Match Previews

Matchday 9 | Preston North End v Albion preview

PNE and WBA badges next to an image of Grady Diangana in the navy blue and red kit

West Bromwich Albion travel to Preston North End on Saturday afternoon for their final fixture in the month of September (ko 3pm).

The Baggies head north to Deepdale having drawn three consecutive matches in the Sky Bet Championship, earning points away at Bristol City and Watford, as well as at home to Millwall in their most recent match.

Hosts Preston are absolutely flying in the second tier, winning six of their first eight matches and are the only unbeaten side left in the second tier. 

The Lilywhites, along with Ipswich Town, are the division's surprise packages so far, with Ryan Lowe's men boasting a record of four victories from four games played at Deepdale, winning all four by a 2-1 scoreline.

It's destination Deepdale on Saturday

Follow the fixture live

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's encounter with Preston.

WBA Radio duo Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary from Deepdale, with coverage starting at 2.50pm.

Audio passes are available to purchase here.

Details for video streaming on WBA TV will be available here from Thursday onwards.

Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.

The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the day.

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The opponents

Preston have made a storming start to the 2023/24 season, a start which has the club's supporters dreaming of a return to the top flight of English football for the first time in over 60 years. 

It may not yet be October and there's still so much football to be played, but the Lilywhites' tally of 20 points from eight matches suggests they have the required quality and know-how to challenge towards the higher end of the Championship table if they're able to keep momentum and fitness luck on their side.

They've won six and drawn two of their eight games, last losing in the second tier on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign. Ryan Lowe's men have been in formidable form at Deepdale too and boast a record there of four wins from four in the league, with every single one of those triumphs ending in a 2-1 scoreline. 

Lowe was appointed in December 2021 having previously managed at Bury and Plymouth. In his playing days, the 45-year-old was a striker and enjoyed three separate stints at both Bury and Crewe Alexandra, as well as Shrewsbury Town, Chester City and Sheffield Wednesday among others. 

Saturday's hosts were denied a seventh straight Championship win last weekend when Rotherham United held them to a 1-1 draw at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, but they'll have their sights firmly set on making it five victories in-a-row on home soil when Carlos Corberán's Baggies visit the North West. 

Saturday's hosts have made a terrific start

One to remember

Albion edged a five-goal thriller at Deepdale in September 2018.

All five strikes came after the break with Jay Rodriguez, Ben Davies (OG) and Dwight Gayle on target for the visitors, while Andrew Hughes and Alan Browne found the net for Preston.

Supporters can watch the highlights from that afternoon below. 

The last five

Albion 2-0 Preston North End

December 29 2022, Sky Bet Championship

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Preston North End 1-0 Albion

October 5 2022, Sky Bet Championship 

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Albion 0-2 Preston North End

January 26 2022, Sky Bet Championship

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Preston North End 1-1 Albion

September 18 2021, Sky Bet Championship

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Albion 2-0 Preston North End

February 25 2020, Sky Bet Championship

Okay Yokuslu bagged a brace against Preston in December 2022

Did you know?

Only two of the last 22 meetings in all competitions have ended level. 

Both of those games have been played at Deepdale where the Baggies and Preston drew 1-1 in September 2021 and 0-0 in October 2009. 

Five of the last six encounters between these two famous old football clubs have seen the winning team secure victory without conceding a goal. 

The Baggies won the most recent clash 2-0 in December 2022, but it was Preston who claimed all three points at Saturday's venue last term thanks to a solitary strike from Emil Ris Jakobsen in October. 

Albion will come up against Preston for the 119th time this weekend

Ticket details

Tickets are on general sale for Saturday's showdown.

The Baggies have an initial allocation of 2,485.

Seats are priced at £30 Adults, £22 Seniors (65+), £22 Young Adults (19-24), £11 Juniors (11-18) and £5 Under 11s.

Supporters can purchase their tickets online here.

Coach travel is available to supporters for £22, departing Kidderminster at 9.30am, Stourbridge & Lye at 9.45am, and The Hawthorns at 10:30am.

Preston have provided a useful guide for those travelling to Deepdale, which can be viewed here.

A ticket graphic displaying information for Albion's game at Preston

Travel colours

The Baggies will wear their navy blue and red away kit at Deepdale this weekend.

Carlos Corberán's side last wore those colours in the 1-1 draw with Leeds United in August.

Supporters can buy the kit here.

John Swift sporting the shirt Albion will wear this weekend

Travel disruption

ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has announced another two days of strike action – on Saturday, September 30 and Wednesday, October 4 – and an overtime ban across the UK rail network on Friday, September 29 and from Monday, October 2 to Friday, October 6.

There will be no train services on Saturday, September 30 and Wednesday, October 4. This will affect travel to the match versus Preston North End.

For fans travelling to Preston, they are advised to plan ahead and allow more time for their journey.