West Brom Extends Unbeaten Streak with 2-0 Victory Over Preston

West Bromwich Albion secured a crucial 2-0 win against Preston North End in the Championship, extending their unbeaten run to eight games and moving further away from the relegation zone. The victory was sealed with goals from Josh Maja and Daryl Dike, with Maja displaying great composure to score the opener in the 11th minute. Dike, who came off the bench, delivered the final blow with a decisive finish in the 77th minute. This win leaves West Brom five points clear of the danger zone with three games remaining, despite the looming threat of a potential points deduction. The match saw West Brom dominate from the start, with George Campbell's early header blocked in a crowded penalty area. However, they took the lead when Maja slammed the ball past Daniel Iversen after Aune Heggebo miscontrolled Isaac Price's pass. Preston's woes deepened as Ben Whiteman injured himself attempting to tackle Price, leading to an early substitution. The visitors looked livelier, with Iversen making a crucial save to deny Price's goal-bound cross in the 25th minute. Preston's first notable chance came when Alfie Devine glanced Andrew Hughes' cross wide. The introduction of Thierry Small at halftime failed to spark a reaction from Preston, and West Brom continued to dominate. Max O'Leary made an unorthodox save to deny Daniel Jebbison's close-range effort, while Brad Potts' header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar. Maja could have scored his second but fired straight at Iversen. However, Dike's introduction proved pivotal, as he smashed past Iversen from six yards to seal the win. Preston's Paul Heckingbottom expressed disappointment with the performance, stating it was one of the worst of the season. West Brom's interim boss 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.