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Rhian Brewster has scored twice in four games since joining Swansea on loan from Liverpool in January

Scott Sinclair scored against his old club but on-loan Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster replied as play-off hopefuls Preston and Swansea City drew 1-1 at Deepdale.

Former Swansea winger Sinclair registered a first goal since he joined Preston from Celtic in January to give Alex Neil's team a first-half lead.

But Swansea made it one defeat in six Championship games courtesy of Brewster's second goal in four appearances since he joined on loan for the rest of the season.

The draw leaves both sides just outside the play-off places, with Preston seventh and Steve Cooper's Swans a point worse off in eighth.

Midfielder George Byers' volley forced Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd into an early save, and Swansea threatened again when Andre Ayew headed Matt Grimes' corner just wide of the target.

But Preston went in front on 28 minutes thanks to the sort of Sinclair goal which once made him a fans' favourite at the Liberty Stadium.

Sinclair, scorer of a play-off final hat-trick when Swansea were promoted to the Premier League in 2011, drove forward and then cut in from the right flank before curling a shot beyond Swansea goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

But Swansea were level just five minutes later when good work from Conor Gallagher created an opportunity for Ayew.

Preston appeals for offside fell on deaf ears as Ayew's shot was blocked by Rudd and Brewster was on hand to score from close range.

Gallagher then fired over for Swansea before Bersant Celina was denied either side of half-time.

Ayew saw a shot blocked by Joe Rafferty before Daniel Johnson and Alan Browne were both snuffed out at the other end.

There were smiles all round in the closing stages when, after referee Geoff Eltringham dropped his cards, Brewster picked up the yellow and brandished it in the official's direction.

It was Preston who came closest to finding a late winner when Patrick Bauer's header was pushed over by Woodman.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We showed one bit of quality in the first half and it was Scott Sinclair, for the goal. Other than that, I didn't think we competed enough at the top end or in the middle.

"We gave a real sloppy ball away in the bottom left-hand corner and that leads to their goal. When the game's scrappy, you want to make sure you do things well, stay in the game and keep your lead. It's a really poor goal for us to concede.

"At half-time we had a good chat. We needed to be braver and earn the right to play. I thought we did all of that in the second half, I thought we were very good. Everything about us was just better."

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper told BBC Sport Wales:

"We always want to win but respect to Preston - they have a good home record and the most goals scored.

"Then we go 1-0 down completely against the run of play. You have to stand up and be counted.

"Young players can easily get affected by that but we bounced back quickly.

"We need to focus on the positives and there were a lot of those today."