Preston North End 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday: 10-man Owls fall to defeat in Tony Pulis' first game
- Published
Tom Barkhuizen's goal was his first in the league since February
Tony Pulis' tenure as Sheffield Wednesday boss started with a defeat at Preston, as he saw his new team have to play for more than 70 minutes with 10 men.
The visitors had Josh Windass sent off after 17 minutes for a dreadful high challenge on Joe Rafferty.
Tom Barkhuizen gave the home team the lead with a well-hit volley after Owls goalkeeper Keiren Westwood's punch clear dropped to him 16 yards out.
Wednesday pushed for an equaliser but struggled to create any clear chances and defeat means they remain second bottom of the Championship.
It was a much-needed home win for Preston who had lost their previous five games at Deepdale this season.
They came close to a second goal in injury time when a counter-attack ended with Barkhuizen seeing an effort cleared off the line.
Tony Pulis was appointed by Wednesday to replace Garry Monk
The result will leave Pulis in no doubt about the size of the task he faces in getting Wednesday up the table after he replaced the sacked Garry Monk during the international break.
His side had probably had the better of the opening exchanges before Windass was sent off for a very clumsy chest-high kick on Rafferty.
Pulis recalled Westwood to the starting line-up for his first appearance in just under a year but the experienced keeper was ultimately at fault for the game's only goal as his punch lacked distance and Barkhuizen capitalised with a fine low shot.
The Owls face a trip to Swansea on Wednesday, while Preston have a home game against local rivals Blackburn on Tuesday.
Preston assistant Frankie McAvoy told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It feels good to obviously win a home game, it was tough though, particularly when they go down to 10 men.
"It becomes difficult because they go to a back five with three in front of that and then the onus is on you to try and break them down.
"Thankfully we've won the game, I thought in the second half we totally controlled it."
Owls boss Tony Pulis told BBC Radio Sheffield:
On the red card: "I haven't seen it back yet but his foot was high. We're not going to be able to appeal. I don't think we're going to be able to get away with it because they'll say it was dangerous play.
"There were good signs at times but when you go down to 10 men it's really difficult. The lads worked all week on certain things and it just goes out the window but you can't fault their effort.
"They only had one shot on goal and that was their goal. There's one or two things that I'm disappointed with, we gifted them the goal, it wasn't something they created, but I think all of them gave a very honest performance."