By Paul Jones
Russell Martin insists he is unconcerned by Swansea City’s first defeat in four games that has stalled their promotion push.
The Swans lost 1-0 at Preston on Tuesday night to make it one point gathered from their last two games, having previously won six out of seven.
The defeat leaves them in sixth place in the Championship but they could drop out of the play-off places if either Watford or Millwall win on Wednesday night.
“I’m not disappointed with the performance at all overall, but one mistake has cost us,” said Martin after an error from Harry Darling enabled Brad Potts to score the only goal of the game.
“A couple of the lads were maybe not quite as slick as they normally are and maybe we lacked a bit of composure at times.
“We’ll have these moments of pain over the course of a season of course, but it’s about how you bounce back from them.
“It’s frustrating that we didn’t score, but we gave Preston something to hang on to, and they are good at that, so I have no complaints about the result.
“Their keeper Freddie Woodman has had a brilliant game in the end, and that says a lot. Particularly in the second half he made some great saves, and nine times out of 10 we’d have got a result after that performance.”
Preston manager Ryan Lowe said: “We got it spot on tactically tonight and particularly in the second half we saw the lads produce fantastic character.
“They were forced to put their bodies on the line and I think we nullified their threat. I know Swansea had a lot of possession, but to restrict them to just four shots on target is a superb effort from our lads.
“Every player out there showed great character, resilience and desire to see out the victory.
“Swansea threw the kitchen sink at us in the second half, but the lads withstood it and I think overall we deserved the victory.”
Swansea are now at home to Wigan on Saturday, where they have won their last four matches in front of their own fans.
They then have two away fixtures – at Birmingham City and Huddersfield – before the break for the World Cup.
Seems a bit odd that RM would change a winning formula? Fems on the bench, Piroe starting when he’s not been firing at all this season? Ntcham getting a start when he’s been a good impact sub, Cooper staring from the bench too. Not the time for rotation! Revert!!!! #swanseacity
— Jackognito (@jackognito) November 2, 2022
Preston struck after half an hour. After Swans defender Darling inexplicably failed to clear Alan Browne’s cross, Ched Evans saw an initial strike saved by Steven Benda, before Potts gleefully mopped up the rebound.
It was no more than North End deserved as they had dominated.
The goal did appear to spark something in Swansea.
Within minutes Ryan Manning went close with a header and Olivier Ntcham saw a thumping effort blocked.
North End came close to grabbing a second early in the second half.
Evans rose well to meet Potts’ outswinging cross, but his header was a couple of feet wide.
At the other end, Preston keeper Woodman was brilliant when somehow keeping out Fulton’s powerful strike from eight yards.
The game was really opening up as the hour mark passed. Joel Piroe saw a free-kick deflected just off target for the Swans, who were now on top.
That was until Preston responded again, with the dangerous Evans this time nodding an effort past a post from Brady’s free-kick.
The same two combined again minutes later, with Benda this time keeping Evans out.
Such was the flow of the game, the Swans soon threatened again, only for substitute Oli Cooper to volley wildly over the top from just 10 yards.
A brilliant Woodman save from Manning in stoppage time ensured North End hung on for their narrow victory.
