West Brom 2 Preston 0 - Report and pictures

Hal Robson-Kanu's tenth goal of the season and a Jake Livermore strike saw the Baggies cruise to victory at The Hawthorns.

Over the course of the 90 minutes, North End barely troubled the Albion goal with Alex Neil's side failing to register a single shot on target.

They also saw Darnell Fisher dismissed in the second half for a high challenge on Callum Robinson.

That, though, didn't affect the result with Slaven Bilic's side dominating the clash from the first whistle to the last.

With Leeds in action at Middlesbrough tomorrow, the result means the Baggies have now moved seven points clear at the top of the Championship - with Wigan next up at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

REPORT

Bilic made one change to his starting line-up from the team that overcame Bristol City when naming his starting line-up.

With Romaine Sawyers serving a three-game ban following his red card at Ashton Gate, the head coach was forced into one change with Rekeem Harper lining up in the middle of the park alongside Livermore and Filip Krovinovic.

It meant Albion continued in a 4-3-3 formation with Livermore taking over Sawyers' duties in the quarter-back role while Krovinovic and Harper were slightly more advanced and given licence to bomb forward.

Up front, Matheus Pereira started on the right-wing, with former North End favourite Callum Robinson on the left and Robson-Kanu up front.

In his pre-match press conference, Neil had claimed that top scorer Daniel Johnson was unavailable for the clash.

But he appeared on the team sheet and started in the number 10 role in a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw David Nugent operate as a lone striker while Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen were on the wings.

The two teams entered the game sitting first and second in the form table with both having taken 13 points from their last six outings.

But it was Bilic's men who raced out the traps, with the Baggies seizing the initiative by opening the scoring in just the sixth minute.

It was Robinson who created it with the forward finding Robson-Kanu in the box with a perfectly weighted pass.

The striker's first touch then saw him escape the attentions of a defender with his chest before he fired through the legs of Declan Rudd and into the net.

A goal to the good, the Baggies started to dominate proceedings with Pereira and Krovinovic both forcing Rudd into saves with low drives from 20-yards.

Then just before the half-hour mark, the goalkeeper made a spectacular stop to prevent Bilic's side from doubling their advantage.

A wonderful ball from Pereira allowed Robinson to get in-behind the North End defence.

On the angle, the forward then drilled a strike at goal which the keeper kept out with a strong, outstretched arm having made himself as big as he possibly could.

Preston responded by creating their best chance of the half.

Darnell Fisher whipped in a cross which Nugent met ahead of Dara O'Shea.

But while the striker's header was a good one, the ball sailed wide of the post.

Albion resumed control with Pereira and Robinson again combining to create a glorious chance.

Just like before the Brazilian slipped in the Sheffield United loanee with an exquisite through-ball.

But this time Rudd raced off his line to deny his former team mate with his chest - for what, yet again, was an excellent stop.

Just moments before the interval, though, Albion got the second goal their overall performance had deserved with a move that began and ended with Livermore.

After the skipper initially won possession, the ball was worked to Robinson who had drifted out to the right.

And he then found Robson-Kanu's chest with another wonderful ball into the box.

This time, though, the forward opted to lay the ball off for Livermore - who then emphatically lashed home from 12-yards.

Bilic's side continued to dominate following the re-start.

And they almost grabbed a third when Ahmed Hegazi spun before hitting a lovely volley that sailed agonisingly past the post.

Neil's side hadn't once looked like getting back into the game.

But they then saw their hopes diminished even further when Fisher was given a straight red card for a challenge on Robinson.

The Preston man won the ball but then went through his former team mate with his foot over the ball.

And that led to referee Kevin Friend opting to send him off.

With a man advantage, Albion began popping the ball around at will with the Baggies coming close to grabbing a third when their three substitutes combined in a lovely move.

First Matt Phillips found Kamil Grosicki in the box who then teed up Charlie Austin.

And he then saw a fierce drive from just inside the area tipped over by Rudd.

Albion went even close as the clock ticked towards the 90 with Harper curling a delicious strike from 20-yards against the crossbar.

And had the game gone on any longer, you'd expect the Baggies would have gone on to hit three or four.

But in the end they had to settle for just the two goals in what was another excellent performance from Bilic's side.

Teams

Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone, O'Shea, Hegazi, Ajayi, Townsend, Krovinovic, Harper, Livermore, Pereira (Phillips 72), Robinson (Grosicki 79), Robson-Kanu (Austin 82).

Subs not used: Bond, Furlong, Bartley, Barry, Austin.

Preston North End (4-2-3-1): Rudd, Fisher, Pearson, Davies, Browne, Johnson, Hughes, Bauer, Maguire (Potts 85), Barkhuizen (Stockley 84), Nugent (Sinclair 78).

Subs not used: Ripley, Clarke, Gallagher, Rafferty.

Referee: Kevin Friend

Attendance: 22,150 with 925 away.