Slaven torn over ref’s crucial decision
SLAVEN Bilic wouldn’t be drawn on the debate regarding West Brom’s late penalty which gave them all three points at Preston.
Charlie Austin scored his third goal in as many games at the death at Deepdale as Albion returned to the top of the Championship table.
The awarding of the spot-kick, though, has sparked plenty of arguments over the validity of referee Oliver Langford’s decision. Kyle Edwards, having raced onto a loose ball in the dying stages of the hard-fought encounter, was deemed by Langford to have been tripped by North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd.
Replays suggested minimal contact, but Bilic admitted to being torn on the official’s call.
“I didn’t see the replay. I saw it on an iPhone and to be fair I didn’t see it properly, only from behind,” he said.
“Funny thing was that one of them said it was a penalty, somebody from our club said it wasn’t sure. It should’ve been the other way around.
“There are going to be some sackings in a couple of days!”
It was Albion’s fifth win in a row, and they seem to discovered a formula that is working on the road; this was their fifth clean sheet away from The Hawthorns, where they’re yet to enjoy even a single shut-out.
This wasn’t lost on Bilic who, despite a depleted Preston outfit, expected plenty from the hosts.
“Of course it’s a big result,” he reasoned. “They knew we were coming. We are doing well at home, but we are nowhere near them – they have the best home record – or they had, 7-2-0. Straight away from the start, it was us. We came to win the game. In the first half we were very dominant, just what was lacking was the quality in the final third.
“I didn’t expect it to be that one-sided in the first half. I told the guys to be patient, to raise the tempo. We risked and camped in their half. It is very difficult to defend when you’re dealing in waves and waves.
“We were pushing but the clock was ticking. You’re thinking ‘OK, a point is good. Just don’t concede’. Then we scored, but at the end of the game it was like the first half.
“What I’m trying to say is that we definitely didn’t deserve to lose. If anyone deserved to win it was us.”