Preston North End lost against West Bromwich Albion 3-0, guaranteeing the Baggies a play-off position on the last day.
This afternoon, West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End played their final EFL Championship games at the Hawthorns.
With a win in today’s sun to guarantee their spot in the play-offs, Albion supporters were keen for the three points ahead of this crucial match.
Despite having a strong start to the game, Coreberán’s team was unable to score during open play in the first half. But when Alex Mowatt’s penalty struck the bottom left of the net in the first period’s additional time, the Baggies seized a vital advantage that they carried into the dugout at halftime. In the 61st minute of play, Kyle Bartley, the captain of the Albion, made it 2-0 with a looping header that soared above the Lilywhites’ defense and crossed the line before Andrew Hughes could clear it.
In the 69th minute, Darnell Furlong made it three goals to nil with a straightforward finish into the bottom right corner of the net, clinching their spot in the play-offs.
This is the fifth straight game that PNE has been unable to score goals or maintain a clean sheet in. Since 2010, North End has not dropped five straight league games before. This was a major victory for West Brom, as the Midlands team had only triumphed once in the previous fifteen days of the season.
Prior to the season’s last match, Carlos Corberán made three changes to his team, with several significant moves made further up the field.
Alex Mowatt, a former Middlesborough player, and Tom Fellows, their Young Player of the Year, took Yann M’Vila’s place on the bench. Brandon Thomas-Asante, the leading goalscorer for West Brom, replaced Jed Wallace in the starting lineup to lead from the front.
In the visiting team’s locker room, three changes were also made following their depressing 3-0 loss to league leaders Leicester City in the middle of the week. Jordan Storey replaced Ireland international Robbie Brady in the back line while they maintained their five-at-the-back formation. Prior to the final day, Ryan Ledson was left off the match day roster. Summer acquisition Duane Holmes took his place, and Montenegrin attacker Milutin Osmajić was benched with Emil Riis filling in at the top.
The Baggies dominated the match the last time the two teams played, winning 4 goals to 0 at Deepdale. As they were sitting in sixth place going into the game, home supporters would have been expecting that this match would replicate the other matchup in order to move one step closer to their Wembley hopes.
