Jamie Paterson eyes more goals after encouragement from coaching namesake

Jamie Paterson is targeting more goals after revealing how encouragement from assistant head coach Martin Paterson had helped him net his first league effort for Swansea City since March 2022 in Saturday's draw with Hull City.

The midfielder opened the scoring against the Tigers in fine fashion when he cut inside and drilled a left-footed effort inside the near post after a sweeping counter-attack, and it was his shot from distance which later rebounded to Jerry Yates for a tap in to put the Swans 2-0 at the break.

But a wide-open second half saw Hull find a way back into proceedings and goals from Jaden Philogene and Tyler Morton meant the match ended in a draw.

For Paterson – who had a hand in most of the Swans’ best attacking moments – it felt important to be back among the goals, especially with his coaching namesake Paterson urging him to shoot more.

“Not scoring has been playing on my mind,” he admitted.

“I’ve had a few half-chances here and there, but I’ve been desperate for a league goal this season. It’s probably the longest I’ve gone without scoring, so hopefully that’s the start now.

“I got one in the cup, but you want to score as many league goals as you can. With the injury last season, I didn’t score so that’s been playing on my mind and I’ve been slashing at things.

“Pato (assistant head coach Paterson) has been on to me about shooting more, and I probably wouldn’t have hit the shot for the goal if that hadn’t been on my mind.

“Then, for the second one, I’ve shot from a long way out, but that’s rebounded to Yatesy and he’s put it in. I just want to score more goals now, and we want to climb the table.”

Ultimately, Paterson’s goal - and his contribution to the second – wasn’t enough to seal three points.

And the midfielder was disappointed the Swans hadn’t been able to hold on to their two-goal cushion.

“I thought we played well, and they’re a good team, but after being 2-0 up it feels like a loss,” he said.

“I didn’t think we played badly in the second half, but at 2-0 the next goal is massive. As soon as it went to 2-1, there was some anxiety in our play and from the fans.

"Ultimately it was a point on the board and we need to follow it up on Wednesday now.”