West Brom continued their unbeaten run, now eight matches in a row, by defeating Preston North End 2-0 at Deepdale and pulling further away from the relegation battle in the Championship. The win was highlighted by an early strike from Josh Maja, who showed remarkable poise to put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, and a later, decisive finish from substitute Daryl Dike in the 77th minute that sealed the three points. Interim manager James Morrison has overseen a dramatic turnaround since his first match, a loss to Oxford United. Since then the Baggies have not tasted defeat, a stark contrast to the tenure of former boss Eric Ramsay, who failed to win any of his eight league games in charge.
Morrison’s resurgence has lifted West Brom five points clear of the danger zone with three games remaining, although the club still faces the spectre of a possible points deduction that could threaten their position. The match opened with Albion nearly taking the lead when George Campbell rose to meet Callum Styles’ fourth‑minute corner, only to have his header blocked amid a crowded penalty area.
The breakthrough finally came when Maja, displaying confidence and composure, struck the ball past Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen after Aune Heggebo mis‑controlled a sharp pass from Isaac Price inside the box. The goal was a result of a series of small mistakes by Preston, including a mis‑timed pass that left Heggebo vulnerable and a defensive lapse that allowed Maja to find space. Preston’s misfortune continued when defender Ben Whiteman suffered an injury while attempting a tackle on Price in the build‑up to the goal. Whiteman’s forced exit required an early substitution, with Jordan Thompson coming on to replace the injured player.
The injury not only disrupted Preston’s defensive shape but also highlighted the physical intensity of the contest. The Sky Sports app and NOW streaming service offered live coverage of the fixture, underscoring the high interest in the match for both clubs’ supporters. For the visitors, the match carried significant weight. West Brom appeared the more energetic side, with Iversen making a notable intervention in the 25th minute, using his body to block a dangerous cross from Price that was heading towards goal.
Preston’s first meaningful chance arrived around the half‑hour mark when Alfie Devine glanced at an inviting cross from Andrew Hughes, but the ball sailed wide, leaving the North End side frustrated. Preston’s half‑time performance was described as lethargic, perhaps reflecting the lack of stakes beyond pride. To spark a response, Paul Heckingbottom introduced Thierry Small for Andrew Moran, hoping the fresh legs would inject urgency.
The change produced a brief resurgence after the break, with Max O'Leary making an unconventional save, juggling Daniel Jebbison’s close‑range effort to keep the ball out of the net amid a congested penalty area. In the 56th minute, Brad Potts headed a goal‑bound ball that forced O'Leary to adjust his position, ultimately tipping the ball over the bar as the wing‑back attempted to meet Hughes’ cross to the back post. Shortly thereafter, Maja had a chance to double West Brom’s lead, meeting a low delivery from Styles but blasting the ball straight at Iversen from the centre of the box, missing an easy opportunity.
The decisive moment arrived when Daryl Dike, who had been on the pitch for only seven minutes, found himself on the end of a precise cut‑back from Jayson Molumby. Dike calmly slotted the ball past Iversen from six yards out, delivering the final blow to Preston’s hopes. In stoppage time, Preston’s Hughes rose high from close range, only to see his effort cleared, while Lewis Dobbin headed Small’s excellent cross wide, missing a chance that looked straightforward. West Brom held firm, securing a priceless three points.
After the match, Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed his disappointment: "Really disappointing today. One of the worst performances of the season. If you get outfought like that in the first half, that cannot happen. You can get beat but not like that.
I'm not taking anything away from West Brom. They've got good players, a good squad and we had no right to beat them but I expected us to turn up and compete. One of the two disappointments was the fact we were outfought in the first half and the fact that everything we prepared for, we didn't execute.
Sometimes, if you can't give the players a solution then you're culpable but we knew what we were going to face and for some reason we didn't do well." James Morrison, reflecting on his side’s performance, said: "I thought it was a top performance. The goals came at the right times in the end. The first one was when we started really well. We got our rewards with a good bit of play and a great finish and then we controlled the game really well without being overstretched.
When we had to defend the box, we defended it really well. I always feel confident with Josh that if he gets a chance, he will score, and Daryl's performances have been really good. He's just been unlucky at times with chances that he's had but that tops his hard work so I'm delighted with him because he's an important part of the group." The victory not only adds three points to West Brom's tally but also provides a morale boost as the club navigates the looming disciplinary issue that could affect their points total.
With the season entering its final stretch, the Baggies will look to maintain momentum, while Preston must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further into the relegation zone. The match also featured a promotional element: a £250,000 prize pool was available through the Super 6 competition, free to enter, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday.