Dike strikes off bench as West Bromwich Albion earn timely lift at Preston | OneFootball

Match in Five Sentences: Preston North End lost to West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at Deepdale. Josh Maja put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute with a right-footed finish into the bottom right corner. Substitute Daryl Dike sealed it with a clinical strike (77.). Preston produced one shot on target from nine attempts despite 52.5% possession. Preston drop from 13th to 16th and visit Birmingham next, while West Bromwich Albion rise from 21st to 20th and host Watford.

Player of the Match: Daryl Dike came on and decided the contest with a composed finish, adding two aerial wins to keep West Bromwich Albion up the pitch.

Stat of the Match: Preston managed one shot on target from nine attempts, highlighting how little they troubled the visiting defence.

Three Things We Learned: An early Maja opener set the tone for West Bromwich Albion, who controlled the game from in front. Dike's introduction changed the picture, as the substitute scored with his only shot and won two aerial duels. The table shifted, with Preston down from 13th to 16th and West Bromwich Albion up from 21st to 20th.