West Brom extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 2-0 victory over Preston in the Championship, further distancing themselves from the relegation zone. Josh Maja's composed finish in the 11th minute gave the Baggies an early lead, before Daryl Dike sealed the win with a decisive strike in the 77th minute. The result marks a significant turnaround under interim boss James Morrison, who has overseen a dramatic improvement in fortunes since taking the helm.
West Brom now sit five points clear of the drop zone with three games remaining, although the threat of a potential points deduction still looms. The visitors dominated the early exchanges, with George Campbell's header blocked in a crowded penalty area, before Maja emphatically slammed the ball past Daniel Iversen to break the deadlock.
Preston's woes were compounded when Ben Whiteman was forced off with an injury, and they struggled to create meaningful chances despite the introduction of Thierry Small at half-time. The home side's best opportunity came when Max O'Leary juggled Daniel Jebbison's close-range effort to safety, while Brad Potts' goalbound header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar. Maja could have added a second, but fired straight at Iversen, before Dike smashed past the goalkeeper from six yards to secure the win. Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom was left to lament a 'really disappointing' performance, while West Brom's James Morrison hailed a 'top performance' from his side, praising the clinical finishing of Maja and Dike.