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May 4, 2024
A convincing 3-0 victory in front of an enthusiastic Hawthorns Stadium crowd on the last day of the season secured Carlos Corberán’s team’s spot in the playoffs.
This afternoon, the Hawthorns hosted the final game of the NFL Championship season for Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion.
Before this crucial game in their season—a victory in the sun today would have guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs—Albion supporters were frantic for the three points.
The game began with a lot of energy from Coreberán’s team, but they could not score in open play during the first half. But in the first period’s added time, Alex Mowatt’s penalty found the bottom left corner of the net, giving the Baggies a significant lead that they carried into the halftime dugout.
In the sixty-first minute of play, Kyle Bartley, the captain of Albion, made it 2-0 with a looping header that found its way over the line before Andrew Hughes could clear it, rising above the Lilywhites’ defense.
When Darnell Furlong made it three goals to nil in the 69th minute, his easy finish into the bottom right of the net solidified their spot in the playoffs.
PNE has now lost five straight games in which it has failed to score goals or maintain a clean sheet. This is the first time North End has dropped five straight league games since 2010.
This was a significant victory for West Brom, as the Midlands team had only triumphed once in the previous fifteen days of the season.
Before the season’s last match, Carlos Corberán made three changes to his team, with some significant moves taking place further up the field.
Tom Fellows, their Young Player of the Year, and Alex Mowatt, a former Middlesborough player, took Yann M’Vila’s place on the bench. Brandon Thomas-Asante, the leading goalscorer for West Brom, replaced Jed Wallace in the starting lineup and took the lead from the outset.
The visiting team’s locker room also underwent three changes following their depressing 3-0 loss to league leaders Leicester City in the middle of the week.
Ryan Storey slotted into the back line instead of Ireland international Robbie Brady as they stuck to their five-at-the-back configuration. Ahead of the final day, Ryan Ledson left the matchday squad, with summer signing Duane Holmes replacing him. Montenegrin forward Milena Osmajić moved to the bench, with Emil Riis covering at the top.
In their most recent meeting, the Baggies won 4 goals to 0 at Deepdale due to their sheer dominance. Going into the game, the Baggies needed to maintain their sixth-place standing to move one step closer to their dream of becoming a Wembley. Home supporters would have been hoping for this match to resemble the alternate fixture.
A boisterous and enthusiastic crowd at the Hawthorns pushed West Bromwich Albion forward in the game’s first five minutes. Corberán’s team had several opportunities, but the North End goalkeeper denied them.
As the clock ran out, the Albion kept up the pressure, and the Lilywhites’ clever play made it more difficult for the Baggies to take the lead. The game’s first booking came in the sixteenth minute when Liam Lindsay pulled back to prevent Thomas-Asante from breaking the visiting team’s back line.
Osmajić was left to fill in for Emil Riis after the player had to end his season early in the 29th minute of play due to a knock.
Shortly after, Thomas-Asante’s left-footed attempt from the bottom right corner missed. The ball fell to another blue-and-white shirt at the back post, who could not slot it home, adding to the home team’s disappointment.
Following a long-range strike that left the ball free in the box and required the PNE goalkeeper to put his body in danger to get in front of the shot, Freddie Woodman made a crucial double save that brought the departing fans to their feet.
Preston’s number six gave away a penalty in first-half added time when he caught full-back Darnell Furlong’s foot in the box. Alex Mowatt took his place quickly at the spot at the Hawthorns and struck the back of the net to take a vital lead.
At the beginning of the second half, Cedric Kipre came dangerously close to volleying the Baggies into a two-goal lead, but the ball cleared the crossbar.
In the 59th minute, the Albion striker wasted a significant opportunity on the edge of the six-yard box after a deft run down the left flank by Michael Johnston put the Ghanaian international in a dangerous position.
With a looping header from a long throw-in in the 61st minute, captain Kyle Bartley doubled their lead, making it two goals to nil. Hughes could not clear the ball away before it rose over the Preston defense and crossed the line because Freddie Woodman, who was on the rampage, could not reach it in time.
In light of his outstanding performance in blue and white, the West Brom right-back wins Player of the Match today.
With a hand in all three Baggies’ goals this afternoon, the Englishman was the show’s star as they solidified their final league spot in the playoffs.
With an easy finish in the 18-yard box and a long throw-in into the danger area to support the captain’s header, Darnell Furlong finishes his season with eight goal contributions from the right flank.
We hope for more of this from the star man in the subsequent playoff games.
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