsborough, with C. McNeill finding the net in the 3rd minute after a neat assist from H. Amass, putting the Owls ahead early doors. Preston North End hit back quickly though, as B. Whiteman equalised in the 10th minute with help from J. Thompson, but McNeill struck again for Wednesday in the 14th, restoring their lead and making it a lively opening spell. The first half saw both sides pushing, but no more goals before the break, with yellow cards shown to Preston’s O. Offiah in the 34th and Wednesday’s B. Cadamarteri later on in the 70th.

The second half kicked off with Preston making changes at the break, and they levelled things up again when L. Dobbin scored in the 57th minute, assisted by L. Lindsay, shifting the momentum. Wednesday had a golden chance to go ahead from a penalty in the 73rd but missed it, and Preston capitalised soon after with M. Frokjaer-Jensen netting the winner in the 76th, thanks to Dobbin’s assist. Late subs from both teams couldn’t change the tide, and Preston held on for a hard-fought 3-2 victory, leaving the home fans gutted.

Sheffield Wednesday dominated possession with 58% compared to Preston’s 42%, which allowed them more time on the ball and led to 55 successful dribbles against Preston’s 33, showing they were more effective in beating defenders and creating chances. Both sides had three corners each, but Wednesday’s single penalty was missed, which proved costly, while they also used fewer substitutions— just two at the 79th minute, where L. Cooper replaced S. Ingelsson and N. Redmond replaced G. Otegbayo—potentially leaving them less fresh late on. Preston, meanwhile, made five subs, including key ones at half-time like J. Lewis replacing T. Small and M. Smith replacing J. Thompson, which helped them rack up three assists to Wednesday’s two and turn the game in their favour without any injury-time goals or red cards on either side, though each team picked up one yellow.

These numbers highlight how Preston made the most of their opportunities despite less possession, with their assists and timely changes proving decisive in securing the win, while Wednesday’s higher dribble count didn’t translate into enough goals.

The game burst into life early with C. McNeill’s opener for Sheffield Wednesday in the 3rd minute, setting a frantic pace, but Preston’s quick response through B. Whiteman in the 10th kept things level briefly before McNeill’s second in the 14th gave the Owls the edge. A turning point came in the second half when L. Dobbin equalised for Preston in the 57th, injecting energy after their half-time subs, and Wednesday’s missed penalty in the 73rd was a massive blow that left the door open. The decisive moment arrived in the 76th when M. Frokjaer-Jensen scored Preston’s winner, capping a strong comeback, while late yellow cards and substitutions, like Preston bringing on S. T. Thordarson for Dobbin in the 82nd, helped them see out the result without further drama.

Sheffield Wednesday lined up in a 3-1-4-2 formation, which gave them solidity at the back while allowing wing-backs like L. Palmer to push forward and contribute, as seen in his assist for one of C. McNeill’s goals. McNeill shone up top in the striking partnership, bagging a brace early on, and the setup helped them control possession through midfielders like N. Redmond before his late exit.

Preston North End set out in a 3-5-2 shape, relying on wing-backs to provide width and support the front two, with players like L. Dobbin making an impact by scoring and assisting after coming into the fray. The midfield trio, including B. Whiteman who netted early, offered balance, and defenders like L. Lindsay chipped in with key assists, helping them absorb pressure and counter effectively.

L. Dobbin earned Man of the Match honours for Preston North End with a game-changing performance, scoring the equaliser in the 57th minute and providing the assist for the winner in the 76th, turning the tide after his side’s half-time adjustments. His energy and clinical edge stood out, even though he was subbed off in the 82nd for S. T. Thordarson, making him the standout in a thrilling comeback win.

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 2-3 vs Preston North End (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Millwall (A)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Sheffield United (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Southampton (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Norwich City (H)

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 3-2 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Watford (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Blackburn Rovers (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Millwall (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Swansea City (H)

After this disappointing 3-2 home defeat, Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to bounce back and tighten up defensively, especially after conceding three and missing a key penalty. Their next fixture offers a chance to regain momentum and climb the table, with fans hoping for a stronger showing from the likes of McNeill upfront.

Preston North End can build on this gritty 3-2 away victory, which showcased their resilience and effective substitutions, boosting confidence after coming from behind twice. Heading into their next match, they’ll aim to maintain that attacking flair from players like Dobbin and Frokjaer-Jensen to keep the positive run going.

Coral brings you the most exciting betting promotions and the latest betting offers to enhance your experience.

For the best Championship outright predictions, explore our Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.