West Bromwich Albion secured a crucial 2-0 win over Preston North End in the Championship, extending their unbeaten run to eight games. Josh Maja opened the scoring in the 11th minute, showcasing his composure in front of goal. Daryl Dike sealed the victory with a decisive finish in the 77th minute, coming off the bench to make a significant impact. This win moves West Brom five points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining.
Interim manager James Morrison's side has turned their fortunes around since his appointment, in contrast to the previous manager Eric Ramsay's tenure. Albion dominated the early stages, with George Campbell's header blocked in a crowded penalty area. Maja's goal was preceded by a series of events, including Aune Heggebo's miscontrol of Isaac Price's pass, which ultimately led to the striker finding the back of the net. Preston's woes were compounded by Ben Whiteman's injury, which forced Jordan Thompson to come on as an early substitute.
The visitors looked livelier, with Daniel Iversen making a crucial save to deny Price's goal-bound cross. Preston's first notable chance came when Alfie Devine glanced Andrew Hughes' cross wide. The introduction of Thierry Small at halftime failed to spark a reaction from the home team.
West Brom continued to dominate, with Max O'Leary making an unorthodox save to deny Daniel Jebbison's close-range effort. Brad Potts' header forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar, but Maja could have doubled his tally shortly after.
However, it was Dike who scored the second goal, smashing past Iversen from six yards. Preston's Paul Heckingbottom expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, stating it was one of the worst of the season.
In contrast, West Brom's James Morrison praised his team's top performance, highlighting the importance of the goals and the team's ability to defend when needed.