Thierry Small scores an absolute screamer, Swansea slip up with a 2-1 defeat at Preston, with Alan Sheehan now under pressure.
The result sees Preston move up to fourth in the Championship, securing their third straight victory, with Thierry Small opened the scoring with a spectacular 30-yard strike into the top corner early on.
Then Milutin Osmajic doubled the lead minutes into the second half, then Swansea pulled one back through Eom Jisung’s edge-of-the-box effort with 10 minutes left on the clock but couldn’t find that equaliser despite earlier chances for Adam Idah and Liam Cullen.
Preston, under Paul Heckingbottom, are now just two points off the automatic promotion spots after 14 games, while Swansea sit 17th after their third loss in six outings—six points from the playoffs and eight above the relegation zone.
Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan, per BBC Sport:
“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.”
Ben Cabango said: “It feels like we’re dominating games but we’re not getting results, we’re not scoring enough goals and we’re conceding too many. We know we have to make sure we get more out of these games,” he said.
“We want to thank the travelling fans because Preston is a long way and they have come in their numbers and supported us, but we should have given them a good result to take home.
“I feel like the effort was there in the performance but we’ve just got to grow up as a team and start getting the results.
“We have another quick turnaround. I think it’s an important one on Saturday against a good team in Ipswich. We want to put things right and hopefully get a good result.”
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom, per BBC Sport:
“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.”
Heckingbottom on the Small screamer:
“[It was] a great strike. He can hit a clean strike but, yeah, it’s a fantastic goal.
“We still think he’s got big qualities that can make a big impact in this league. Goals like that aren’t necessarily what we want from him we want from him but the last two he scored where he’s in at the back post, that’s what we want more [of].
“We think he can add even more goals to his game. Goals like that are the icing on the cake.”
“We’ve won a game today where we weren’t at our best”#pnefc boss Paul Heckingbottom is pleased his side found a way to beat Swansea#bbcfootballhttps://t.co/cMKqpUOX6m pic.twitter.com/ZfNLAstsnW
— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) November 5, 2025
🗣️ “His role is different here.”#pnefc boss Paul Heckingbottom talks to me about Thierry Small’s qualities after his superb strike tonight. pic.twitter.com/Hnddjj5t9E
— Ross Chapman (@RChapmanSport) November 5, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted as Small scores absolute screamer, Swansea slip up at Preston, and Sheehan now under pressure…
@ReesWillzSCFC: I’m sorry But I have defended Sheehan for weeks and weeks but tonight is the first night I want him out, We are not enjoyable to watch, there’s no tempo, urgency, Passion, nothing, #Sheehanout
@CB291207: Backed him for a while now genuinely but I think lack of experience as a first team manger has maybe caught up with him now and league is just pulling further away from us. Think we gotta go in a different direction and look at someone with the experience to perhaps take is up.
@scfcharvey: I am so glad that’s the last Sheehan game. Now appoint a manager that plays quick, attacking football ON THE FLOOR.
@JosshJones: I’ve said fuck all until now. His time is up! SHEEHAN OUT!! We need a massive shake up and someone to come in that brings the best out of this squad!
@gareththomas05: Another season written off and edging closer and closer to a relegation battle. Do the right thing and make the change- it’s not working!
@perilousbanana: I’ve been patient; but it’s time for the corner flag. Genuinely dreadful. Please, employ a coach who encourages shooting.
@ioanpress04: Surely sheehans last game in charge that 🫠
@callumcooper18: What should be the most exciting season in our recent history has been turned into a uninspiring slog, this squad deserves so much more
@WillHughes_11: What on earth are the higher ups seeing that we are not. Only look to try and score after we concede. Even then there never anything clear cut created. We are directionless & with any sort of style or identity. He needs to go. If he’s still here by Dec then we’re not serious.
@TheTodd38: Ive tolerated it for too long already, its time to go i think
@scmw12: Another season wasted as a lower-mid table nothing club. Easiest Championship in years
@kevdickie: ‘Sheehan out’ Come on Swansea City board time to get a manager in who can get more from this good squad of players we have. They’re badly under performing due to Sheehans game plan/tactics. Time to invite Michael Carrick to come in to turn things around. COYS
@IeuanLloyd12: SACK HIM. No solid lineup, no solid formation, near £20mil spent. Embarrassing
@hjj2907: Was really excited for this season and now I’m starting to fall back to how I’ve felt over previous years, just becoming disinterested in the club again and I hate it
@swanspassion: Don’t think I can stomach another game with him in the dugout GET HIM GONE
@liamjenkins2902: Get him gone now. These owners have been amazing so far but this is where they earn their stripes. ABYSMAL AGAIN
@scottbevan123: What BS is he going to spout again tonight, we can’t create a chance. Get to their box and don’t know what to do. End up taking shots from nothing. Strikers are always isolated, it’s boring
Do it now. pic.twitter.com/jZjPu79odK
— Dan 🏴 (@DI93_) November 5, 2025
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