By Jemma Tappenden
February 1 2008

After a convincing and entertaining Cup game last weekend, Albion had to put aside their thoughts on the 5th round and move onto thinking about the League. Still in top spot, promotion is on the forefront of everyone’s minds at the Hawthorns as we enter the business end of the season. A visit to lowly placed Preston North End would not be an easy encounter.

Mowbray brought Zoltan Gear straight back into the starting eleven, Craig Beattie the man making way.  Albion also had to make do without leading striker Kevin Phillips, who was rested after picking up a suspected slight calf injury.

 

It was Albion that started the brightest in the opening minutes, pacing down on goal in the style that they have made so much their own this season.  Teixeira launched a defence splitting pass deep from defence in the second minute of time, picking out James Morrison perfectly from distance.  Morrison took the ball to the byline, and produced the perfect cross which required only the smallest of touches.  But no-one came anywhere close.

 

The Baggies bright start was dimmed somewhat in the 6^th minute when surprisingly Preston took the lead.  Mawene connected perfectly to Darren Carter’s right wing corner, heading home from close range to put his side a goal up against the run of play.  Awakened by the goal, Preston could have had a second just moments later.  Carter smashed a 25 yard left footed shot just inches wide of the post.

 

Koren and Gera exchanged neat play in the centre of the park, Koren eventually placing a volley just past the post from the edge of the area.  But Albion proved that there were still issues which needed resoling in defence when a mix up between Cesar and Albrechtsen nearly allowed Preston another shot away on goal.  Hawley picked up the ball just outside of the box, but thankfully Cesar recovered in time to prevent the strikers shot from troubling Kiely in goal.

 

In the 25^th minute Jonathan Greening proved why he is one of the divisions most highly rated players when he curled a stunning right wing free kick into the box.  Cesar connected to the ball, but could only head weakly into the arms of waiting keeper Lonergan. 

 

Two minutes later the in form loan signing Roman Bednar was causing the North End defence real problems.  He set off on a run down the left and neatly pulled back to ball to Koren.  Koren looked a dead cert to score his 9^th goal of the campaign, but somehow Preston defender Callum Davidson cleared the danger.

 

Albion should have drawn level once again in the 32^nd minute.  Gera made a low drive into the box which Morrison should have been first to, but his slow reaction allowed Mawene to clear the danger for an Albion corner.  The resulting corner produced nothing to note, and it was the Baggies struggling again just three minutes later when a rare clearance mistake from Koren allowed Hawley to steal in and find his strike partner Brown.  Brown’s cross was a piercing one, and Albion’s defence could only look on in relief as Simon Whaley’s shot hit the post and cannoned out to safety.

 

Teixeira came close just as half time approached, Preston keeper Lonergan turning his shot around the post for a corner.  Greening took the resulting corner, which Brown failed to clear, allowing Cesar to pick up the ball.  Bu his header was not even on target and went out of play for a goal kick.

 

A moment of controversy denied Albion an equaliser in the 43^rd minute, Morrison provided the cross which keeper Lonergan spilled, allowing Teixeira to fire in the rebound.  Having found the target the goal was disallowed as the Portuguese was rumoured to have handled it. 

 

Albion threatened again a minute later when Morrison cut in from the right.  But Bednar wasted the opportunity to equalise by firing the ball straight at the Preston keeper.  But Bednar was given a second chance when the Lonergan who looked to have held the ball well dropped it, and Bednar’s persistence allowed the ball to break free again.  But neither he nor Gera could force the ball home.  The Baggies going into the break a goal down.

 

Half Time: Preston North End 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

 

Albion were under pressure again immediately after the break.  Paul Robinson misjudged the ball and missed his header, allowing Sedgwick to cross to Whaley, but he fired his close range effort high and wide of the post. 

 

In the 48^th minute Gera picked up a loose ball, he made easy work of skipping past Carter and drove in a low hard shot which the Preston keeper did well to hold.  Two minutes later Gera was in the thick of it again, picking up a Robinson pass and shrugging off his marker before launching a 25 yard cracker which this time had Lonergan beat.  The ball sailed into the top left corner, finally bringing Albion a much needed equaliser.

 

Two minutes later Teixeira was denied by Lonergan in a moment of bravery as he gathered at the midfielder’s feet.  Teixeira had set off on a super individual run from the half way line.  Albion were starting to get on top of things, Preston having only one half chance in the 10 minutes which followed the equaliser.  Hoefkens on call to make a challenge on Carter as the former Baggies man paced down the Albion goal.

 

Preston undoubtedly had only Keeper Lonergan to thank for not going behind in a 20 minute stint of pressure in which the Baggies bombarded the North End goal.  Brave once again, the Preston keeper made a save at Morrison’s feet after Gera had put him clean through on goal.

 

But the Baggies were well and truly punished in the 71^st minute when poor defending of a set piece allowed Preston to retake the lead.  Paul McKenna took the free kick and Mawene knocked the ball onto St Ledger, who had the simple job of centring for Hawley who headed home from six yards.

 

It was not to be Albion’s night.  An equaliser should have come in the 83^rd minute.  Another set piece providing the danger, but this time it was Gera who was threatening.  On target straight from the kick somehow the impressive keeper was able to tip the ball onto the crossbar and out of play.

 

More controversy arrived in the closing stages in the game.  Mawene was dismissed from the field of play for refusing to leave the pitch to receive medical treatment.  Minutes later Preston were down to nine men, this time Brown given his marching orders for clattering into Albrechtsen and picking up a second yellow card.

 

Despite finishing the game with only nine men, Preston held on tight to their lead.  Preston remain in the relegation places, and Albion retain top spot, although this time it is only their goal difference keeping them there.

 

Full Time: Preston North End 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

 

Gera (50)

 

Mawene (6)

 

Hawley (71)

 

Attendance: 12,473