[themaclad]

Attendance: 15,911 (399 Swansea City fans).

Referee: Anthony Backhouse.

A tired looking team tonight as we eeked out a win against a Swansea side who made us work very hard for the three points, probably one of the best pass and move teams we will probably play this season, although maybe overpassed it especially around our area.

Last home game before Remembrance Sunday, the minutes silence before kick off was given added poignancy with fireworks going off at the same time.
The next firework lit was a 30 yard rocket by Thierry Small, poor clearance, Small timed it to perfection, Vigouroux no chance, remainder of the half basically all Swansea, bailed out a couple of times by Iverson, Galbraith in midfield worked his socks, good player this lad, debutant Widell looked more than useful.
Did well to get to the break in the lead, and doubled the advantage almost straight after the break after a Swansea free kick broke down, Osmajic up against a slightly lighter Key easily won the tussle and slotted the ball passed the advancing keeper.
On top for a short period before Swansea regained control, they made their five substitutes all forwards, defended in depth although cannot remember any efforts thaat went close until Eom curled one in from the edge of the box, decent finished, game on, although Osmajic should have added a third at death in a one on one with the keeper. Hung on for the points but we did look out on our feet, not the greatest performance take the points up to fourth.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom described the win over Swansea City as “massive”, given he felt his side weren’t at their best.

Preston North End came out 2-1 winners over the Swans thanks to an outrageous long-range strike from Thierry Small and Milutin Osmajić’s fourth goal of the season.

It was Jisung Eom who pulled one back ten minutes from time for the visitors, but PNE held out for a third successive victory to take them up to fourth in the Championship.

Hecky said: “It's a massive win for us because as well as we played on Saturday, and rightly so we got a load of plaudits, we've had to win a game in a totally different way today.

“From the start, we didn't pass the ball well enough and we couldn't get out of that, so it took a lot of guts, determination and a will to win there. The most pleasing thing is we've been speaking a lot, certainly last season, about winning games when we're not at our best and we certainly weren't today.

“We had to dig deep. We showed a great amount of resilience and defended the box well. Being in front, you're always going to defend first and try and counter without a doubt. That's the pattern of play but because we weren't good enough with the ball today that became the pattern of the game. We've certainly earned our money today.”


It'll take an incredible strike to beat Small’s effort in the Goal of the Season competition, while Osmajić’s goal in the second half saw the striker use all his greatest strengths to score: pace, power and his ability to finish.

Hecky said: “I’m really pleased for him and his goal today. It would have been lovely if he'd have got the third and we could have all relaxed the last minute. I’m really, really pleased for him.

“He missed a long spell for different reasons and then we've got him back training the last couple of weeks and that's what he needs. He needs that consistency of training and work, because we all know what he's capable of. He showed his pace and power today and then a good finish.”

CALL ME AL

Head coach Alan Sheehan admitted his Swansea City side need to find a ruthless edge in both boxes to make sure they make the most of the positive positions they get into, following a 2-1 defeat at Preston North End.

An outstanding early goal from Thierry Small gave North End the lead, and Milutin Osmajic doubled their lead five minutes into the second half from a hopeful punt downfield.

Adam Idah, Liam Cullen and Cameron Burgess all had chances for the Swans, who also saw two strong penalty shouts waved away, before Jisung Eom’s excellent strike halved the deficit with 10 minutes to go.

But the visitors could not salvage a point, and Sheehan acknowledged there were similar frustrations to the weekend draw at Charlton where his side have failed to make the most of prolonged periods of control and positive play.

“It is very disappointing, it has a lot of similarities to the Charlton game,” he said.

“On another day you feel the outcome could have been different.

“We did not start the game particularly well, they score a worldie and we are on the back foot and have to react.

“Then it’s one long ball early in the second half that we don’t deal with and we find ourselves 2-0 down.

“You cannot afford to do that in the Championship, you cannot shoot yourself in the foot.

“But in terms of creating chances, enough to win the game, I think we have. We know that is different from taking them and winning the game and that’s the disappointing thing.

“We wanted to send the fans home happy, but we have had two games in a row now where we had chances to win. We just need to find that clinical edge because we are leaving some points behind us.”