Preston North End climbed to fourth in the Championship as Thierry Small's stunning goal helped the Lilywhites to a 2-1 victory over Swansea City.

Small gave Preston an early lead thanks to an unstoppable 30-yard drive which arrowed into the top corner.

Swansea ought to have got themselves back into the contest before Milutin Osmajic doubled Preston's advantage early in the second half.

Swansea did not fold, and eventually found a path to goal when Eom Jisung's shot from the edge of the area nestled in the bottom corner 10 minutes from time.

But Preston – one of the surprise packages in the second tier this season – held on to secure a third successive victory which leaves Paul Heckingbottom's team just two points short of the automatic promotion places after 14 league games.

Swansea's third defeat in their past six second-tier outings leaves Alan Sheehan's men 17th, six points adrift of the top six and eight clear of the bottom three.

Small's goal was a reward for Preston's sharp start, with Swansea forced on to the back foot in the opening stages and punished in spectacular fashion.

The danger appeared to have gone as Kaelan Casey headed the ball clear of his penalty area, but Small had other ideas.

Preston's left-wingback strode on to the loose the ball before delivering a rising effort which may not be bettered at Deepdale all season.

Swansea then came into the contest – but could not convert their control into an equaliser as Adam Idah drilled wide from the edge of the area and Liam Cullen's shot flew too close to Preston keeper Daniel Iversen.

Cullen wanted a penalty after Liam Lindsay's raised boot appeared to catch the Wales international, but Swansea's appeals fell on deaf ears.

The Welsh side's frustration deepened after they began the second half with purpose only to be undone when Harrison Armstrong cleared upfield and the retreating Josh Key could not deal with a bouncing ball.

Osmajic took advantage, overpowering Key before rattling home from point-blank range.

Swansea defender Cameron Burgess was denied by Iversen and Idah headed wide before substitute Eom cut in from the left to score his first club goal of the season.

But for all their attacking impetus, Swansea lacked the clinical edge required to avoid defeat, with Preston denied a third goal when Lawrence Vigouroux made a fine save from Osmajic in added time.

This was a meeting of two of the Championship's meaner defences, with Swansea coming into the game having conceded fewer goals on the road than any other side in the division so far this season.

But they were very quickly undone by Small's moment of extraordinary quality.

The summer signing from Chalton Athletic now has three goals in Preston colours, meaning this is already the most prolific season of his young career.

Having won his first England Under-21 cap last month, the 21-year-old is enjoying life right now.

There was more welcome news for Preston as Osmajic scored for the first time since August, but this was a frustrating night for Swansea.

As at Charlton last weekend, Sheehan will feel his team deserved more than they got – but they must find more potency in the final third if they are to move up the table.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom:

"I have got a headache, my voice has gone, I think I had a mini-heart attack second half. It was hard work.

"I am probably over the moon with it for all the wrong reasons. As good as we were Saturday and rightly got all the plaudits, we have won a game today where we weren't at our best.

"We have had to be really resilient and really dig deep.

"I felt like Thierry's goal, because of the nature of it and the timing of it, we lost all the impetus. It was almost like then you are defending and we couldn't raise our quality with the ball.

"We went 2-0 up and I am disappointed with how we concede. But I do back us in those positions, I think we can manage it well."

Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan:

"They score a worldie from 30 yards right into the top corner. You give yourself a little mountain to climb and we responded very well.

"We have limited them to nearly nothing for the rest of the first half but we couldn't put the ball in the net. We start the second half, we are in their half and one long ball, we let it bounce and it's 2-0.

"We had opportunities in the second half again. We got the one goal but couldn't get the other one.

"It's disappointing. You come here and have 18 shots and command a lot of the game, which doesn't really happen, but they'll be delighted with their win and we need to find a way of closing those margins."