West Brom Moves Away from Relegation Zone with 2-0 Victory over Preston

West Brom extended their unbeaten streak to eight games, moving further away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Preston in the Championship at Deepdale. Josh Maja's composed finish in the 11th minute put the Baggies ahead, and Daryl Dike sealed the victory with a decisive goal in the 77th minute. The win marks a significant turnaround for West Brom under interim boss James Morrison, who has led the team to an impressive run after a defeat to Oxford in his first game. In contrast, former manager Eric Ramsay's tenure was marked by a winless streak in eight Championship matches. The Baggies now sit five points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining, despite the looming threat of a points deduction. The match saw West Brom create several scoring opportunities, with George Campbell's early header blocked in a crowded penalty area. Maja's goal came after Aune Heggebo miscontrolled Isaac Price's pass, allowing Maja to slam the ball past Daniel Iversen. Preston's Ben Whiteman suffered an injury while attempting to tackle Price, leading to an early substitution. The visitors dominated the match, 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 from a good position. The introduction of Thierry Small at halftime failed to spark a reaction from Preston, and West Brom continued to control the game. Max O'Leary made an unorthodox 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 from the center of the box. Dike's introduction proved decisive, as he smashed past Iversen from six yards to seal the win. Preston's Paul Heckingbottom expressed disappointment with his team's performance, citing a lack of competitiveness 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.