West Brom extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a convincing 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 composure and coolness to finish in the 11th minute, and later Daryl Dike, who entered the game as a substitute, capped the win with a decisive strike in the 77th minute. Interim manager James Morrison began his tenure with a loss to Oxford United, but the team has not tasted defeat since, a stark turnaround compared with the tenure of former boss Eric Ramsay, who failed to win any of his eight Championship games.
This recent triumph pushes West Brom five points clear of the danger zone with three fixtures remaining, although the club still faces the looming threat of a points deduction. The match started with Albion nearly taking an early advantage when George Campbell met Callum Styles' fourth‑minute corner with a header that was blocked in a crowded penalty area.
The breakthrough finally came when Maja struck emphatically, sending the ball beyond Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen after Aune Heggebo mishandled Isaac Price's incisive pass, allowing Maja to capitalize on the defensive confusion. Preston's problems were amplified when defender Ben Whiteman suffered an injury while attempting a tackle on Price in the build‑up to the goal.
The injury forced an early substitution, with Jordan Thompson coming on to replace the stricken player. Despite the setback, Preston tried to stay competitive; Iversen made a solid save in the 25th minute, blocking a dangerous cross from Price that seemed destined for the net. Preston's first notable chance arrived around the half‑hour mark when Alfie Devine glanced at Andrew Hughes' well‑timed cross, but the effort went wide from a promising position.
The home side appeared sluggish, perhaps reflecting the lack of stakes beyond pride, while West Brom continued to press. At halftime, Paul Heckingbottom introduced Thierry Small for Andrew Moran in an attempt to spark a reaction from his side. The second half began with Preston showing more intent. Max O'Leary, playing as a wing‑back, unorthodoxly juggled an improvised close‑range attempt by Daniel Jebbison, keeping the ball safe in a congested penalty area.
Six minutes later, Brad Potts headed a goal‑bound ball that forced O'Leary to adjust his positioning, ultimately tipping the ball over the bar after Hughes delivered a cross to the back post. Maja had a chance to double the lead shortly after, meeting another low delivery from Styles, but his shot was straight at Iversen from the centre of the box.
Preston's brief respite vanished when Dike, who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes, broke free and slotted the ball past Iversen from six yards out, finishing a cut‑back from Jayson Molumby. In stoppage time, Preston's Hughes rose high from close range, but the ball sailed over the bar. Lewis Dobbin then headed Small's excellent cross wide, missing an opportunity that looked relatively easy.
West Brom held on for a vital three points, a win that could prove crucial in the final stages of the season. 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." Morrison, on the other hand, praised his side: "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 win not only lifts West Brom's morale but also provides a buffer as the club navigates the potential points deduction that could affect their final league standing.
With three games left, the Baggies will look to maintain this momentum, aiming to secure their Championship status and possibly push for a higher finish. In related news, the Sky Sports app offers fans the ability to follow live action, and viewers can watch the EFL on Sky with NOW. Additionally, a £250,000 prize is available in the Super 6 competition, which remains free to enter until the deadline at 3 pm on Saturday.