Report | Swansea City 2 Preston North End 1

Jamie Paterson struck a stoppage-time winner as Swansea City secured all three points in their final home game of 2023 against Preston North End at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The midfielder had broken the deadlock in superb fashion on the hour mark as he expertly sent a lovely pass from Matt Grimes into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season.

However, the lead would prove shortlived as Liam Millar worked room to beat Carl Rushworth and level for the Lilywhites seven minutes later.

But Paterson was on hand to complete his brace in the fifth of seven added minutes as he swept home left-footed after Liam Cullen had seized on a poor pass.

Swansea had the better of territory and possession but found it hard to break down a stubborn visiting defence, although Harry Darling and Jamal Lowe had good first-half chances.

But caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan would have been pleased to see his side overcome the disappointment of losing their lead to snatch the win in dramatic fashion.

The Swans’ starting line-up had been unchanged from the defeat to Middlesbrough, while Joe Allen was fit enough for a place on the bench as he returned from injury.

The opening exchanges were cagey, with neither side able to move the ball with the zip and tempo they would have wished for.

The visitors were, for the most part, happy to sit deep and absorb pressure before trying to counter in transition.

The Swans had the first real sight of goal; Liam Walsh and Paterson combining smartly to allow Lowe to send a low strike bouncing wide of the left-hand upright.

Robbie Brady then tried his luck from distance for the visitors, but saw his effort sail off-target.

Swansea carved out the best chance yet in the 22nd minute, Josh Key getting into space down the right to find Lowe, but the striker’s near-post effort was saved by Dai Cornell in the Preston goal.

The resulting corner saw Ben Cabango fail to connect with a header and Darling see a shot blocked.

Walsh then produced a wonderful reverse pass to pick out Key’s run from deep, but Cornell was out quickly to smother the defender’s effort to turn the ball goalward.

Darling was then nearly enjoyed a terrific slice of good fortune as he ran on to Paterson’s pass after a Jay Fulton lay-off and saw his attempted backheel strike a defender and beat Cornell, but bounce wide of the post.

And Swansea’s frustrations were compounded on the stroke of half-time when Lowe turned home after a Fulton strike had fallen to him, but the forward was offside and the celebrations were quickly cut short.

That ensured It was goalless at the break and there was little sign of an impending breakthrough in the early stages of the second period.

Walsh and Key linked well down the right, with the midfielder unable to steer a return pass on target, while Darling was then unable to find another white shirt with a knockdown from a well-weighted Key cross.

Carl Rushworth made his first meaningful save by gathering in a rasping drive from Ched Evans.

But the breakthrough came on the hour mark with Paterson finding the net from a wonderful pass from Grimes.

The skipper picked up a clearance on the edge of the box, and clipped a lovely ball into Paterson on the left side of the box, where the midfielder steered a superb first time finish into the far corner of the net.

Duane Holmes fired over at the other end as the visitors sought an immediate response, but it was Millar who brought them level.

The substitute picked up the ball on the left of the box and worked room cutting inside to curl the ball beyond Rushworth.

Sheehan sent on Yannick Bolasie and Jerry Yates for Walsh and Darling, moments before Millar nearly repeated the trick with Rushworth getting fingertips to another curling strike that looked destined for the back of the net.

Cabango tamely headed into Cornell’s gloves and the Swans the spurned a gilt-edge chance to retake the lead as Yates pressed well to force the Preston keeper into an error but Fulton was unable to control the loose clearance on the edge of the box.

The hosts then lost Key to injury with 10 minutes to go, Kyle Naughton coming on as his replacement.

The scored remained level going into seven minutes of stoppage time, but Paterson was on hand to strike the decisive blow.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key (Kyle Naughton 82), Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling (Jerry Yates 69), Matt Grimes (captain), Jamal Lowe (Liam Cullen 87), Jamie Paterson, Josh Tymon (Nathan Wood 82), Liam Walsh (Yannick Bolasie 69), Bashir Humphreys.

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Joe Allen, Charlie Patino, Ollie Cooper.

Preston North End: Dai Cornell, Liam Linday, Alan Browne (captain) (Ben Woodburn 94), Ched Evans (Milutin Osmajic 77), Robbie Brady (Liam Millar 44), Ali McCann, Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes, Ryan Ledson, Duane Holmes (Mads Frokjaer-Jensen 77), Brad Potts.

Unused Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Ben Whiteman, Will Keane, Jack Whatmough, Kian Best.

Referee: Bobby Madley

Attendance: 15,098