West Brom extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a convincing 2-0 win over Preston in the Championship at Deepdale. The Baggies took the lead in the 11th minute through Josh Maja's composed finish, before Daryl Dike sealed the win with a decisive 77th-minute strike.
The victory marked a significant milestone for interim boss James Morrison, whose side has not been beaten since his appointment, following a defeat to Oxford in his first game. In contrast, former manager Eric Ramsay failed to win any of his eight Championship matches in charge. West Brom now sits five points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining, although a potential points deduction still looms.
The visitors nearly took an early lead when George Campbell's header was blocked in a crowded penalty area, but they eventually broke the deadlock through Maja's emphatic strike. Preston's woes deepened when Ben Whiteman injured himself attempting to tackle Isaac Price, leading to an early substitution. The hosts struggled to create scoring opportunities, with their first notable chance coming when Alfie Devine glanced Andrew Hughes' cross wide.
Paul Heckingbottom's introduction of Thierry Small at half-time attempted to spark a reaction from his team, but West Brom remained in control. Max O'Leary made an unorthodox save to deny Daniel Jebbison, while Brad Potts' header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar.
Maja could have doubled his tally but fired straight at Daniel Iversen, before Dike smashed past the goalkeeper to seal the win. Preston's late efforts, including Hughes' close-range miss and Lewis Dobbin's headed chance, proved futile as West Brom held on for a vital victory.
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed disappointment with his team's performance, stating it was one of the worst of the season. In contrast, West Brom's James Morrison praised his team's display, highlighting the importance of the goals and the squad's overall performance.