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West Brom 3 Preston 1: First-half flurry kickstarts 2025 with a win

Albion kickstarted 2025 with a first-half flurry to see off limp visitors Preston North End 3-1.

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Top Baggies scorer Josh Maja was back in the goals with his 11th and 12th of the season to fire Albion to a first win since Carlos Corberan's Christmas Eve exit.

Maja's first-half double, either side of Callum Styles' first goal for the club, sent The Hawthorns hosts back into the Championship play-offs. Striker Maja ended an eight-game drought with his well-taken double.

For interim team Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill it was a first home fixture at the helm, which delivered that first victory in what surely provided appetising viewing for Corberan's successor.

Sunday's 2-2 draw at Sheffield United provided optimism in life after the Spaniard and this win will add weight to that theory. Or the first half will, at least.

At 3-0 up by the interval the fixture seemed won, for just Albion's second New Year's Day success in 12 attempts. But the home side struggled to find any intensity or tempo in the second half with sloppiness flooding into the display.

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Callum Styles puts West Brom 2-0 up against Preston (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)

It was no surprise when substitute Ryan Ledson hit back for mid-table Preston, but the visitors could not quite find a second to make things interesting.

The new year started in a sleepy fashion at The Hawthorns - with the mood and atmosphere around the stadium suggesting one too many had enjoyed one too many drinks the night before.

Midfielder Jayson Molumby, in picking up where he left off at Sheffield United, tried to force the issue in the opening 10 minutes and tested Freddie Woodman from range.

There was little in the contest though and The Hawthorns needed waking up - and a delayed alarm call came on 18 minutes.

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Callum Styles celebrates netting his first goal for West Brom against Preston (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)

Albion appeared to be going nowhere fast when moving the ball slowly along their backline, before Torbjorn Heggem picked out an exquisite pass to release Mikey Johnston down the left.

From there it was typical Johnston, who darted infield before a brilliantly disguised chop back on to his left on the outside outfoxed two defenders. The Irishman kept his composure on the left side of the box and his low cut-back was perfect for Maja to swivel and hammer home - with Karlan Grant jumping out the way for good measure.

It was just what the doctor ordered, but Preston showed flashes of liveliness in the final third that kept the hosts honest. Villa loanee Kaine Kesler-Hayden forced a parried save from Alex Palmer from range with a swerving strike.

Styles almost flicked in a clever second from Grant's cross after Johnston's ball. Preston's influence had died down but striker Emil Riis did nod Kesler-Hayden's cross off target.

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Jayson Molumby attempts a cross for West Brom against Preston(Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)

A second felt on the cards as the visitors' backline shook. Maja dropped so well to link play and Albion's wings were so dangerous, particularly the left.

Left-back Styles doubled the lead with his first goal for the club as he smartly steered in Johnston's training ground corner from just inside the box.

It appeared Johnston's low delivery was cut back for colleagues in the box but was met by Styles, who started outside the area, before meeting it with his instep and guiding low into far corner.

Albion were purring by this point and the flurry continued with a third five minutes later. 

This one was the pick of the bunch as Maja, clearly so full of confidence, started and finished a lovely move.

Maja's second, like his first, started from a ball out from central defence. This time Kyle Bartley, who stood imperious throughout, played a fine ball into the striker's deep position.

Maja's first-time flick around the corner for Darnell Furlong was typical of the frontman. Furlong burst into the box and eventually hit the deck under pressure, but had been able to square the ball while tumbling.

The low delivery was once again spot-on into the path of Maja whose first-time finish found the left corner.

It was three and easy at half-time as Albion's interim change opted to withdraw Tom Fellows for Jed Wallace.

Somewhat predictably the second period lacked the intensity with Albion all-but home and hosed. The home side struggled to make any inroads into the visitors' penalty area in a contest that once again resembled the first 10 minutes and seemed to be limping to a conclusion.

 While Albion dithered, Paul Heckingbottom made a couple of notable changes and the Lancashire men grew.

It was no surprise to see the Lilywhites strike back - but with 20 minutes left Albion could have done without offering a helping hand.

Wallace, in his own right-back position, played a blind pass looking for Furlong in his box but the ball missed its intended target. From there substitute Milutin Osmajic squared for fellow sub Ledson to finish smartly past Palmer.

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West Brom players celebrate Josh Maja's opener (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)

From their angst grew inside The Hawthorns. Albion players struggled to find blue and white striped shirts and it encouraged the visitors and their supporters on.

This time Albion creaked and Palmer's best was needed to deny Riis from an angle 15 minutes from time. The Baggies dropped into a back five with Ousmane Diakite - one of the first halves' stars - helping out and the hosts recovered to see out the 3-1 victory.

Albion (4-4-2): Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles (Frabotta, 80); Fellows (Wallace, 45), Diakite, Molumby, Johnston (Diangana, 60); Grant (Cole, 73), Maja (Racic, 73).

Subs not used:  Wildsmith, Whitwell, Bostock, Swift. 

Preston (3-4-2-1): Woodman; Storey, Whatmough, Lindsay; Bowler (Holmes, 45), McCann (c) (Ledson, 83), Thordarson (Whiteman, 45), Kesley-Hayden; Frokjaer (Keane, 84), Greenwood (Osmajic, 63); Riis.

Subs not used: Cornell, Okkels, Bauer, Nelson.

Referee: Robert Madley