West Brom secured their eighth consecutive match without a loss by defeating Preston 2-0 in the Championship at Deepdale, further distancing themselves from the relegation zone. Josh Maja showcased his composure by scoring the opening goal in the 11th minute, while Daryl Dike sealed the win with a decisive finish in the 77th minute after coming off the bench. This victory marks a significant improvement under interim boss James Morrison, whose tenure began with a defeat to Oxford but has since seen the team go undefeated. In contrast, former manager Eric Ramsay failed to secure a win in 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 match saw Albion nearly take an early lead when George Campbell's header was blocked in a crowded penalty area.
However, they soon took the lead when Maja scored after Aune Heggebo miscontrolled Isaac Price's pass, allowing Maja to slam the ball past Daniel Iversen. Preston's woes were compounded when Ben Whiteman injured himself while attempting to tackle Price, leading to Jordan Thompson's early substitution. West Brom looked livelier, with Iversen making a notable save in the 25th minute to block Price's goal-bound cross. Preston's first significant chance came when Alfie Devine glanced Andrew Hughes' cross wide from a good position.
At halftime, Paul Heckingbottom introduced Thierry Small for Andrew Moran in an attempt to spark a reaction from his players. The second half saw Preston start brightly, with Max O'Leary juggling Daniel Jebbison's close-range effort to safety. Brad Potts' goalbound header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar, but West Brom soon regained control.
Maja could have scored his second goal when he met Callum Styles' low delivery, but fired straight at Iversen. Shortly after, Dike smashed past Iversen from six yards, finishing Jayson Molumby's cut-back.
Hughes ballooned over from close range in stoppage time, and Lewis Dobbin headed wide Small's excellent cross, but West Brom held on for a crucial win. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed disappointment with the performance, stating it was one of the worst of the season.
He acknowledged West Brom's quality but expected his team to compete. 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.
He also commended Josh Maja's finish and Daryl Dike's performance, noting that Dike's hard work has finally paid off.