In what could be a crucial victory to kick-start the Swans season, Paterson would delightfully finish Matt Grimes’ chipped pass to give the home side the lead on the hour mark.
In a game array of many clear cut chances Preston hit back straight away through substitute Liam Millar’s curling finish and the match looked set to head towards a draw.
Paterson though would take the headlines producing a cool moment of quality and composure in stoppage-time to earn the Swans the three points.
Having suffered a 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough despite a spirited showing the previous weekend, the Swans focus would be on improving on a worrying record of just two wins in eleven games in SA1 this season.
In their way stood an out-of-sorts Preston side looking to turn around a run of four defeats in the last six games that had somewhat stalled their play-off challenge.
Caretaker head-coach Alan Sheehan chose to keep face with his side and name an unchanged line-up, with Joe Allen returning to the substitutes bench having spent three months on the sidelines with a groin injury suffered in the warm-up to the South Wales derby defeat against Cardiff.
The manner of Preston’s capitulation against Watford in the 5-1 defeat at Deepdale would have been concerning to manager Ryan Lowe whose side have now conceded the second highest amount of goals in the league.
With pressure firmly on the former Plymouth boss to gain a result in South Wales, Lowe chose to make wholesale changes with one former Swan making way for another with former academy product David Cornell coming in for Freddie Woodman to make his Lilywhites debut.
There would be also chances given to Ryan Ledson, Duane Holmes, Andrew Hughes, veteran winger Robbie Brady and former Wales forward Ched Evans.
After an even opening, it would be the home side who would look the more threatening of the two sides.
Creating the games first meaningful moment Liam Walsh and Paterson would work the ball well in midfield before finding Josh Key supporting the attack on the edge of the box. The former Exeter wing-back’s deft touch setting up Jamal Lowe to riffle a low drive that would finish just wide of the Preston goal.
Preston would let the Swans dictate the play but would be strong in the breakdown and would look to counter quickly. Brady’s left-footed effort from the edge of the area flashing past Carl Rushworth in the Swansea goal after Bashir Humphries had only half-cleared Jordan Storey’s cross.
Looking to up the tempo in their play the Swans would test Cornell for the first time minutes later. Key and Lowe combining once more, before the Jamaican striker would test the Welsh goalkeepers fingertips to divert the effort around the post.
The home side would finally breach their opponents as the game entered first-half stoppage time with Lowe bundling home Jay Fulton’s pass after a rare moment of indecision in the Preston backline. The offside flag, however, would deny the Swans taking the lead.
It would be as good as it got for the Swans in a half which they would dominate possession much like they had done against Middlesbrough six days previously. Lacking the decisive invention and penetration in the final third though Sheehan’s side would enter the break level leaving the caretaker head-coach much to contemplate.
The Swans would look to up the tempo in the second-half and would start to find more gaps as the game would open up, particularly on the flanks.
Key finding joy on the right-hand side but would be unable to pick out the run of Walsh with the ball played slightly behind the Swansea midfielder.
Then in a moment of quality and brilliant technique, the home side would take the lead.
Paterson delightfully placing a first-time volley into the bottom right-hand corner of beyond Cornell after controlling Matt Grimes’ perfectly played chipped pass on the left hand-side of the penalty area.
Preston would look to respond straight away pushing numbers forward into the Swansea half. After several phases of threatening play putting the Swans under pressure, the Lilywhites would hit back to level the scoreline.
Brad Potts picking out substitute Millar on the left-hand side, before the Canadian international would cut inside to bend an effort past Rushworth into the corner of the net.
The same combination would then nearly catch the Swans cold minutes later in an almost carbon copy of the goal. Key would be unable to close down Millar sufficiently but escaped further punishment with the winger shooting narrowly wide.
Both sides made a raft of substitutions to try to alter the proceedings, but the game would look to peter out in a draw.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and four minutes into stoppage time it would be Paterson who would earn all three points for his side. Substitute Liam Cullen picking up a loose ball to play through the former Coventry forward to slot into the bottom corner to an eruption of noise from a relieved home faithful.
It would not be pretty, but it would be a first win in seven at home for the Swans who now travel to Southampton on Boxing Day to face former manager Russell Martin’s side on a high.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Josh Key (Kyle Naughton 81), Josh Tymon (Nathan Wood 81), Ben Cabango, Bashir Humphreys, Harry Darling (Jerry Yates 68), Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton, Liam Walsh (Yannick Bolasie 68), Jamal Lowe (Liam Cullen 87), Jamie Paterson.
Preston North End X1
David Cornell, Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes, Brad Potts, Ali McCann, Alan Browne (captain) (Ben Woodburn 90), Ryan Ledson, Robbie Brady (Liam Millar 45), Duane Holmes (Mulutin Osmajic 78), Ched Evans (Mads Fronkjaer-Jensen 78).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
