Bidwell ready for tough opener to league season
SWANSEA defender Jake Bidwell is expecting a tough test when the Swans begin their Championship campaign with a trip to Preston North End on Saturday.
Steve Cooper’s side head to Deepdale for their opening game of the 2020-21 season, having suffered Carabao Cup disappointment at Newport last weekend on their return to competitive action.
They face a Preston side who had a better time in the EFL Cup, beating Mansfield 4-0 to book a secondround tie with Derby.
The trip to Deepdale will be a big challenge, but it is one Bidwell and his teammates are looking forward to on the back of their strong finish to the 2019-20 season, when they reached the play-offs before being defeated by Brentford.
“When you see those fixtures it just gives you a lift and a target to aim for. You feel the season starts to take shape and we know it will be a tough task,” he said.
“They have had a proud home record over recent seasons, but these are the sort of games you want to test yourself in.
“The season is played over 46 games rather than just this first one, but we’d obviously like to start the league season with a positive result.
“It’s true that there are no easy games in the Championship, especially away from home, but it’s one we are going to be ready for,” added the 27-year-old.
Preston have regularly been in the hunt for the play-off spots under manager Alex Neil, with Swansea claiming a pair of 1-1 draws on their visits to face the Lilywhites since returning to the second tier in 2018.
Last season, a goal from Rhian Brewster gave them a point, while the previous campaign, it was a strike from Courteney Baker-Richardson that earned a share of the spoils.
The Swans and Preston – and all
Championship clubs – will wear the EFL’s ‘Not Today or Any Day’ campaign logo on their shirts on Saturday and for the rest of the season to reinforce the message that discrimination in any form will not be tolerated across the league.
Launched in October 2019, the ‘Not Today or Any Day’ campaign aims to encourage behavioural and attitude changes at all levels of EFL football and ensure that a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination applies throughout the clubs.
Building on the awareness raised during the 2019-20 season, the logo will be the first of a number of activities taking place throughout the year across the league.
EFL chief executive officer David Baldwin said: “Football has a platform like no other to drive change and our ‘Not Today or Any Day’ campaign logo featured across all EFL club shirts will act as a powerful reminder that the league does not accept discriminatory behaviour in any form.
“Whilst progress has been made in this area, more remains to be done as we work with our clubs and stakeholders to tackle the issue, actively promote inclusion and diversity across our match days and within the wider communities that our clubs and club community organisations serve.”
Meanwhile, Swansea will be hoping the appointment of Merseyside official Robert Jones as referee will be a good omen when they travel to Deepdale.
Jones took charge of the Swans twice last season, being in the middle for the derby-day win over Cardiff City at the Liberty as well as the home draw against West Brom.
His only other previous Swansea game was the Carabao Cup clash with MK Dons in 2017, which the Swans won 4-1.
Jones, who has refereed in the Championship since 2017, will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and James Mainwaring. Richard Wild is the fourth official.