West Bromwich Albion took another significant step towards Championship safety as goals from Josh Maja and Daryl Dike secured a 2-0 win at Preston North End. The result extended the Baggies' unbeaten run to eight games and moved them five points clear of the relegation zone with three matches still to play.
Interim boss James Morrison has overseen a transformation since taking charge, with the visitors taking 12 points during their undefeated run. Maja opened the scoring inside the first quarter of an hour before Dike, on as a substitute, sealed the points late on. The defeat ended Preston's four-game unbeaten run and came on a day when Paul Heckingbottom's side lost skipper Ben Whiteman to an early injury.
Maja Strikes Early as Whiteman Limps Off
Albion nearly took an early lead when George Campbell met Callum Styles' fourth-minute corner with a header that was blocked in a crowded penalty area. The breakthrough was not long delayed. In the 11th minute Isaac Price weaved his way upfield and played an incisive pass into the box, and although Aune Heggebo miscontrolled it, the ball fell to Maja, who emphatically slammed it beyond Daniel Iversen into the bottom-right corner from 10 yards.