Memory Match: Preston North End's victory over Swansea 11 years ago at Deepdale

On September 12, 2009, goals from Neil Mellor and Stephen Elliott gave them a 2-0 victory.

Swansea got away with it on the day – in the fact their defeat could have been far heavier.

Had it not been for a fine display from keeper Dorus De Vries, they could have left Lancashire having conceded five or six goals.

Although De Vries was beaten by Mellor and Elliott, he kept Paul Parry, Eddie Nolan, Billy Jones and Veliče Šumulikoski at bay.

Victory stretched North End’s unbeaten start to the season to an eighth game.

The post-match talk was not so much about the win but of the future of PNE defender Sean St Ledger. Middlesbrough were circling with a bid to take him on a 93-day emergency loan with a view to a £4.5m permanent transfer.

After the final whistle, St Ledger applauded all four sides of Deepdale as he headed for the tunnel.

Sure enough, the loan switch to Boro went through a few days later.

However, St Ledger was back by December, the loan on Teesside not having worked out – the full-time switch abandoned.

Back to the action on the pitch and North End bossed long spells of the game.

There were a couple of sights of goal for the visitors but goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan was equal to them.

Going the other way, PNE looked a threat every time they went forward and were deserved winners.

Despite that dominance, it was Swansea who had the game’s first clear chance.

Richard Chaplow’s error in midfield allowed Mark Gower to run through on goal but Lonergan – skipper for the day – stuck out a foot to save his shot.

North End took the lead in the 27th minute.

Nolan lifted a free-kick into the box which was partly cleared.

Chris Brown hooked it back over the Swansea backline, Mellor stealing in on the blindside to meet it six yards out and angle a header past De Vries.

St Ledger was inches off getting his head to a free-kick from Chaplow, then former Cardiff man Parry forced a good save from the keeper.

In the second half North End kept up their pressure and De Vries was a busy man.

He saved well from Nolan but his best moment saw him save at point-blank range from a Jones header after Chris Sedgwick’s cross had found the full-back.

Lonergan’s one piece of action in the second half saw him save from Craig Beattie.

The supply line to Beattie was cut off in the main by North End’s midfield and defence – Nolan in particular doing a fine job nullifying the threat of Nathan Dyer.

PNE made sure of victory in the 89th minute.

Šumulikoski’s pass sent Sedgwick away down the right wing, the winger pulling the ball back from the byline for substitute Elliott to slide in and score at the near post.

Elliott nearly scored again in stoppage-time but De Vries palmed his shot behind.

The keeper then denied Šumulikoski as PNE went in search of a third goal.

PRESTON: Lonergan, Jones, St Ledger, Chilvers, Nolan, Parry (Šumulikoski 68), Chaplow, Carter, Wallace (Sedgwick 62), Mellor (Elliott 81), Brown. Subs (not used): Collins, Hart, Parkin, Henderson.