Albion have scored 11 goals in their past five home games this season, after scoring only two in their first seven. On 18 minutes, Mikey Johnston, fresh from his first two goals of the season in Albion’s previous home game, cut in from the left and appeared to fire one of his typical right-foot curlers, but he completely fooled the North End defence. He ran left to gain additional yards before crossing, and the ball cannoned back to Maja, who scored left-footed. Albion then went 2-0 up on 35 minutes when Johnston appeared to over-bend a low inswinging left-wing corner, which Callum Styles initially missed.

But the full-back experimented, allowing the ball to run around the edge of the box before connecting with a low right-foot strike that slipped through a packed area and into the bottom left corner. Darnell Furlong moved down the right and crossed for Maja to score his second from close range, making it 3-0 just five minutes later. It was the Championship’s second leading scorer’s 12th goal of the season, putting him only three behind Norwich’s Borja Sainz. That appeared to be ‘game over’, and it was. Preston kept a clean sheet when Ledson struck from close range, but they couldn’t stop Albion from winning for the fourth time in 19 games, and third in a straight at home.

Albion now face two road trips over the next two Saturdays.

They head to Swansea for a lunchtime kick-off this weekend before their FA Cup third-round tie at Bournemouth on 11 January.

Preston have back-to-back home games, both regulation afternoon kick-offs, first against Oxford United, then League One side Charlton Athletic.

West Bromwich Albon joint caretaker-boss Chris Brunt told BBC Radio WM:

“We got the goals in the first half, then defended it well in the second half, when Preston came at us. There were a lot of tired old legs out there.

“It was good to back up the second-half performance against Sheffied United. But the intensity was always guaranteed to drop just purely based on the schedule. This period of games is a nightmare as a player.

“It’s a hard old slog at this time of the season and you just have to manage it the best you can. The boys that came off the bench did well and we saw the game out which was important

“I’m not sure what the script is from above but we’ll just keep plodding away until we’re told otherwise.”

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom:

“We conceded several stunning goals, which cost us the game. We assigned them three goals. The three goals were dreadful. They punished and defended better than us. “It is really frustrating. I wish West Brom had had to work harder than that. And I will absolutely consider our strategy away from home. “I get so upset because they’re better than what they’re exhibiting, but at the moment, it appears that only I believe that. I want to be a positive force away from home as well. “It appears that I’m hammering the guys, but I’m not. It’s just not something I want to see happen.

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