Captain Matt Grimes has made more than 300 appearances for Swansea
A vibrant attacking display helped Swansea City outplay managerless Preston North End to mark their first home game of the Championship season with a comprehensive victory.
Swansea made a flying start and, after missing a handful of chances, took a well-earned first-half lead thanks to Matt Grimes’ emphatic penalty.
Preston improved after the interval and came close to equalising when Ryan Ledson’s shot was deflected narrowly over, while the visitors also felt they should have had a penalty when Harry Darling appeared to handle the ball.
However, the Swans then doubled their advantage as substitute Azeem Abdulai diverted Ollie Cooper’s goal-bound effort into the net, before new signing Zan Vipotnik came off the bench to score his first goal for the club with a close-range finish from Ronald’s cross.
Having started the season with an uninspiring defeat at Middlesbrough, Swansea were a team transformed here as they followed a midweek EFL Cup win over Gillingham with their first points of the Championship campaign.
Preston, meanwhile, fell to their second league defeat from two in their first Championship outing since the departure of manager Ryan Lowe, gone after just one match of the season.
Former Swansea assistant coach Mike Marsh had overseen an EFL Cup win over Sunderland on Tuesday, with ex-Wales striker Ched Evans part of his staff, but this was an afternoon to forget for Marsh and his players.
After the match Preston announced Marsh had left the club, external.
The tone was set during a first half where Swansea, in sharp contrast to their flat-footed start at Boro, flew out of the blocks on this occasion.
Wingers Ronald and Eom Ji-sung played starring roles, both full of tricks and running at their opponents at every opportunity.
They helped the home side create several early chances, Goncalo Franco firing over with an audacious bicycle kick and Josh Tymon having a low shot held by former Swans keeper Freddie Woodman.
As dominant as Swansea were, Preston posed a threat on the break and should have led when Robbie Brady dispossessed Josh Key but shot straight at Lawrence Vigouroux.
Luke Williams’ side eventually got the goal their performance warranted as Eom’s cross hit the hand of Liam Lindsay and, after consulting with his assistant, referee Stephen Martin awarded the Swans a penalty.
Captain Grimes had missed a penalty in their last home game on the final day of last season, but on this occasion he scored with a powerful left-footed strike.
Swansea continued in the same vein after the break, with Ronald cutting inside from the left and curling a shot narrowly wide, before Eom did the same with a mirror-image effort from the right.
Ledson looked sure to equalise for Preston but his shot hit Key and flew just over the bar, and the visitors were incensed not to get a penalty when Darling slid in and appeared to block Stefan Thordarson’s low cross with his hand.
But after that short spell of Preston pressure, Swansea regained control and proved to be worthy winners.
Abdulai may not have known much about his deflection from Cooper’s shot to score the Swans’ second, but Vipotnik’s late third was a deliberate touch to give the irrepressible Ronald an assist that was the very least his dynamic display deserved.
Post-match reaction
Swansea head coach Luke Williams:
“I'm really pleased because I think we performed in a way that was value for the result. If you win and maybe you didn't deserve to, you take it. But if you win and you deserved it, it is a special thing for coaches.
“I want the fans to turn up expecting to see that, and I want them to see it more often than not. We know it is going to be incredibly challenging games.
“There are some fabulous teams in the Championship. We know that we will have tough days but, more often than not, it would be great if we can see energy, aggression, flair, excitement – performances that people want to come back and watch and fall in love with.”
Preston captain Ben Whiteman:
“Really poor. The goals are the biggest concern for us. We created some good chances… it’s a different game if those go in but hindsight’s a great thing.
“It’s been a really tough week. It’s rare that a manager leaves after the first game. It’s up to the lads to do a lot better.
“We’re just lacking at the minute, whether it’s confidence or what, I’m not sure. We’ve got some honest lads who give their all.
“Quite a few fans travelled down today and I completely understand their frustration. That was nowhere near good enough.”
