The score-line suggests Swansea City were rampant as they brushed aside Darren Ferguson’s team, but they didn’t have it all their own way. Following the 5-0 thrashing of Stockport, Darren Ferguson was confident of picking up a positive result at the Liberty Stadium. Unfortunately, that all changed on 23 minutes when Stephen Dobbie fired the home team into the lead. Prior to that the Whites had made an excellent start and on eight minutes Chris Brown raced into the Swans area rifling a right-footed shot against the side netting. A few minutes later Danny Mayor tricked his way down the wing and played in a tantalising ball for Paul Hayes, the striker was a whisker away from putting North End into the lead.
Preston continued to cause problems for the Welsh side up until 40 minutes when a corner wasn’t cleared allowing striker Daryl Pratley to smash in the ball from three yards out - a disastrous blow to the Lilywhites who had held their own until that point. Things got worse and two minutes before half-time Nathan Dyer tapped in from close range, giving manager Darren Ferguson a tremendously difficult half-time team talk.
The Preston manger ensured his team came out fresh as he brought on two substitutes. Joshua King, the forward on loan from Manchester United replaced Danny Mayor and Paul Parry replaced Chris Brown. That didn’t seem to change the pattern of the game and it was the Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan who made two exceptional saves to keep out Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer the latter with the help of Callum Davidson. The Swans new signing from Chelsea (Sinclair) was impressive throughout, showing glimpses of real class.
The game was put to bed on 56 minutes when newly capped Republic of Ireland international Kevin Treacy fouled Nathan Dyer in the Preston penalty area. David Cotterill calmly stepped up sending Lonergan the wrong way. With the game gone, Ferguson brought on Jon Parkin for his first start of the season after recovering from injury. The ‘beast’ almost had an instant impact as he set up King, but his shot went wide of the Swansea keeper’s right-hand post.
Sinclair almost made it five with a solo effort ten minutes before the end as he cut inside from the left and curled a shot just past the post. The Swans keeper De Vries was called into action towards the end making double saves from King and then Parkin, it wasn’t to be and the Whites suffered their second defeat of the new season.
For the South Wales outfit it is their biggest Championship win in two seasons, which will provide no comfort to Preston fans. Darren Ferguson now has to boost the player’s morale before the visit of Pompey next week.
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