Sheffield Wednesday started 2026 with a 3-0 defeat to Preston North End at Deepdale on New Year’s Day.
Goals either side of half-time from Ali McCann, Milutin Osmajić and substitute Lewis Dobbin sealed a comfortable win for North End, condemning Wednesday to their first defeat this side of Christmas.
Wednesday, who remain winless since the end of September, started well in Lancashire, taking the game to Paul Heckingbottom’s side, but the game’s opening goal knocked the stuffing out of Henrik Pedersen’s men and they never recovered.
With a depleted squad, the Owls must now find the strength to go again as soon as Sunday lunchtime, facing QPR at Loftus Road.
Here is how we rated the players at Deepdale:
13. Jamal Lowe - 5
The attacker was introduced with 25 minutes remaining. He went close with a header late on. | UGC
14. Nathan Redmond - 5
The November recruit made his comeback from injury with 25 minutes on the clock and he tried to impact proceedings from the left. | UGC
15. Favour Onukwukli - N/A
Introduced late on to replace Palmer, earning his second Owls appearance. | UTC Photo: UTC