[themaclad]

https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup
Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 20,233

17 hour day arrived home at 4am, bit of a glass half full result, a point at a ground where we usually get sod all, add into that some American © rap chappy made an appearance nd having been moved from our original seats all our tickets suddenly were invalid which required the ticket office to print replacement tickets.
Different journey as well A 40 no Severn Bridge but we did get a magical mystery tour around South Birmingham on the way back.
Several changes, Lang made his first start, Thompson should have started but his wife/Partner decided to go into Labour.

First half better side found plenty of space behind Swansea's right wing back and with the best crosser of the ball in the league Vukcevic we were dangerous every time we went down the left.
The front three were excellent, Lang looked a very useful buy, get him fully fit and we are cooking, took the lead half way through the half, ball in from the left to the back post Lang won the ball back across goal Jebbo managed to put it in.
Could have had a second vicious cross just bounced to high for Offiah who couldn't get a touch.
Wasn't all plain sailing though the Swans had half chnaces which we dealt with with some panic attimes.
Three subs for them at half time and different game all together, forced back, they missed some good chances, Yalcouye denied by Cornell, Vipotnik header wrong side of the post, Cornell beaten, think they also hit the outside of the post as well.
Managed to weather the storm ad at the death had a great chance to put the game out of their reach.
Half chance for Os well saved by Vigouroux, if the shot had gone over the bar without a save may have won the game, from the resulting corner we lost possession, ball down the other end, ball in from the left and Cullen heads home off the post, third match in succession we have conceded after 90 minutes.
Never mind, a better performance than the shambles on Friday.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom was pleased with how his side performed in their 1-1 draw away at Swansea.

The Lilywhites led in the 26th minute through Daniel Jebbison and came moments away from taking all three points, but a stoppage-time equaliser courtesy of Liam Cullen earned the home side a draw.

Despite being frustrated not to secure a win in South Wales, North End’s boss was more than satisfied with how PNE played on the night.

“I felt it was a really strong performance, (we showed) real threat in the first half,” stated Hecky. “How we defended from the front meant we could counter on them, but then we had good passages of play, with our front three hurting them.

“In the second half, they obviously made changes and threw everything at it, but I felt they had one chance where they got through. Apart from that, the defenders defended the box brilliantly until that last cross.

“The frustrating thing is I feel we've not got the points we deserve after a strong performance, coming to a team that really fancied themselves at home. I felt we totally dominated the first half and then were strong without the ball. I would have liked us to have still believed and played, particularly in the last 10 minutes. I felt we'd weathered their storm.

“The disappointing thing is not to get the three points.”

North End’s goal was a moment of real quality, with multiple players combining to leave Swansea struggling to react.

The frontline of Jebbison, Callum Lang and Lewis Dobbin were involved in the build-up, producing a moment in the contest which pleased Hecky greatly.


“For all the possession we had against Blackburn on Friday night, I said it was a boring performance,” revealed the manager. “No one risked the ball, no one was brave, so we wanted to play forward. Pol does really well. The front three do great opposite movements.

“Langy runs, Jebbo stands, then we get to the opposite ten, which narrows them up and we can get Andy in. Langy showed what he was about tonight, how he looked after the ball, how he competes, he's part of the goal. He's a centre forward, but he showed the most aggression in the box to keep the ball alive and set up Jebbo’s goal, and that's key.”

PNE were backed by a determined away following, who competed with a packed out Swansea.com Stadium from minute one.

The manager was impressed by this effort and believed that they outperformed their Welsh counterparts in the stands.


“They were brilliant,” affirmed Hecky. “Our fans were the noisiest.

“We came to a club trying to have a party, and we were intent on spoiling it. We'd virtually done it. Our fans were the loudest, our players were the better on the pitch.

“Just really frustrated we couldn't all go home and really spoil the fun.”

VITOS

Head coach Vitor Matos felt his Swansea City side got the rewards for their perseverance as the fought back to secure a draw against Preston North End courtesy of Liam Cullen's brilliant stoppage-time header.

The Swans were below-par in the opening half, and had trailed at the interval to a close-range Daniel Jebbison finish.

But the hosts were much improved in the second period and went close to levelling on a number of occasions.

Ben Cabango twice went close with headers from set-pieces, Cullen had two thunderous volleys blocked and Malick Yalcouye was denied at the end of a flowing attack.

It looked as though a first home league defeat since November was on the cards, but Cullen adjusted brilliantly to reach a steepling cross and arrow a header into the top corner of the net.

And Matos, while acknowledging his side had been second best prior to the break, was pleased with how they responded.

"I think it was a fair result," he said.

"In the first half Preston was better than us, much sharper, more competitive and organised.

"We struggled to find the free man in attack, we lost the ball too easily. They scored, but in the second half we were a lot closer to what we have been when we have played at home in these last months.

"We created chances, we could have scored and if we had done it may have changed the direction of the game.

"We didn't score, but the team kept pushing to try and get something out of the game, and that is something I was pleased with. It was a beautiful moment for Liam.

"The quality was much better offensively, so we need to take that forward and quickly get ready for another game on Saturday."

Swans minority owner Snoop Dogg was among those in attendance in a sell-out home crowd.

The worldwide icon made a pre-match lap of the pitch and received a rapturous reception from the Jack Army, and he paid a visit to the home team's dressing room following the dramatic denoument.

"He is someone who is involved with the club and brings an excitement to the club," he said.

"I think it was a special moment that shows what the club wants to create for the future, which is the most important thing.

"We need to keep building, having someone like him helps because he brings a lot of joy for everyone and he wants to be closer with the club.

"He loves sports, he spoke with the team, he picked the right words and he loved the mentality the team showed."