Preston North End 1-0 Swansea City: Brad Potts strike downs in-form Swans

Brad Potts celebrates after scoring his third goal of the season

Preston North End claimed a third win in four matches as Brad Potts' first-half goal saw off Swansea City.

Potts stroked home with his left foot after Swansea centre-back Harry Darling failed to clear.

Swansea pushed hard for a second-half equaliser but Freddie Woodman claimed an 11th Championship clean sheet of the season to ensure Ryan Lowe's Preston held on for victory.

Preston climb to seventh in the table, one place below Swansea.

Russell Martin's Swans had arrived as one of the second tier's form teams having lost just one of their previous eight games.

But Preston deservedly led at the break having been the better side in the first half and then soaked up Swansea pressure - with Ryan Manning going closest to a leveller right at the end - to claim a second straight league triumph for just the second time this season.

Preston had come into the contest in buoyant mood following their stoppage-time winner against Middlesbrough on Saturday, while Swansea travelled north having battled their way to a weekend point at Bristol City.

Swansea boss Russell Martin suggested his team had been slow out of the blocks at Ashton Gate because some had over-celebrated their derby victory over Cardiff City.

There was no team night out after the Bristol City draw, yet Swansea struggled to get going once more.

Preston carried most of the early threat, with Alan Browne's volley saved before a crisp home counter ended with Emil Riis wasting a golden opportunity to put his team in front as he shot across the face.

The breakthrough was something of a gift when it arrived, with Darling failing to deal with Browne's hopeful cross.

Steven Benda got his centre-back off the hook initially by blocking Ched Evans' shot, but there was to be no escape as Potts swept in the rebound.

Preston, who began the night as the joint lowest scorers in the division, might have doubled their advantage when more sloppy defending allowed Riis to cross for the stretching Browne, but he could only head over.

Swansea's first-half threat was minimal, though Joel Piroe - who was immediately recalled after a three-match ban - headed wide from Jay Fulton's measured cross.

The Welsh club have shown considerable powers of recovery this season, having taken more points after falling behind than any other Championship team.

But there was to be no comeback at Deepdale despite Swansea's considerable improvement after the break.

Andrew Hughes slides in to win possession from Luke Cundle

They looked certain to level when a Jamie Paterson corner dropped for Fulton, but his drive was beaten away by former Swansea goalkeeper Woodman.

Darling saw two chances to make up for his earlier error go begging, with a header saved before his dragged shot flashed across the face.

Swansea's clearest sight of goal came in stoppage time, when Paterson's clever flick created space for Manning but his point-blank effort ricocheted wide off Woodman's chest.

With that, Woodman and Preston could celebrate what ultimately was a hard-earned victory.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe:

"I thought we got it spot on tactically. I think the character shown from the group to see it through was fantastic.

"Listen, Swansea are a good team, let's make no mistake about it. For us to get the goal and have the opportunity to get one or two more, and to keep them to four [efforts] on target - the same as us - the character and desire was fantastic.

"The game-plan was set around triggers, when to go and when not to go, because if you go too early they can pop it round you.

"I thought tactically it was spot on from everyone."

Swansea head coach Russell Martin:

"We tried for 90-odd minutes. I thought we were brilliant. We had two scary moments in the first half, both from not marking in the box, and we concede a goal from a mistake.

"It's disappointing to concede like that. But Harry's been great recently - he will bounce back.

"It was attack after attack in the second half. We need to score. We didn't have that final bit of composure.

"I think nine times out of 10, playing like we did in the second half we come away with at least a point. I am really frustrated a the result but can't be too unhappy with the performance."