Preston North End 2-1 Swansea City: Hughes and Holmes seal comeback win after Ashby opener

Andrew Hughes (left) celebrates after scoring his first goal of the season to bring Preston level

Preston North End's promising start to the season continued as they came from behind to beat winless Swansea City.

On-loan Newcastle United wing-back Harrison Ashby's classy first-half finish had put Swansea on course for a first Championship victory under Michael Duff.

But Andrew Hughes' precise header brought Preston level midway through the second half before Duane Holmes steered in the winner.

It was another disappointment for Swansea to end the week in which they lost Joel Piroe, although Duff may feel his side deserved something from what was a tight contest.

Defeat means the Welsh club have taken only two points from the first four league games of the new campaign, with their only success in 2023-24 coming in the Carabao Cup.

The mood is much brighter for Preston, whose gritty fightback means they have reached 10 points after four league fixtures for the first time in 15 years.

Ryan Lowe's men are fifth in the early-season table, while Swansea are 20th.

The sale of Piroe to Leeds United this week meant this looked like a good time to be facing Swansea, although key centre-back Nathan Wood was involved despite strong interest in his signature from Southampton.

Wood and company in the Swansea rearguard were not overworked in a first half which was short on clear-cut chances, although Ryan Ledson and then Mads Frokjaer may both have done better as they lifted shots over the bar.

At the other end, Liam Cullen was charged with filling Piroe's boots and the Welshman saw one effort blocked and lifted another before a fine combination between Charlie Patino and Josh Key led to the opening goal.

Patino, who impressed once more having joined Swansea on loan from Arsenal, exchanged clever passes with Key before crossing to the far post where Ashby made an awkward chance look easy, guiding a first-time shot home on the half-volley.

Harrison Ashby celebrates the first goal of his senior career

Will Keane might have responded immediately but saw his snapshot gathered by Carl Rushworth, before a quick Swansea free-kick opened Preston up only for Jay Fulton to be snuffed out in the area.

Swansea grew in confidence having taken the lead in a league game for the first time this season, the visitors looking assured for a spell early in the second period.

But Preston conjured a timely equaliser when Alan Browne crossed from deep and Hughes got in front of Harry Darling to head the ball inside Rushworth's far post.

Substitute Jamie Paterson almost crashed Swansea back in front with a long-range half-volley which flashed just over, before the Lilywhites struck for the second time in 13 minutes.

Frokjaer got the better of Fulton out wide before rolling the ball invitingly into the area for Holmes to drive in his second goal since returning to Preston in the summer.

Swansea huffed and puffed without ever really looking like finding an equaliser, although Mykola Kuharevich was a little unfortunate as his stoppage-time volley flew just too high.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe:

"Fair play to the group. They have been fantastic. Going a goal down was tough - and we could have done better with their goal - but [it is pleasing] to show the attitude and application to limit Swansea to one chance on goal, then second half to pick it up.

"We asked for a little bit more in the pressing and changed shape obviously which gets us the two goals, then we changed the shape back to keep the result.

"Fair play to the lads, they are taking on the instructions. To show that resilience, application and attitude to come back is very pleasing for me."

Swansea head coach Michael Duff:

"I thought we were dominant, definitely in the first half. They changed their shape, went 4-4-2, stuck it down our throats and we didn't deal with it well enough.

"The frustration is that loads of things we've worked on have come out really well. A little bit of that final ball, the final moment could have been better.

"We are in that place at the moment where we are 1-0 up and we are not quite sure. It's like 'what do we do?'. That's the mentality we have to shift. Teams are not just going to roll over - you are not going to have it your own way.

"It's been a difficult week, you are planning with Joel here, then he's not here. That's football - you have to get on with it."