West Brom Secure Crucial Win Over Preston to Boost Survival Hopes

West Brom secured a vital 2-0 win over Preston at Deepdale, moving further away from the relegation zone in the Championship. Josh Maja's composed finish in the 11th minute gave the Baggies the lead, before Daryl Dike sealed the victory with a decisive strike in the 77th minute. The win marks eight games without defeat for West Brom under interim boss James Morrison, a stark contrast to the reign of former manager Eric Ramsay. The Baggies are now five points clear of danger with three games remaining, although a potential points deduction still looms. The visitors started brightly, with George Campbell's early header blocked in a crowded penalty area. Maja then capitalized on Aune Heggebo's miscontrol to slam the ball past Daniel Iversen. Preston's woes deepened as Ben Whiteman injured himself attempting to tackle Isaac Price, and Jordan Thompson was introduced as an early substitute. The hosts' first chance of note came when Alfie Devine glanced Andrew Hughes' cross wide, but West Brom looked the livelier team. After the interval, Max O'Leary juggled Daniel Jebbison's close-range effort to safety, and Brad Potts' goalbound header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar. Maja could have had his second, but fired straight at Iversen, before Dike smashed past the goalkeeper from six yards. Preston's Paul Heckingbottom expressed his disappointment at the performance, stating it was one of the worst of the season. West Brom's James Morrison praised his team's performance, highlighting the importance of the goals and the team's defensive solidity.