Cotterill inspires super Swans

David Cotterill scored one goal and created another as Swansea defeated Preston 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium to keep their bid for a Coca-Cola Championship play-off place on track. The Swans' club record signing curled home a fine first-half free-kick and crossed for Ashley Williams to head home a second goal after the break in a one-side encounter. Paulo Sousa's side dominated from start to finish and Cotterill also hit a post late on but the two goals proved to be enough and Swansea remain fifth in the table, level on points with rivals Cardiff. The Welsh side are now unbeaten in seven and have kept 10 clean sheets in their 15 home games in the Championship this season. Swansea dominated early on and went in front 10 minutes before the break when Cotterill curled a precise free-kick into the top-left corner after he had been upended by Youl Mawene. Sousa's side doubled their lead three minutes into the second half when centre-half Williams rose highest to head home Cotterill's cross from the left from six yards out Preston substitute Jon Parkin had the ball in the back of the net with just over 20 minutes remaining but the linesman's flag had already been raised.

Source: PA