The Hawthorns

Thursday 29th December 2022 - 20:00
West Brom
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Preston
Stream on WBA TV
Key Events

Jayson Molumby running with the ball in the home kit

West Bromwich Albion will be determined to secure a fourth successive home victory on Thursday night when Preston North End visit The Hawthorns (ko 8pm).

Albion have enjoyed triumphs over Blackpool, Stoke City and Rotherham in recent matches at the Shrine.

The Baggies beat Bristol City 2-0 at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day, their sixth win in their last seven Sky Bet Championship matches.

Preston sit 10th ahead of the encounter and just a point outside the play-off positions. Ryan's Lowe's men have lost their last two games which were both at home, however, they do boast the second best away record in the division.

Follow the game live

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's clash with the Lilywhites on Thursday night on WBA Radio.

Gez Mulholland and Andy Johnson will bring you every kick from The Hawthorns. Audio passes can be purchased for £2.50 here.

Albion fans inside and outside the United Kingdom can watch the game live on WBA TV. A video match pass is available to purchase for £10 here.

Live updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the evening.

WBA TV Matchday

Our opponents

Preston North End might be forgiven for being grateful to be back on their travels on Thursday night.

The Lilywhites, who are just one point off the play-off positions, have lost both of their last two games on home soil to QPR and Huddersfield Town, but away from Deepdale, it's a completely different story.

Only Sheffield United (23) have collected more points on the road than Thursday's visitors (21), with the Blades playing one more match away from home than Preston. 

Ryan Lowe's men have won six and lost just two of their 11 away games and will be on the hunt for a third successive away win at The Hawthorns after previous triumphs at Reading and then Blackburn Rovers.

Lowe has been in charge of the club since December 2021 and has won 20, drawn 16 and lost 16 of his 52 games. 

Preston have impressed on the road but have lost three of their last four league games

From the Albion Archive

Dwight Gayle was the star of the show when Albion beat Preston 4-1 at The Hawthorns in April 2019.

The forward bagged a hat-trick in the convincing victory, with Jay Rodriguez also on target for the hosts.

Former Baggie Callum Robinson scored a consolation for the visitors in the 90th minute.

One for the stattos

West Bromwich Albion's next victory over Preston North End will be their 50th in all competitions.

The Baggies edge the overall head-to-head record with 49 wins to Preston's 41, with 27 draws also being played out. 

Albion lost 1-0 up at Preston in early October

Fan Zone

Supporters are reminded that there is no Fan Zone ahead of the clash with Preston, owing to it being a midweek fixture.

Fans at Bournemouth

Ticket details 

Tickets have now sold out for tonight's clash.

A ticket graphic advertising Albion's match against Preston

An image of Okay Yokuslu celebrating with his teammates after scoring against Preston

Albion rounded-off 2022 with an excellent 2-0 win over Preston North End on Thursday evening.

Goals either side of half-time from the impressive Okay Yokuslu were enough to hand Carlos Corberán’s side all three Sky Bet Championship points.

The victory, at a sold-out Hawthorns, ensures the Baggies enter the New Year on a high and with four consecutive home successes under their belt.

Next up, Albion host Reading on January 2 (ko 3pm) looking to continue their fine run of form.

The boss made three changes from Albion’s Boxing Day triumph at Bristol City, swapping Tom Rogic, Grady Diangana and Brandon Thomas-Asante in for John Swift, Matty Phillips (ill) and Daryl Dike.

In front of a packed crowd Preston created a couple of early opportunities but - in the main - the Baggies were fantastic during the first period.

Jed Wallace went close twice to breaking the deadlock midway through the half, initially sending a finish inches wide before then forcing the excellent Freddie Woodman into a good stop via a curling effort.

Thomas-Asante was the next to nearly net on the half-hour mark. Again, though, Woodman was there to rescue the visitors, denying the striker’s side-footed attempt.

Thankfully, Preston’s goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Albion’s opening goal nine minutes ahead of the break. Yokuslu did brilliantly to win possession in midfield and drive forward, opting to hammer a superb low shot home and hand Corberán’s side a deserved lead.

Preston had another decent spell at the beginning of the second half without really testing Alex Palmer. However, the introduction of John Swift swung the contest Albion’s way.

The attacking midfielder smashed the crossbar within 60 seconds of entering the pitch, before soon setting up Yokuslu to coolly poke past Woodman and double his team’s advantage.

The hosts could have added a third when substitute Daryl Dike curled off-target and Wallace smashed two shots over.

Yet they settled for the two-goal win alongside a well-earned clean sheet, despite Preston hitting the post late on.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, O’Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby (Gardner-Hickman 78); Wallace (Karlan Grant 78), Rogic (Swift 55), Diangana (Reach 63); Thomas-Asante (Dike 63).

Substitutes: Button, Ajayi.

Attendance: 25,321.