Preston North End suffered a 2-0 defeat to Swansea following a disappointing performance at The Liberty Stadium.

Darren Ferguson's side never really got started against the Welsh club and will have few complaints on the long journey home back to the north west.

A David Cotterill free-kick on 38 minutes and an Ashley Williams glancing header on 48 minutes were difference between the two sides on what was a frustrating afternoon for everyone connected with the Deepdale outfit.

North End made three changes to the team which had been beaten 4-1 by Barnsley in midweek. Mawene returned in the centre of defence, whilst Keith Treacy and Paul Coutts were handed their full debuts in the middle of the park as Darren Ferguson shaped up with a 4-3-3 formation.

Swansea started with Nathan Dyer on the right flank, the former Southampton man had tormented Preston in last seaon's visit to the Liberty Stadium and he showed his intentions early on when he got beyond Eddie Nolan in the opening moments of the game to earn a corner for the home team.

The first real chance of the afternoon also came from the right flank when Darren Pratley was played in and he whipped in a great ball to the near post where Gorka Pintado beat Michael Hart to get a glancing header which flashed across Lonergan's goal.

All the danger was coming down the Swansea right and Dyer again proved to be a menace in the 25th minute when he drilled a low cross towards the near post and Pintado back-heeled an effort which hit Andy Lonergan's body before being smashed away to safety by Michael Hart.

Whilst Dyer was doing his business on the right, another of North End's former tormentors, David Cotterill was enjoying himself on the left flank. The former Sheffield United man gave an early warning of what was to come in the 29th minute when he whipped a free-kick just a yard or so over the crossbar.

Two minutes later and Dyer again caused all sorts of problems in the Preston defence. He ran onto a Pratley ball and collided with St. Ledger and Lonergan, the crowd screamed for a penalty but the referee waved the pleas away. Andy Lonergan came off the worse in the collision and needed lengthy treatment on a facial injury.

The Swans grabbed their first goal of the game on 38 minutes. Cotterill's surging run was halted right on the edge of the box by Youl Mawene and the Welsh international dusted himself down to curl a fine free-kick over the wall and beyond Lonergan into the back of the net.

That goal gave Swansea plenty of impetus and they had another penalty claim before the break and Mawene pulled of a last ditch challenge on Pratley to deny Sousa's men going into the dressing rooms with an even bigger advantage.

North End changed their shape to a more orthadox 4-4-2 as the game approached half-time and they retained that formation in the opening moments of the second half. But that change didn't stop Dyer steaming clear of the PNE defence before sliding a low shot beyond Lonergan and just beyond the far post.

One minute later and the ball did find the target as Swansea went 2-0 up. Cotterill's free-kick on the left was met by Ashley Williams at the near post and his header glanced across goal and into the net beyond Lonergan.

Lonergan was in action again in the 73rd minute of the game, local youngster Joe Allen justifying his man of the match award with a low swirling shot which Lonergan was forced to turn away from danger.

There was no doubt that Lonergan was the busier of the two keepers and with just ten minutes left on the clock he showed why he is regarded as one of the best in the Championship with a flying save to tip a Cotterill drive onto the post.

That save proved to be the last goalmouth action of a match which grew increasingly tetchy as the game went on. Preston's players getting more and more frustrated as the game headed for full-time.

Not many positives to take from the game but Ferguson will have been happy to see his two deadline day signings get their full debuts, Coutts in particular looked the part with some positive football.

Preston will be glad that they have got an early opportunity on Tuesday night to put their Welsh woes behind them when they square up to Kevin Blackwell's Sheffield United.