Burnley 1 Stoke City 2
The teenager grabbed a goal in each half to clinch victory in a game City had to win to keep alive their title hopes.
It was a narrow but overall deserved win over bottom-of-the-table Burnley.
Jermaine Palmer and Gareth Owen both went close in the opening 15 minutes but the home side almost went ahead after 24 minutes when Tom Ince's effort was hooked off the line by Richard Keogh.
City made the most of that escape to take the lead after half an hour. Good approach play by Paul Tortoiseshell and Jermaine Palmer released Paterson and he confidently beat home 'keeper Michael Hale.
Robert Duggan prevented a Clarets equaliser just before the break with a fine save from the ever-dangerous Ince.
City dominated the start of the second-half and Palmer went through only to be denied by Hale's brave save at his feet.
Jay Denny fired just wide and Tortoiseshell had an effort saved with the home side pushed firmly back.
The deserved second goal arrived with twenty minutes remaining and it was Paterson again, finishing superbly with a low shot after taking on the Clarets defence.
The goal brought Burnley to life and they launched a late onslaught.
Duggan's fine reflexes kept out Neil Trotman's close range header from a corner after 77 minutes, but six minutes later Mark Pugh volleyed home after a cross was only partially cleared.
Lewis Neal came through 90 minutes after his recent injury lay-off and was almost rewarded at the finish, but his effort was touched on to a post by Hale.
City: Duggan, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Williams, Keogh, Owen, Tortoiseshell, Neal, Denny, Palmer, Paterson. Subs (not used): Graves, Smith, Swift, Musgrove, Hughes, Cartwright.
