Thierry Small's spectacular long-range strike and Milutin Osmajic's scruffier but equally precious second-half finish gave Preston North End a 2-1 victory over Swansea City at Deepdale, lifting Paul Heckingbottom's side up to fourth in the Championship table. Despite spending long spells without the ball, Preston made their few chances count to record a third successive league win and move to within two points of the automatic promotion places after 14 games.
Substitute Eom Jisung curled in a late reply for Swansea, who fashioned the majority of the opportunities and finished with 18 shots to Preston's four but once again lacked a clinical edge in the final third. Alan Sheehan's team suffered a third defeat in six Championship outings and remain 17th, six points shy of the top six yet eight above the relegation places after a performance that brought plenty of encouragement but no reward.
On a night that pitted two of the division's meaner defences against each other, it was the visitors who controlled large stretches of play and the hosts who struck with ruthless precision. Swansea arrived at Deepdale having conceded fewer goals on their travels than any other Championship side this season, but they were undermined by an early moment of brilliance from Small and a simple route-one goal after the interval.
Small's Bonfire Night Thunderbolt Sets the Tone