Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 3, Preston North End 1.
Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday3PrestonPreston North End1
Sheffield Wednesday moved to within three points of the play-off places with a comfortable win over Preston.
The hosts took the lead just before the break when Kieran Lee stroked home Fernando Forestieri's lay off.
Daniel Pudil doubled the Owls' lead from close range before Preston's Alan Browne touched home Eoin Doyle's flick.
Lewis McGugan secured all three points with a long range strike in injury time after Lilywhites goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had gone forward for a corner.
Carlos Carvahal's side have now won their last four games in all competitions, while Preston have not won in eight matches after their promotion last season.
After a first half of few chances, Wednesday produced a well worked passing move to eventually allow Lee to score on his 100th appearance for the club.
On-loan Watford winger Pudil nicked the ball off John Welsh before finishing smartly for their second, but Browne's smart finish gave the visitors some hope.
Adam Reach and Doyle went close grabbing an equaliser for Preston, but McGugan's strike into a free net eventually settled the game.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:
"This is the Championship, the teams all the time believe they can change the score.
"It's most important that we win, we are in a sequence of a lot of games. It was a typical game from the Championship. We won and we have three points and that is the most important thing.
"The first goal was very important to us, at the break we were planning to try and correct everything.
"Everything belongs to the players, we have a fantastic group."
Preston manager Simon Grayson:
"It's a feeling of frustration, in the first half we were comfortable but we were the architects of our own downfall with all three goals.
"Up to the 44th minute we were comfortable, I have never known Hillsborough so quiet, our goalkeeper has not had a save to make, then we make a mistake and we made another one after half-time and we have a mountain to climb.
"We should have got something out of the game, we had Sheffield Wednesday on the back foot and had some really good opportunities to get something out of the game.
"But at Championship level you get punished if you make mistakes."
Line-ups
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Westwood
- 32Hunt
- 15Lees
- 3Turner
- 36Pudil
- 4Hutchinson
- 20Lee
- 33WallaceSubstituted forMcGuganat 67'minutes
- 45ForestieriSubstituted forLópezat 85'minutes
- 41Bannan
- 9NuhiuSubstituted forLucas Joãoat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Loovens
- 7Matias
- 10McGugan
- 16Wiggins
- 18Lucas João
- 21López
- 28Wildsmith
Preston
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Pickford
- 15Woods
- 5Clarke
- 4McCarthySubstituted forHumphreyat 10'minutes
- 3Cunningham
- 11JohnsonBooked at 87mins
- 16Browne
- 19Welsh
- 32Reach
- 9KeaneSubstituted forDoyleat 56'minutes
- 24MaySubstituted forHugillat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Humphrey
- 8Kilkenny
- 12Gallagher
- 13Doyle
- 25Hugill
- 29Heaton
- 43Kirkland
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 20,383
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff WedAway TeamPreston
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 3, Preston North End 1.
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield Wednesday 3, Preston North End 1. Lewis McGugan (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from more than 35 yards to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Álex López.
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Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Michael Turner.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. Álex López (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Michael Turner.
Booking
Daniel Johnson (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Daniel Johnson (Preston North End).
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Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Clarke (Preston North End).
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Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Álex López replaces Fernando Forestieri.
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Attempt missed. Lewis McGugan (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Tom Clarke (Preston North End).
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Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Eoin Doyle (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Daniel Johnson.
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Attempt blocked. Adam Reach (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Johnson with a cross.
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Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Jack Hunt.