Joe Rafferty felt it was always going to take “something special” to win this afternoon’s game, and that proved true with Swansea City’s Ryan Manning earning his side the points with a wonder strike.
The game was at a deadlock and looked to be relatively even in South Wales, before the home side’s left-sided centre half struck home from 30 yards just six minutes into the second half.
North End made changes to shape and personnel in the game’s latter stages to push for an equaliser, but ultimately it wasn’t to arrive.
Speaking to iFollow PNE, Joe said: “I thought it was a tight game overall; both teams battled hard.
“Obviously it’s a very good goal from their point of view which was disappointing, so I think our lads in there are all gutted.
“I think it was always going to be decided on something like that. I think both teams were getting forward, not a lot of clearcut chances in the game.
“It was quite tight, but I think it was always going to take something special to win it, and obviously today it fell to them.”
Joe started at left wing back in what was his first Championship start of the season, following his midweek appearance off the bench.
Having initially been left out of the 25-man squad at the beginning of the campaign and not seeing too much action, he’s been pleased to be back involved, but he leaves Swansea this evening with the ultimate feeling of disappointment for himself and his team-mates.
On his performance, he said: “I thought I did alright considering I haven’t played all season. I just tried to fit in as well as I can, do my best, work as hard as I can for the team, win my headers, win my tackles and do all the basics right.
“I think I did that but at the end of the day we didn’t win and that’s the most frustrating thing for me.
“To be honest I’ve worked as hard as I possibly can from day one of pre-season. I’ve trained hard – I don’t think anyone can say that I haven’t – I’ve worked as hard as I possibly can.
“It’s been quite tough not playing, but I’ve just kept my head down and kept going and going and going.
“Obviously now it’s paid off that I’ve played but I need to win to stay in the team basically because it’s up for grabs again now so we’ll see what happens from here.”
Hear more from Joe in his full post-match interview on iFollow PNE.