[themaclad]

The EFL strikes again sending sides countless hundreds of miles to play midweek games, welcome Swansea, good news for away fans we are only charging them a tenner to watch football on Bonfire night in the pouring rain, no doubt Ribbleton's finest will be trying to recreate the Battle of the Somme.

https://www.swanseacity.com/


MANAGER

Alan Michael Anthony Sheehan (born 14 September 1986) is an Irish professional football coach and former player who played as a left back. He is the head coach of EFL Championship club Swansea City.

Sheehan began his playing career at Belvedere. He joined Leicester City in July 2003 and played for eleven other clubs in the English football leagues over a nearly 20-year playing career. He won two promotions with Luton Town as club captain and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2018. Internationally, Sheehan played for the Republic of Ireland national under-21 team.

In 2021, Sheehan became a player-coach at Oldham Athletic. He then joined the coaching staff at Luton, Southampton and Swansea City. Sheehan had two spells as Swansea's caretaker head coach before becoming their permanent head coach in 2025.



FORM GUIDE



PNE 11 SWANSEA 7

NEWBIES, BANGERS IN AND THEIR HELPERS



Team News

Paul Heckingbottom confirmed following the weekend's victory over Southampton that Daniel Jebbison had missed out through a minor hamstring injury, which may keep him out of this fixture too.

North End aren’t expected to be able to call upon any of their other injured contingent, with nine first teamers currently sidelined.

Having made his debut off the bench for PNE at St Mary’s, defender Jamal Lewis will be involved again on Wednesday night, boosted by another couple of days in training with his new teammates.

The Visitors

Swansea City have made a steady start to the 2025/26 Championship season, taking 17 points from their opening 13 matches.

It’s Alan Sheehan’s first full campaign in the dugout following his appointment in the second half of last season, initially as caretaker, before his role was made permanent in April following a string of impressive results.

The Swans have picked up some decent points on the road so far this term, leaving both Ewood Park and Hillsborough with victories, and their last match saw them take a point from Charlton Athletic.

Match Officials

Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox and Bhupinder Singh Gill
Fourth Official: Josh Smith

Two and a half years on from refereeing his first North End match, Anthony Backhouse will be the man in the middle on Wednesday night.

His only other PNE fixture saw the Lilywhites progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town in 2023.

Backhouse has shown 39 yellow cards in eight matches so far this season.

We’ve Met Before

Goals from Andrew Hughes and Duane Holmes secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Swansea City back in August 2023.

T'OTHER GAMES AND TABLE




On we go towards the next International break, still have loads of injuries but those that are still available are doing a cracking job