BAGGIES ON TOP BUT NEED MOORE
We must improve – Darren
WEST Bromwich Albion head coach Darren Moore admits he won’t be savouring his side’s victory over Preston for too long as the Baggies moved to the top of the Championship.
Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle continued their fine form with two second-half strikes to condemn Preston to a third straight defeat.
West Brom, who leapfrogged Leeds and Middlesbrough following the victory, are now unbeaten in their last four but Moore says there’s still plenty of work to be done if his side are to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
He said: “We want to get better and we’re constantly working at that. We’re a team in transition, we’re trying to change our style of play and get results in a very, very difficult division.
“In this league it is always good to pick up three points on the road. I thought we were worthy winners today. We made it a little bit nervy towards the end.
“I always felt that we were in control of the game, but just needed more urgency in possession of the ball to move them around a bit more. I have no complaints, the boys found the way to win the game.”
Preston boss Alex Neil revealed he’s worried by his side’s form, which sees them remain at the foot of the table.
Andrew Hughes and Alan Browne netted for the hosts but it wasn’t enough.
A Ben Davies own goal compounded Preston’s misery and Neil claims his side need to start picking up points quickly.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about the table,” Neil said. “We need to pick up a lot more points and quickly. Winning is a habit and losing can also be a habit.
“All we can do is keep working hard, they’re a good bunch and they want to put it right. We’ve got two really important games coming up then a break then a batch of really important games. The character of the players and the club is that we don’t give up.
“I feel sorry for the players because they’re working re- ally, really hard. I’ve told them that I can’t ask any more from them because they’re trying really hard.”
Following a drab opening 45 minutes, all five goals arrived in the second half. Rodriguez broke the deadlock, rising highest to brilliantly finish off Jake Livermore’s intelligent cross. The goal sparked Preston into life as they knew they needed a quick response and although Brandon Barker and Ryan Ledson battled hard, the visitors’ muscular defence had little to worry about until Ben Pearson was fouled on the edge of the box after 70 minutes.
That allowed Hughes to step up and curl a fine effort into the far corner that left Sam Johnstone helpless. However, Preston were only level for two minutes as Davies attempted to head a cross away but could only loop it over Maxwell.
Gayle then stepped up and hit a wonderful 20-yard freekick in the dying moments and, although Browne nodded home a close-range goal deep into injury time, Preston could not find an equaliser.