Bilic’s boys seven clear and looking class apart

THERE is a steely serenity about West Brom these days which is surely propelling them back into the Premier League.

Championship fixtures between promotion rivals are not supposed to be comfortable but Slaven Bilic’s players managed to make this win look effortless.

Preston were undone by sloppy defending and a red card to Darnell Fisher but deserved nothing, while Albion could have added more goals to make it a real rout.

In the end, first-half goals from Hal Robson-Kanu and Jake Livermore had to do for the Championship leaders. The win opens up a seven-point gap on Leeds, who play at Middlesbrough tonight.

‘It was a mature performance,’ said Bilic. ‘We were in control but in control on the front foot. People are talking about routine but we made it look routine. The whole game we were on them and the difference in class can be visible.’

Given some pre-match snow at the Hawthorns, how apt that Preston’s players were caught cold.

Robson-Kanu, fresh from his two goals at Bristol City on Saturday, continued his scoring streak with the opener after just five minutes.

Questions should be asked of Preston’s defence as a cross from Callum Robinson dropped for Robson-Kanu to chest down and beat Declan Rudd under no pressure. That was three in two and 10 this season for the Welshman. It was also the perfect start against a Preston side aiming to go eight games unbeaten away from home.

North End have proved durable and determined in recent weeks but there was little sign of a comeback. Instead, they went a further goal down before half-time as livewire Robinson delivered the pass for Livermore, who swept the ball past a helpless Rudd.

West Brom kept going in search of a third and Preston’s night went from bleak to impossible.

Referee Kevin Friend was ruthless as Fisher launched into a tackle which saw him crash into Robinson. Despite the protests of the Preston players, their teammate was shown a straight red card. That ended the match as a contest but, in truth, it was over long before the sending-off.

Preston boss Alex Neil was angered at the red card. ‘I thought it was harsh,’ he said. ‘The officials didn’t have a good game tonight.’

Neil added: ‘West Brom are a very good side. You won’t come up against many teams with a front four like that.’

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