West Bromwich Albion extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a confident 2-0 win over Preston North End at Deepdale, further distancing themselves from the relegation battle in the Championship. The Baggies took the lead early when Josh Maja displayed calm composure in the 11th minute, striking the ball cleanly past goalkeeper Daniel Iversen. The second goal arrived in the 77th minute when substitute Daryl Dike finished a precise cut‑back from Jayson Molumby, sealing the win and cementing West Brom's recent resurgence. The interim manager, James Morrison, has overseen a dramatic turnaround since his first game, a loss to Oxford United.
Under his guidance the team has not tasted defeat, a stark contrast to former manager Eric Ramsay, who failed to secure a single victory in his eight Championship outings. This newfound stability has propelled West Brom five points clear of the danger zone with three games remaining, although a looming points‑deduction threat still hangs over the club. The match began with Albion nearly taking an early lead when George Campbell rose to meet Callum Styles' corner in the fourth minute, only to see his header blocked amid a crowded penalty area. The breakthrough finally came when Maja, after a mis‑controlled pass by Isaac Price that allowed Aune Heggebo to find his strike partner, calmly slotted the ball beyond Iversen.
Preston’s defensive frailties were exposed when Ben Whiteman suffered an injury while attempting a tackle on Price, forcing Jordan Thompson to come on early as a forced substitution. Preston, aware of the stakes, tried to match West Brom’s intensity. Their goalkeeper Iversen performed admirably in the 25th minute, smothering a dangerous cross from Price.
The visitors’ first notable chance arrived around the half‑hour mark when Alfie Devine glanced wide from an Andrew Hughes delivery, missing an opportunity to test Iversen further. The first half ended with Preston appearing lackluster, perhaps because the match held little more than pride for them. Paul Heckingbottom responded at the break by introducing Thierry Small for Andrew Moran, hoping to inject fresh energy. The second half began brightly for the visitors; Max O'Leary made an unconventional save, juggling Daniel Jebbison’s close‑range effort out of the danger zone.
Six minutes later, Brad Potts headed a cross from Hughes that forced O'Leary to tip the ball over the bar, narrowly missing a goal. Maja almost doubled his tally when he met a low delivery from Styles, only to fire straight at Iversen from the centre of the box. Preston’s brief respite vanished when Dike, having been on the pitch for just seven minutes, struck a powerful six‑yard finish past Iversen, completing the scoring and confirming West Brom’s dominance. In stoppage time, Preston attempted a late surge.
Hughes found space close to goal but his effort went over the bar. Lewis Dobbin headed Small’s excellent cross wide, missing a chance that looked relatively easy.
West Brom held on for a valuable three points, a result that could prove pivotal in their fight to avoid the drop. Post‑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 lose, but not like that. I’m not taking anything away from West Brom – they have good players and a solid squad.
We had no right to beat them, but I expected us to compete. The two main disappointments were being outfought in the first half and failing to execute our plan. Sometimes, if you can't give the players a solution then you're culpable, but we knew what we were facing and still didn't perform." Morrison, on the other hand, praised his side: "I thought it was a top performance. The goals came at the right times.
The first one came when we started really well. We got our rewards with good play and a great finish, then we controlled the game without being overstretched.
When we defended the box, we did so effectively. I always feel confident with Josh – if he gets a chance, he will score – and Daryl’s performances have been excellent. He’s had a bit of bad luck with chances, but his hard work shines through, and I’m delighted with him because he’s an important part of the group." The win not only boosts morale but also provides a cushion as the club navigates the potential points deduction that could affect their league standing.
With three matches left, every point becomes crucial, and the Baggies will look to maintain their momentum. Beyond the immediate result, the match highlighted several tactical themes. Morrison’s willingness to trust young talent like Dike paid dividends, while his substitution patterns kept the team fresh and adaptable. Preston’s reliance on set‑pieces, evident from the early corner that nearly produced a goal, underscored a need for more fluid open‑play creativity.
Both managers will likely review the defensive organization shown in the second half, where West Brom managed to absorb pressure and launch decisive counter‑attacks. As the Championship season heads toward its climax, West Brom’s eight‑game unbeaten streak positions them as a resilient side capable of challenging for a higher finish, provided they can avoid disciplinary setbacks. Meanwhile, Preston must regroup quickly, addressing both the tactical shortcomings and the psychological impact of a heavy defeat, to secure the points needed to stay clear of the relegation zone.
The match also featured a promotional element: a £250,000 Super 6 prize was advertised, with entries open until 3 pm on Saturday, offering fans an additional incentive to stay engaged with the league’s excitement.