Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sat 18 April 2026 17:30, UK

Preston were beaten 2-0 by West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, on an afternoon where Baggies fans voiced their displeasure with the EFL.

James Morrison‘s side took another huge step towards Championship survival on Saturday, as West Brom defeated Preston at Deepdale.

Josh Maja gave Albion the lead after 11 minutes, with an excellent team goal ending via a powerful right-footed effort from the Baggies striker that Daniel Iversen couldn’t keep out.

Albion couldn’t double their advantage before half-time, and were made to ride out an early storm of pressure from the homes side during the opening exchanges of the second half.

However, Daryl Dike popped up to score his first goal since the final day of the 2024-25 season to make it 2-0 on 77 minutes, sealing another crucial win for West Brom against the Lilywhites.

West Brom fans chant against the EFL vs Preston

West Brom’s PSR battle reached parliament earlier this week, after the EFL charged them with alleged breaches of their profit and sustainability rules.

Albion insist they’ve complied with those legislations, which prohibit an EFL club from losing in excess of £39million over a three-year period.

It’s a situation that is threatening to get very messy indeed, with also the timing of the charge brought about by the EFL far from ideal for West Brom either.

Indeed, should they be found guilty, a points deduction looks to be the punishment they would receive, and it’s widely reported that this would have to be enforced on their points tally from this season.

As such, depending on the number and how far clear of the relegation zone the Baggies are if that was to happen, it could yet throw Morrison’s side right back into the bottom three.

West Brom fans are, of course, far from pleased with this situation, and as detailed via the Express & Star‘s live text coverage of the Preston game, the away end at Deepdale was heard chanting against the EFL.

“More “(expletive) the EFL” from the away end,” was said in an update from the 16th minute of the game.

Aune Heggebo provides brilliant assist for Maja’s goal

Aune Heggebo is a divisive player among West Brom fans, with his goal contributions in that sweet spot for debate over whether he’s offering enough to the team or not.

The big striker was a sizeable investment by Albion last summer, and is in double figures for goals in all competitions this season, but he’s been struggling for form in the calendar year of 2026.

Indeed, prior to Preston, the 24-year-old had only registered one goal contribution in 2026 so far, with that being when he found the net in the 3-0 win over Hull back on 14 March.

That’s all changed after Saturday though, and he did so in very clever fashion, but also in a way that is easy to miss on initial viewing.

After some brilliant work in midfield from Isaac Price, he played the ball into the box for either one of Maja or Heggebo to get on the end of.

It was Heggebo who took control of the ball with his left foot, but his first touch immediately saw a Preston defender ushering him away from goal.

However, in a brilliant piece of thinking and individual skill, the Norwegian quickly rolled the ball backwards towards Maja with the top of his boot, before the Albion number nine slammed home into the corner of the net.

Ex-West Brom defender Billy Jones makes half-time appearance

As is customary at many clubs, half-time often sees the home side bring out a former player to offer their thoughts on the game, give a little message to the fans and update them on what they’re doing nowadays.

Unfortunatley, whether it be the quality of the microphones or the PA system inside the ground, many of these segments end up proving difficult for fans to decipher what’s being said.

Regardless, Preston did bring one of their former players out for half-time on Saturday, and as reported by West Brom reporter Lewis Cox via X, it turned out to have a West Brom connection too, as it was former Albion and Lilywhites defender, Billy Jones.

Now 39, Jones turned out for Albion between 2011 to 2014, making 74 appearances for the Baggies across three Premier League campaigns.

The right-back was a big part of the West Brom team that finished eighth in the Premier League for the 2012-13 campaign, and was a good servant to the Club before leaving to join Sunderland in the summer of 2014.