(Credit: Imago)

Jacob Raw

Sat 18 April 2026 19:00, UK

Alex Mowatt enjoyed another sublime West Bromwich Albion performance against Preston this Saturday.

James Morrison watched his side beat the Lilywhites 2-0 at Deepdale to further improve their chances of Championship survival.

It’s been a tough week for Albion, who have learned that the club are possibly facing a points sanction from the EFL for breaching PSR guidelines.

Regardless, the Baggies are still fighting, and Morrison’s decision to put Mowatt back into the side paid off once against Millwall last time out, as the midfielder built on another strong performance this weekend.

Mowatt simply can’t lose his place in West Brom’s team with just three games of the Championship season left.

These stats prove Alex Mowatt was quality vs Preston

Morrison exiled Mowatt on purpose in a handful of games before the Millwall draw, and he was unable to make a single minute off the bench against the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Wrexham, and Bristol City.

The interim Baggies boss previously explained that some in the group were not giving it their all in the midst of a relegation battle, and it feels like shade was thrown on Mowatt.

Mowatt played the entire 90 minutes, and as seen in the table above, he won 75 per cent of his ground duels, showing that he does have the hunger in him.

He made four tackles, had eight passes into the final third, and boasted an impressive 83 per cent passing accuracy.

But it was also the flicks and work off the ball that impressed, proving his worth to Morrison.

He’s really shown that West Brom are a better team with him in it, so let’s just hope it’s not taken Morrison too long to realise that.

James Morrison has found his perfect midfield balance

Though other areas of the pitch are far from perfect, the midfield is one of Albion’s strong points right now.

Morrison has opted for a 4-4-2 variant during his tenure, and injuries to Mikey Johnston and Jed Wallace have seen Jayson Molumby take up responsibility at right midfield.

Despite a lack of pace, Molumby and Ousmane Diakite help keep things safe in front of the defence, while Isaac Price and Mowatt have some freedom to venture forward.

A perfect blend of bite, athleticism, and creativity when considering what’s available for Albion to use.

There isn’t time to make too many changes with three games left in the season, as Morrison should now leave his midfield the way it is.