West Brom Secures Crucial Win Over Preston to Move Away from Relegation Zone

West Bromwich Albion extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 2-0 victory over Preston North End in the Championship at Deepdale, bolstering their chances of avoiding relegation. Josh Maja opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 11th minute, and Daryl Dike sealed the win with a decisive strike in the 77th minute. The victory marks a significant turnaround under interim manager James Morrison, who has led the team to an impressive streak after a rocky start. West Brom now sits five points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining, although the threat of a potential points deduction still looms. The match saw West Brom dominate from the start, with George Campbell coming close to scoring in the fourth minute. Maja's goal was set up by a miscontrolled pass from Aune Heggebo, which found its way to the striker. Preston's woes were compounded by an injury to Ben Whiteman, who was forced off the field. The visitors looked more lively, with Daniel Iversen making a crucial save to deny Isaac Price's goal-bound cross in the 25th minute. Preston's first notable chance came in the 30th minute, but Alfie Devine glanced Andrew Hughes' cross wide. The introduction of Thierry Small at halftime failed to spark a reaction from the home team, and West Brom continued to control the game. Max O'Leary made a crucial save to deny Daniel Jebbison's close-range effort, and Brad Potts' header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar. Maja could have scored his second goal but fired straight at Iversen, and shortly after, Dike sealed the win with a powerful finish. Preston's Paul Heckingbottom expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, stating that they were 'outfought' in the first half. West Brom's James Morrison praised his team's performance, highlighting the importance of the goals and the team's ability to control the game without being overstretched.