West Bromwich Albion kicked off the New Year with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Preston North End at The Hawthorns on January 1, 2025. The triumphant win marked Chris Brunt's first as interim manager, bringing the Baggies back within reach of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places after struggling to gain form following the departure of their former head coach, Carlos Corberan.
The home side came roaring out of the blocks, displaying impressive resolve and high energy levels against their opposition, who had only managed to secure one away win this season. West Brom dominated the first half, with striker Josh Maja stepping to the forefront to score twice, sandwiching Callum Styles' powerful effort to give the Baggies a significant 3-0 lead by the break.
It didn’t take long for West Brom to find the back of the net. Eighteen minutes after kick-off, Maja found himself on the end of Mikey Johnston’s skillful cross, blasting the ball past Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. The Baggies followed this up with another goal, showcasing their attacking prowess as Styles struck firmly from close range following another Johnston corner routine.
Just before half-time, Maja capitalized on Darnell Furlong's impressive run down the left, converting for his second of the match. 3-0 seemed insurmountable for the visitors, and Brunt's men appeared set to run away with the game. Their buoyancy on the pitch illustrated their urgency and desire to secure maximum points.
Despite their commanding first-half performance, West Brom entered the second half with noticeably less intensity. Preston North End seized on this opportunity and brought some pressure of their own as the minutes ticked by. Their efforts bore fruit when Ryan Ledson, who came on as a second-half substitute, found the net with only twenty minutes remaining, giving Preston hope of mounting a comeback.
Paul Heckingbottom's side pushed hard for another, visibly motivated after Ledson's goal. Emil Riis created some anxiety among the Baggies' defense with his powerful shot, which was expertly saved by West Brom's goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
Brunt reflected on his team's performance, expressing his delight over the three points: "Brilliant to get the three points. It was a game of two halves. The way we took our chances was good and to be 3-0 up at half-time was unexpected." Brunt’s remarks encapsulated the unexpected thrill of the opening half and the challenges his squad faced to maintain their lead.
Meanwhile, Heckingbottom's assessment was much more pointed, addressing the issues his team encountered: "The goals we conceded were shocking today and that's what gave the game away. They punished us and defendedbetter than us. We gave them three goals – it’s frustrating. I want to be a good force away from home as well." His critique hinted at underlying concerns within his team as they navigated their disappointing away performance at the start of 2025.
The match attendance stood at 24,320, supporting the excitement as West Brom showed resilience and fighting spirit on their home turf. The victory allowed the Baggies to temporarily enter the play-off positions, emphasizing the stakes involved as the season progresses.
With the three points secured, West Brom will now shift their focus to their next game against Swansea, hoping to build on this strong performance. Meanwhile, Preston will regroup and look to bounce back against Oxford United, aiming to translate their home advantage to away success.
The match concluded with the home crowd celebrating their team's return to winning ways, promising to carry this momentum forward as the Championship season continues to unspool, with both teams reflecting deeply on their aspirations and strategies as they step onto the pitch again.