Credit: Tung Manh Phan

Cameron Smith

Thu 16 April 2026 14:00, UK

Preston North End welcome West Bromwich Albion to Deepdale, as the Baggies look to strengthen their Championship survival chances.

The Baggies played out a 0-0 draw with Millwall on Friday, before Oxford cut the gap to just two points with a triumph against Watford.

Then, alongside successive wins for Portsmouth, Albion fans have been sent into panic this week, with a potential points deduction looming as a result of a charge for breaching the EFL profit and sustainability rules.

With the atmosphere around the club shifting once again, James Morrison‘s side are in desperate need of points as they look to avoid relegation.

On Saturday, they make the trip to play mid-table Preston, where they are in desperate need of three points.

Form guide

Preston (last six games all comps): DDDWWD

West Brom (last six games all comps): WDDWLL

Head-to-head

Two of the founding members of the English Football League, Albion have faced off against the Lilywhites 101 times throughout history, with a fairly even record between the two sides.

In recent times, the Baggies have had the upper hand against Saturday’s opponents, with an unbeaten record stretching back to 2022.

It has been a miserable term for West Brom, but they can boast a win against Preston, and will be looking to repeat their exploits from earlier this season, having won 2-1 at The Hawthorns.

Team news and predicted lineups

Given the two-point gap to the bottom three, you would not think that Morrison’s side are unbeaten in seven matches.

Though across this period, they have failed to really pull away from the drop zone, with three successive draws against Wrexham, Blackburn and Millwall.

However, it should once again be more of the same when it comes to the former midfielder’s selection, with Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba our only predicted change heading into the weekend.

On the injury front, the same circumstance remains, with Jed Wallace, Mikey Johnston and Karlan Grant all sidelined until the end of the season, while Chris Mepham is a doubt.

For Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston, Robbie Brady and Jamal Lewis remain out for the season, while Alistair McCann and Callum Lang should return later this month.

Preston predicted XI: Iversen; Offiah, Storey, Gibson, Hughes; Potts, Moran, Whiteman, Devine; Jebbison, Dobbin

West Brom predicted XI: O’Leary; Imray, Phillips, Campbell, Styles; Jimoh-Aloba, Molumby, Diakite, Price; Dike, Heggebo

We say: Preston 0-1 West Brom

Getting back to winning ways would be the perfect mood changer for Albion given the circumstance of the week.

After three draws in a row, Morrison’s side are in desperate need of points, especially to protect themselves against a potential points deduction.

Fully in the run-in, we predict the Baggies to get back on track as they face Preston.