MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 12:44:12| >> :120:4005:4005:
[monks data]
Attendance: 13,015
Preston North End logo
Championship | Gameweek 19
Dec 2, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
West Brom logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Austin (90' pen.)

Charlie Austin sends West Brom back top of Championship

Charlie's last-minute penalty proves decisive at Preston.

Charlie Austin's 90th-minute penalty sent West Brom back to the Sky Bet Championship summit with a 1-0 win over Preston at Deepdale.

Austin was on hand to convert from the spot to secure the Baggies a fifth successive victory and move them back above Leeds.

Slaven Bilic's side looked set to rue a number of missed opportunities in the first half as they struggled to break through a resilient Preston defence.

But Austin's spot-kick moves them two points clear of Leeds, while Preston slipped to a third successive defeat as their unbeaten home record in the Championship came to an end.

The visitors were much the better side in the first half and Bilic would have been frustrated his side failed to lead at the break.

After a sedate opening, Nathan Ferguson had the first effort on 22 minutes. The right-back's surging run carried him from his own half to the edge of the Preston box but his fierce drive was tipped over by Declan Rudd.

That break sparked the Baggies into raising the tempo and more chances followed. Matt Phillips picked up the ball following a corner and curled a left-footed effort just wide from 22 yards.

Phillips then turned provider just after the half hour mark as his pinpoint free-kick from the right found Kyle Bartley unmarked at the far post, but the centre-back inexplicably side-footed wide with a clear sight of goal.

Scotland international Phillips' turn and shot inside the area after 35 minutes was comfortably held by Rudd, before his powerful low drive was tipped around the post.

Preston's only opening of a disjointed opening 45 minutes fell to Sean Maguire, who broke in behind from a throw, but the Republic of Ireland striker fired straight at Sam Johnstone from a tight angle.

Alex Neil's side were vastly improved in the second period and created a flurry of chances just after the hour mark.

Maguire's lay-off found Daniel Johnson, whose curling effort from 20 yards was tipped wide by former Preston loanee Johnstone.

West Brom failed to clear the resulting corner and the ball was squared to Alan Browne at the far post, but his powerful strike was brilliantly blocked in his own goalmouth by Ferguson.

Once again the Baggies were tested from the corner but Jayden Stockley was unable to direct his header on target from a couple of yards out.

Bilic's side increasingly struggled to break through a resilient Preston defence as the match wore on.

But the big moment came in the 89th minute, as Kyle Edwards surged through on goal and was brought down by a sprawling Rudd.

Substitute Austin made no mistake from the spot, sending Rudd the wrong way to seal victory.

ID:381491: cacheID:381491:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5022:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Bromwich Albion's Matheus Pereira celebrates scoring their second goal on November 27, 2019
Read Next:
Slaven Bilic: 'West Brom slaughtered Bristol City'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!