West Brom slip into drop zone with Preston loss

Steve Bruce has overseen just eight wins in 31 games in charge of West Brom

Further pressure was heaped on West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce after defeat at Preston North End saw the Baggies slip in the relegation places.

Emil Riis met a fine cross from Manchester United loanee Alvaro Fernandez to turn home the early winner for the hosts.

Preston, who had scored just once in six home games before the Baggies visit, fully deserved the lead after making a fast start, which saw Sean Maguire test Alex Palmer and Alistair McCann have a follow-up effort cleared off the line.

Lilywhites goalkeeper Freddie Woodman made a string of second-half saves, the best of which was to deny Karlan Grant, to leave Bruce's Baggies winless in eight games in all competitions.

Relive Wednesday's Championship action as it happened

Bruce, who has overseen just eight wins out of 31 matches since he replaced Valerien Ismael at The Hawthorns in February, has spoken about needing to keep "bashing away" to improve results.

The ex-Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Birmingham City boss made six changes from the side beaten by Swansea on Saturday as they visited a Preston team that was winless in six games at home so far, and who had managed to score just three goals in 11 league games this season.

The Lilywhites showed plenty of early intent to add to that measly tally, with Maguire demanding a good save from Palmer - who was making his first league appearance for the Baggies at the age of 26 - before McCann was kept out from the rebound.

Riis put Preston ahead with a well-taken finish in the seventh minute and they could have had more before the break, with Maguire sending a shot just wide on the turn from outside the box before McCann saw an effort come off the post.

While Grady Diangana was just off target in search of a quick response to Riis' goal, West Brom had to wait until the 43rd minute for their first shot on goal, with Jed Wallace testing Woodman before John Swift did the same a minute later.

Woodman was instrumental in ensuring Preston ended their four-game winless run, as he saved well from Grant after the striker was set free on goal by a fine pass from Swift, before going on to deal with a tame effort from Tom Rogic.

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsPreston

Formation 3-5-2

1Woodman14Storey6Lindsay3Cunningham8Browne11Brady4Whiteman13McCann2Fernández19Riis24Maguire

1Woodman14StoreyBooked at 90mins6Lindsay3Cunningham8BrowneSubstituted forPottsat 68'minutes11BradySubstituted forLedsonat 73'minutes4WhitemanBooked at 52mins13McCann2Fernández19RiisSubstituted forParrottat 85'minutes24MaguireSubstituted forWoodburnat 74'minutes

Substitutes

10Johnson15Parrott16Hughes18Ledson20Woodburn25Cornell44Potts

West Brom

Formation 4-2-3-1

24Palmer29Gardner-Hickman16Kelly4O'Shea3Townsend14Molumby35Yokuslu17J Wallace19Swift11Diangana18Grant

24Palmer29Gardner-Hickman16Kelly4O'Shea3Townsend14MolumbySubstituted forRogicat 58'minutes35YokusluSubstituted forLivermoreat 58'minutes17J Wallace19SwiftSubstituted forPhillipsat 74'minutes11DianganaBooked at 84mins18GrantSubstituted forThomas-Asanteat 72'minutes

Substitutes

1Button7Rogic8Livermore10Phillips15Pieters20Reach21Thomas-Asante

Referee:Josh SmithAttendance:13,924Match StatsHome TeamPrestonAway TeamWest BromPossessionHome35%Away65%ShotsHome9Away18Shots on TargetHome4Away5CornersHome2Away10FoulsHome9Away3Live Text Post update

Match ends, Preston North End 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Preston North End 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.

90'+5'Post update

Attempt saved. Troy Parrott (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alistair McCann.

90'+4'Booking

Jordan Storey (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.

90'+3'Post update

Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Dara O'Shea tries a through ball, but Brandon Thomas-Asante is caught offside.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt saved. Taylor Gardner-Hickman (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Grady Diangana.

90'Post update

Brandon Thomas-Asante (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'Post update

Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).

87'Post update

Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

87'Post update

Foul by Ben Woodburn (Preston North End).

85'Substitution

Substitution, Preston North End. Troy Parrott replaces Emil Riis.

84'Booking

Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

84'Post update

Foul by Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion).

84'Post update

Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

82'Post update

Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

82'Post update

Foul by Álvaro Fernández (Preston North End).

80'Post update

Foul by Taylor Gardner-Hickman (West Bromwich Albion).

80'Post update

Ben Woodburn (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

78'Post update

Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Greg Cunningham.

76'Post update

Attempt blocked. Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Townsend.

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Source: bbc.com