Championship

Deepdale

Saturday 18th September 2021 -  15:00
Preston
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West Brom
Stream on WBA TV
Key Events

Preston Preview

Albion travel to Preston North End on Saturday afternoon (ko 3pm) where they’ll be backed by more than 3,000 supporters.

The Baggies head to Deepdale hoping to return to winning ways having being held to frustrating home draws by Millwall and Derby County respectively earlier this week.

This weekend’s trip up the M6 is the club’s first away match since their last-gasp victory at Peterborough United.

Hosts Preston North End have made a steady start to the season, picking up eight points from their opening seven matches.

They scored an injury-time equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United on Tuesday, with Daniel Johnson and Emil Riis both on target at Bramall Lane.

How to follow the game

Supporters wanting to follow the action live on Saturday can subscribe to WBA TV Matchday for live Baggies-biased commentary. An audio Match Pass for the game costs £2.50 and is available to purchase here. 

Fans can opt for a seasonal or month pass to follow Baggies live home and away this season.

Fans overseas who have a seasonal or monthly video subscription will not be able to watch this game as it has been selected by overseas broadcasters. You can still access live commentary to follow the game and watch the full match replay, which will be available from Sunday.

Subscribers can access the commentary through the Live Match Centre, on the official West Bromwich Albion app or by clicking here.

WBA TV Matchday

Opposition 

Preston are now in their seventh consecutive season in the Sky Bet Championship having spent four years in the third tier between 2011 and 2015.

The Lilywhites have finished inside the top half of the division in four of their last six campaigns, narrowly missing out on the top 12 in 2020/21 after finishing 13th. 

They’ve taken eight points from their opening seven games this term, winning two, drawing two and losing three.

Preston are unbeaten in their last four Sky Bet Championship games, taking eight points thanks to victories over Peterborough and Swansea at Deepdale, as well as draws at Bristol City and Sheffield United in the last week.

Former manager Alex Neil left Deepdale in March 2021 and assistant Frankie McAvoy was appointed interim boss until the end of the season. The Scot won five of his eight matches and was awarded the job on a permanent basis two months later in May.

Classic Match

Albion took home all three points from Deepdale in a five-goal thriller during the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign.

After a goalless first 45, the Baggies took the lead through Jay Rodriguez before Andrew Hughes equalised for the hosts.

Albion went ahead once more after Ben Davies turned the ball into his own net and Dwight Gayle made it 3-1 with an excellent free-kick.

Alan Browne scored in added time but the visitors returned home victorious.

Did you know?

Sam Johnstone, Callum Robinson, Jordan Hugill, Adam Reach and Jayson Molumby have all previously represented Preston during their careers.

Away kit colours

Albion will be wearing their black away kit on Saturday at Preston.

Not got yours yet? Don’t worry, you can order it here.

LV BET’s latest odds

Our official betting partner LV BET share the latest stats and odds ahead of Saturday's trip up to Preston North End.

After two consecutive draws, Albion will be looking to return to winning ways at Deepdale. The Baggies' last three league matches have all featured under 2.5 goals, with stopper Sam Johnstone keeping two clean sheets.

Preston also come into this match on the back of two draws having picked up a late, late equaliser at Sheffield United on Tuesday.

WBA are 5/4 to grab all three points on the road this weekend with the draw priced at 5/2.

A 1-0 win for Albion is priced at 7/1 and could be value given the impressive defensive record over the past few matches. 

LV Bet have a new customer offer for Baggies fans. Get it here. Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.org.

Prices subject to change. 

LV BET

Match report

Albion continued their unbeaten start to the season in the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-1 draw against Preston at Deepdale.

The Baggies went behind in the first half an hour after a deflected Ben Whiteman strike found it’s way into the corner of the net.

But Valérien Ismaël’s men levelled just before the half-time whistle with Matty Phillips heading home following a Darnell Furlong throw-in.

The result means the Baggies have won four and drawn four of their eight opening league games.

The Albion boss made two changes from Tuesday night’s stalemate against Derby County, as he switched up two of his frontline, with Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson making way for Phillips and Jordan Hugill, who was making his first start for the club.

The first opportunity of the game fell to Preston's Patrick Bauer, who headed wide from a corner.

Moments later, Grady Diangana had the ball in the back of the net, after gaining possession from blocking Iversen’s clearance, but the ref judged him to have handled the ball. 

Again, Diangana was back amongst the action, striking wide from inside the box. A brilliant Furlong corner followed, which Livermore hooked goalwards but his volley was headed over.

But Preston took the lead just before the half-hour mark. Whiteman unleashed a strike from the edge of the box, which took a big deflection to wrong-foot Sam Johnstone in the Albion net and find the corner. 

The Baggies came inches away from an equaliser when Reach's pulled-back cross from out wide found Phillips who connected brilliantly, but his powerful volley went just wide of the post.

After missing a handful of chances, Ismaël’s men would find a leveller just before the break. A Furlong throw-in caused chaos in the Preston box and Phillips was able to head home at the backpost. 

In the second half the Baggies came out firing. After a speedy break, Phillips curled a brilliant effort narrowly over and onto the roof of the net. 

Albion came again. Iversen was forced to turn a Diangana cross behind as it arrowed goalwards.

Then, the hosts made it difficult for Ismaël's men to keep their rhythm. The boss introduced Grant and Robinson to try and find a winner.

Yet it was the hosts who nearly gained the advantage, but Johnstone made a great low diving save to deny Ryan Ledson, who volleyed from inside the box.

Before the final whistle, Albion created a huge chance, when Hugill went through on goal. However, the Baggies frontman was thwarted by Iversen in the Preston net meaning it would end level at Deepdale.

Albion: Johnstone, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Reach; Phillips (Robinson 69), Hugill, Diangana (Grant 64). 

Substitutes: Button, Kipré, Taylor, Molumby, Snodgrass.